Alan Fentiman - Documentary Filmmaker | Videographer | Editor
Alan Fentiman is a UK-based documentary filmmaker with over 20 years of experience producing films for the arts, heritage, research, and education sectors.
His work is known for its clarity, subtlety, and strong sense of place—offering an understated yet compelling lens on people, practice, and ideas.
Alan specialises in commissioned films that bridge the gap between creative expression and public understanding. Working closely with cultural organisations, academic institutions, and individual artists, he creates content that is visually engaging, narratively grounded, and purposefully crafted. From exhibition shorts and public engagement pieces to research documentaries and artist portraits, his projects often explore how people shape—and are shaped by—culture and place.
Arts & Heritage
Alan has collaborated with many of the North East’s leading arts and heritage institutions, including The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, The Glasshouse(formerly Sage Gateshead), Durham Cathedral, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, The Hatton Gallery, The Bowes Museum, The Auckland Project, Forma Arts, Vane Gallery, Northern Print, and Maltings Visual Arts.
His work in this space includes behind-the-scenes documentaries, artist-led commissions, historical storytelling, and films that support interpretation and engagement across physical and digital exhibitions. His unobtrusive filming style and editorial sensitivity make him a trusted creative partner across the sector.
Academic & Research
Alan works extensively with academic institutions to develop films that communicate complex research to broader audiences. He has worked with Durham University, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, University of Sunderland, UCL, and Cambridge University.
These commissions range from research storytelling and interdisciplinary projects to public engagement films and cultural history documentaries. Alan is experienced in working with researchers, curators, and community partners to ensure content is both accessible and rigorously informed.
Broadcast & Commercial Clients
In addition to his work within the cultural and academic sectors, Alan has produced content for major media and commercial clients including BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, and Adobe. These projects have included broadcast documentaries, branded editorial, and specialist commissions requiring sensitivity, technical fluency, and a clear narrative vision.
Artists & Collaborations
Collaborating with artists is central to Alan’s practice. He has filmed with a wide range of creatives including David Almond, Benjamin Myers, Bill Drummond, Don Letts, Scanner, Stephen Chambers, Dominic Wilcox, Hilary Paynter, Dryden Goodwin, Lemn Sissay, Ed Carter, Holly Gramazio, Jamie Shovlin, John Kefala-Kerr, Julian Meredith, Tony Williams, Stephen Mathewson, and Tom Hammick.
Together, they have produced site-specific projections, film-poems, behind-the-scenes portraits, and multidisciplinary installations—capturing not just final works, but the creative process itself.
Approach
Alan’s filmmaking is shaped by the poetic documentary tradition—grounded in observation, empathy, and trust. He favours a minimal, agile production setup that enables genuine encounters and spontaneous storytelling, particularly in sensitive or complex settings.
To discuss a potential collaboration, get in touch.
