Northern Heart Films

Northern Heart Films Award-winning studio telling stories with heart. We are an award-winning team passionate about telling honest human-driven stories for TV, charities and brands.

In collaboration with Wigan Council we have 2 x opportunities for emerging / early career filmmakers to be part of an ex...
03/04/2026

In collaboration with Wigan Council we have 2 x opportunities for emerging / early career filmmakers to be part of an exciting new feature documentary

Are you based in Leigh?
Aged 16-30?
Keen to learn more about filmmaking?

Then this could be a perfect opportunity for you!

APPLY - 10 x work experience spots | Various dates
https://www.northernheartfilms.com/jobs/workexperience

APPLY - 2 x entry level job placements | 30th May
https://www.northernheartfilms.com/jobs/paidrunner

📣 Deadline to apply is 5pm 8th April.

🎬 CALLING ALL ASPIRING FILMMAKERS IN LEIGH 🎥We’re teaming up with Wigan Council to give 10 young people (aged 16-30) fro...
24/03/2026

🎬 CALLING ALL ASPIRING FILMMAKERS IN LEIGH 🎥

We’re teaming up with Wigan Council to give 10 young people (aged 16-30) from Leigh an opportunity to gain work experience on the production of our new documentary about Leigh music icons The Lottery Winners

If this sounds like something you'd like to be part of then please fill out a short form via our website https://www.northernheartfilms.com/jobs/workexperience

📍 Work experience will happen in Leigh with all out of pocket expenses covered.

👥 No experience needed. To be eligible you must be based in Leigh and aged 16-30.

📅 Various. 1 day in April or May.

📣 Deadline 5pm 8th April.

It is time to announce one of our worst kept secrets. We are officially in production on a feature documentary following...
25/02/2026

It is time to announce one of our worst kept secrets. We are officially in production on a feature documentary following the meteoric rise of the chart topping pop band, The Lottery Winners.

We’ve been following Thom, Kate, Rob, and Joe for well over a year, but thanks to some initial funding we’ve been able to take off the brakes and get this production rolling.

Why The Lottery Winners?

They are simply some of the hardest working, most entertaining musicians in the UK. With two #1 albums already under their belt, they’ve toured with Robbie Williams and collaborated with icons like Nickelback, Boy George, and Frank Turner.

From their working class Northern roots to the cusp of mainstream stardom, we are capturing every step of that journey. The film’s climax will focus on the band’s emotional homecoming to Leigh for their first stadium show at Leigh Sports Village, performing to a massive crowd of 12,000 fans.

The film is being directed by Northern Heart’s own Natasha Hawthornthwaite and produced by Scott Bradley.

After a decade of producing short documentaries, we are thrilled that this will be our very first feature length project.

A huge congratulations to Roz Di Caprio, who has just been named a finalist at this year’s Smiley Charity Film Awards.Af...
18/02/2026

A huge congratulations to Roz Di Caprio, who has just been named a finalist at this year’s Smiley Charity Film Awards.

After supporting Roz through our Northern Doc Fund, we put her forward to direct a charity commercial via Media Trust, and it’s that film that has landed her on the finalist list.

This result is the product of a long standing partnership we have with Media Trust, and it’s a perfect example of how the model works.

We provide talented graduate directors and back them up with wrap around production support. Media Trust then connects them with charities and handles the distribution.

We aren't here for the optics, we’re here to help get filmmakers into the industry, getting them professional work that is recognised by the largest charity film awards in the country.

This success proves that the Northern Doc Fund creates a direct pipeline from grassroots talent to professional accolades.

This is a huge moment for Roz. She’s put in a real shift on this film, particularly with the edit, and seeing her recognised on this level is exactly why we keep pushing this mission forward.

Please join us in wishing Roz the massive amount of luck she deserves!

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY!Deadline 5pm tomorrow.Calling all 16-25 year old aspiring filmmakers in Leigh! 🎥We're running a FRE...
24/01/2026

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY!

Deadline 5pm tomorrow.

Calling all 16-25 year old aspiring filmmakers in Leigh! 🎥

We're running a FREE 3 day intensive documentary bootcamp with .

Over one evening and a full weekend, you’ll develop, shoot, and edit your very own short documentary alongside award-winning film professionals.

We have 10 places available for young people (aged 16–25) to be part of this hands on bootcamp taking place at the .

Plus, you can sign up for a 1-to-1 career advice session during the weekend.

Application deadline is 5pm, 25th January 2026.

🔗 Follow the link in our bio to apply and find out more info.

You've got until 5pm on Sunday to get your applications in!This is a great opportunity for aspiring filmmakers in to g...
23/01/2026

You've got until 5pm on Sunday to get your applications in!

This is a great opportunity for aspiring filmmakers in to get experience making a short documentary over 3 days.

You'll be guided and supported by award winning filmmakers!

See link in our bio for more details

Northern Heart, in association with Doc North and London Breeze Film Festival, is proud to present a celebratory screeni...
22/01/2026



Northern Heart, in association with Doc North and London Breeze Film Festival, is proud to present a celebratory screening of the five short documentaries supported by the Northern Doc Fund from 2022–2025.

These films, created by working-class filmmakers from the North of England, will be followed by a Q&A moderated by London Breeze Film Festival.

Event Details:

When: 1st February, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Where: The Cinema at Selfridges (supported by Olympic Studios)

Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.com/doc-north/real-north-northern-doc-fund-shorts/e-yzojyd

All profits and ‘pay it forward’ contributions will go directly to Doc North, a not-for-profit dedicated to supporting working-class filmmakers in the North of England.

We hope to see you there to celebrate these incredible stories.

Interested in documentary? Aged 16-25 and based in Leigh? This is for you!A 3 day hands on bootcamp designed for aspirin...
19/01/2026

Interested in documentary? Aged 16-25 and based in Leigh? This is for you!

A 3 day hands on bootcamp designed for aspiring filmmakers to make your very own short documentary!

🔗 Follow the link in our bio to apply and find out more info.

Only 10 spots available. Get your applications in by 5pm, 25th January.

30/10/2025

Northern Heart were delighted to send our Development Researcher, Lewis Doherty, to the launch night of GONE NORF ( )'s debut print magazine at UNITOM in the Northern Quarter, Manchester!

We created a short reel with founder, the wonderfully creative Rosie Callaghan, to celebrate this vital new publication and its mission.

Rosie founded Gone Norf in early 2025 as an independent arts and culture magazine paired with a social club. The core mission is powerful, to "amplify Northern creatives, challenge outdated narratives and build community through the arts."

Rosie speaks to a challenge so many professionals face, "Even after moving to Manchester, the pressure to relocate to London to 'make it' still lingers in me. Gone Norf is my way of pushing back, proving that creative success can, and should, happen here."

A huge congratulations to Rosie! We wish you all the very best on the next issue and look forward to seeing the incredible impact you'll continue to have.

"I've seen (the Northern Doc Fund) grow already with the partners involved, the budgets and where the films go afterward...
22/10/2025

"I've seen (the Northern Doc Fund) grow already with the partners involved, the budgets and where the films go afterwards. I want it to see it continue, and continue to grow and the spread and the outreach and the amount of people that it can impact and really become not just a fund but a movement. I'm currently now working for Northern Heart Films in the capacity of a Researcher and Content Coordinator, and that is sort of a direct result of my involvement in the Doc Fund."

Northern Heart's own Vicky Best was a recipient of the first edition of the Doc Fund in 2023, creating her beautiful film A LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON a glimpse into the ritual, perspective and history of a selection of Gujarati Hindu women in Bolton. Since being selected for the Doc Fund Vicky has worked closely with Northern Heart on a variety of projects since 2023, including directing this very shoot, a short film exploring the impact of the Doc Fund and continuing her own independent practice as a filmmaker and visual artist. In 2025 she joined the team officially as a Researcher and Content Coordinator utilising her seasoned expertise to support the development and production of new original content.

The Northern Doc Fund is a short documentary funding opportunity for emerging working-class filmmakers in the North of England. We support new talent with funding, mentorship, access to industry and a platform to display their work, empowering them to grow as confident documentary makers.

We are documenting the stories around the Northern Doc Fund from it's recipients to it's partners, exploring the positive impact it is having across the North of England. Approaching the launch of it's 4th addition in 2026 we hope to spread the message of the fund to ambitious emerging filmmakers and future partners alike and hope to inspire greater opportunities for working-class talent across the North.

Photography by Lewis Doherty

"It's looking where talent sits and wrapping around the expertise that Northern Heart bring and the partners bring to al...
22/10/2025

"It's looking where talent sits and wrapping around the expertise that Northern Heart bring and the partners bring to allow the individuals supported through the funds to really grow and to develop and to have those access points to the industry and to get an amazing piece of work that they can then use to further their own careers..."

"We want to see more opportunities annually provided in terms of individuals supported through the funds. We want to see the expanse of where those amazing, documentary films are reaching and who are seeing them and helping to get that out and but also make this a northern rooted program, but with national or international significance."

Neil Harris Business Manager for Culture, Arts & Heritage at Wigan Borough Council has been a steadfast supporter to Northern Heart and the Northern Doc Fund. Wigan council are a core funder of the Doc Fund and have championed the project from it's inception. They are passionate trailblazers in supporting emerging talent in the North, putting their money where their mouth is through making meaningful strides to support the local arts ecology.

The Northern Doc Fund is a short documentary funding opportunity for emerging working-class filmmakers in the North of England. We support new talent with funding, mentorship, access to industry and a platform to display their work, empowering them to grow as confident documentary makers.

We are documenting the stories around the Northern Doc Fund from it's recipients to it's partners, exploring the positive impact it is having across the North of England. Approaching the launch of it's 4th addition in 2026 we hope to spread the message of the fund to ambitious emerging filmmakers and future partners alike and hope to inspire greater opportunities for working-class talent across the North.

Photography by Lewis Doherty

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Studio 23 & 24 The Old Courts
Wigan
WN11NA

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