Introduction
ATTENTION: The call for applications is now open for the 27th edition of the Master in Theory and Practice of Creative Documentary at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), which will be held from October 18, 2023 to July 13, 2024. This course will be presential.
The objective of this master’s degree is to provide students with the theoretical and practical tools to make and produce documentaries that offer a fresh look at the different aspects and problems of reality. In addition, it trains them in everything related to the state of contemporary documentary in the industrial and academic sectors.
The teaching staff includes prominent film professionals such as Virginia García del Pino, Andrés Duque, Alejandra Molina, Amanda Villavieja, Carolina Astudillo, Jorge Caballero, Ana Pfaff, Ariadna Ribas, Carlos Muñoz, Jorge Tur, Ricardo Íscar, Ander Barinaga-Rementeria, Nila Nuñez, Núria Campabadal, Raúl Cuevas. And also university professors such as Marta Selva, Vanesa Fernández, Carmen Ávalos, Laia Quílez, Virginia Luzón, Josep Maria Català, Josetxo Cerdán, Sonia García López, Mirito Torreiro, Aida Vallejo and Miguel Ángel Martín. Here you can consult the complete list of university teachers and filmmakers participating in the master’s degree.
The productions made by the students during the course are subsequently screened at festivals. For example, the feature film Lo que dirán, premiered internationally at IDFA, won the Award for Best Spanish Film and the Award for Best Direction of a Spanish Film at the Gijón International Film Festival – FICX. The short film Galateé à l’infini won the Golden Mikeldi for Best Documentary and the Grand Spanish Film Award at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival – ZINEBI and has also been shown, among others, at Hot Docs, Toronto. Entre raíles also won the Gran Premio Cine Español at Zinebi. DIYSEX premiered at the Gijón Film Festival – FICX and was part of the Future Frames section of the European Films Promotion, which takes place within the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. You can check all the awards here.
You can watch our online channel where most of the Master’s productions over more than two decades are available.
Duration: From October 18, 2023 to July 13, 2024. 60 ECTS credits divided between theoretical and practical subjects.
Target audience: University graduates. Exceptionally, professionals without a university degree or from other areas of study may be admitted.
Location: Theoretical and practical classes will be held in the classrooms of the UAB – Casa Convalescència (C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret 171, Barcelona) and the assembly of the projects in La Bonne (C/ de Sant Pere Més Baix, 7, Barcelona) and Institut RTVE (C/ de Mercè Vilaret,1. San Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona).
Theoretical classes: Most of them are taught by PhD professors, not only from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) but also from other universities. 4 hours per day. Documentaries are approached from different historical, ethical and aesthetic perspectives. It corresponds to modules 1 and 2. Click here to see the complete programs of these classes.
Practical classes: Taught by filmmakers, technicians and producers. Students will participate in a documentary made entirely by themselves. During this process, they will be tutored in key areas such as directing, screenwriting, photography, sound, editing and production. This training program will be complemented with workshops on writing a professional project dossier, camera and photography direction, sound, editing and pitching or project presentation. All these sessions, corresponding to modules 3 and 4, will help students to acquire essential skills in the creation and presentation of their audiovisual projects. You can click on the following link to know in detail the different classes and tutorials that take place in the practical part of the course.
And here is the complete list of university professors and filmmakers participating in the master’s program.
This master’s degree belongs to the category of continuing education studies. It leads to a degree awarded by the UAB in accordance with the legislation on postgraduate studies. It should be noted, however, that the continuing education masters, due to their more professionally oriented profile, do not give access to the doctorate in Spain.
Timetable and approximate work plan during the course
– From mid-October to February: every afternoon, Monday to Friday, from 4pm to 8pm. Includes theory classes(modules 1 and 2), research and development tutorials every Friday, workshop on dossier writing, camera and sound, editing and pitching(module 3).
– From March to May: shooting, directing and script tutorials, photography and sound of module 4 and some pending theory classes in the afternoons of March (modules 1 and 2). It will not be every day of the week because it will be necessary to go out to shoot.
– From June to mid-July approximately: editing stage of the documentary short film (module 4). Each team will spend an average of 9 days full time with different tutors finishing the image, sound and color of the documentary.
Course fee: 6,900 euros.
Grants and discounts: UAB graduates will have a 5% discount. The master’s degree or the UAB does not grant direct scholarships, but in this section you can find information on calls for grants, scholarships or loans aimed at the university community.
In addition to the possibility of studying the complete master’s degree in one academic year for 6,900 euros, there are also other options:
Option 2 years
In the first course, students enroll in the theoretical part (3,450 euros).
In a second course, students enroll in the practical part (3,450 euros).
Option 3 years
In the first course, the student enrolls in one part of theory (1,725 euros).
In a second course, the other part of the theory is enrolled (1,725 euros).
In a third course, the practical part (3,450 euros).
Until when can I submit my application?
Until October 18, 2023 (or until all available places are allocated) you can submit your application for admission. We recommend that applications be made as soon as possible by all those who require administrative formalities such as visas, as the delay times for these matters are becoming longer and longer in the respective countries of origin.
You must send:
– Curriculum (C.V., resume).
– University degree.
– Academic record.
– Valid ID card, TIE or passport.
– Motivation letter of the applicant. Very important: the letter must be structured in the following three points (a, b and c) and in a differentiated manner.
a) Expectations (what is expected to find in this master’s degree).
b) Motivations and interests in the cinematographic field.
c) Description of the professional career so far (if any, it is not a prerequisite).
NOTE: During the month of August no applications will be evaluated and no enrollment will be processed due to the vacation break at the university.
All these documents should be sent by e-mail to: m.documental.creativo@uab.cat.
Featured productions
