The Grierson Trust commemorates the pioneering Scottish documentary maker John Grierson (1898 - 1972), famous for Drifters and Night Mail and the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary.
Each year, The Grierson Trust recognises the best documentary filmmaking from Britain and abroad through the British Documentary Awards. The Trust encourages new filmmakers through its Education and Mentoring schemes.
Grierson 2012 is open to documentaries made anywhere in the world but they must have had their first UK screening within the qualifying period 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2012. The entry form can be accessed on this site from 2 April and the closing date for entries is 1 June.
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Two New Trustees Join the Board of The Grierson TrustThe Grierson Trust – guardians of the British Documentary Awards – announced two new appointments to its Board today. Acclaimed documentary directors Alex Cooke and Morgan Matthews join the Board of Trustees, chaired by Dawn Airey. Read more
The Grierson Trust announces the winners 2011The Grierson Trust takes great pleasure in announcing the winners of The Griersons 2011 – The British Documentary Awards supported by Sky Arts HD and Honda. Read more
Werner Herzog, crowned at 55th BFI London Film FestivalAt last night’s 55th BFI London Film Festival, Werner Herzog’s Into The Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life was crowned with The Grierson Award for Best Documentary. Read more
John Pilger, honoured at The Griersons 2011The Grierson Trust announced today that John Pilger, one of the world’s preeminent documentary filmmakers will be awarded the Honda Grierson Trustees’ Awards at its annual award ceremony on November 1st. Read more
Mariella Frostrup to host Grierson 2011The Grierson Trust is proud to announce that the celebrated broadcaster and cultural commentator Mariella Frostrup will host Grierson 2011: The British Documentary Awards in association with Sky Arts HD and Honda. The star-studded ceremony at BFI Southbank will crown the nation’s most illustrious documentary film makers in the 39th annual Grierson Awards on Tuesday 1st November. Read more
Sponsorship deals with Sky Arts HD and HondaThe Grierson Trust announces two major new sponsorship deals for this year’s British Documentary Awards, more fondly known as The Griersons: a new innovative broadcast partnership with Sky Arts HD, and Honda as the sponsors of the coveted Trustees Award. Read more
Nominations for The Grierson 2011Marathon Boy runs a new race against Ayrton Senna, Leonard Cohen, ballerinas, polar bears and Tolstoy as they all make the final cut for The Griersons 2011 Read more
Mark Boyd Joins the Board of The Grierson TrustThe Grierson Trust – guardians of the British Documentary Awards – announced a further new appointment today as Mark Boyd joins the Board of Trustees, chaired by Dawn Airey. Read more
Shortlist announced for Grierson 2011: The British Documentary AwardsThe official build up the 2011 Griersons begins as The Grierson Trust announces the shortlist for the annual British Documentary Awards. Read more
Two New Trustees Join the Board of The Grierson TrustThe Grierson Trust – guardians of the British Documentary Awards – announced two new appointments to its Board today. James Hunt and Chris Harris join the Board of Trustees, chaired by Dawn Airey. Read more
Britain Through a LensThe Grierson Trust is pleased to be co-hosting with the BBC and BFI a screening a screening of Britain Through a Lens - The Documentary Film Mob at the BFI Southbank on the evening of Tuesday, 5 July. Read more
The DFG Pitch - Winner AnnouncedAt this year’s DFG Day at Sheffield Doc/Fest, six filmmakers pitched for the chance to win a £10k development package from DFG, with support from the Grierson Trust. Read more
The Grierson Trust is pleased to be supporting the DFG Pitch.This is a fantastic opportunity for six emerging filmmakers to get the chance to pitch their ideas for development funding in front of an industry panel during DFG Day at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2011. Read more
Tony Palmer for Isolde Films & The Machat Company; first shown: BBC Four
Asif Kapadia for Working Title Films; first shown: Press Screening in London
Dan Hillman for Wingspan Productions; first shown: BBC Four
Nic Stacey for Furnace Ltd; first shown: BBC Four
Lou McLoughlan, Edinburgh College of Art; first shown: Glasgow Film Festival
Zillah Bowes, National Film & Television School; first shown: Sheffield Doc/Fest
John Pilger, Alan Lowery for Dartmouth Films Ltd; first shown: Picture House Cinemas
