Northern Heart Films

06/10/2025

We had an inspiring weekend at Bolton Film Festival connecting with some wonderful filmmakers during the industry 1-2-1s!

Thanks Adrian Barber for inviting us, we had a great day, and it's always such a great festival to attend. Especially as we always seem to bump into old friends, it's a great place to fall back in love with the craft of filmmaking.

As Northern Heart, it was a privilege to discuss our groundbreaking Northern Doc Fund, a scheme dedicated to championing working class documentary makers in the North.

We met so many passionate filmmakers and are looking forward to reading their applications when our fund opens up again in early 2026.

03/10/2025

It's absolutely brilliant to finally be making some serious headway on Northern Heart's next independent documentary.

A couple of years ago, a book called Police to Paranoia landed on our desk, and over the Christmas break, we read it cover to cover and was utterly horrified and gripped by the true story unfolding through its pages.

Written by Rebecca House, the book is Rebecca's own terrifying account.

At 29, her perfect life as a police officer was shattered by trauma, leading to her arrest by colleagues and a terrifying 28 day fight to overcome psychosis and escape a psychiatric hospital.

Her story is a powerful testament to hope, proving that even when the impossible seems set in stone, it might still be within reach, as she fought to reclaim her career and now lives life to the full as a mother of two.

We've done the rounds shopping the idea, but we felt potential funders were trying to reframe the story too much. So, we're cracking on with it ourselves to do Beck's true story the justice it deserves.

29/09/2025

We are excited to be attending Bolton Film Festival this Saturday to represent our Northern Doc Fund.

We've been invited to be part of an incredible session inspired by Sheffield Doc/Fest's Meet Market. This event offers a fantastic opportunity for filmmakers to have curated, one on one meetings with top industry experts, including producers, programmers, and funders.

Our groundbreaking fund is dedicated to supporting working class Northern filmmakers, and we're looking forward to providing tailored guidance and support to help them take their next steps in the industry.

It's a privilege to be part of such a great initiative. We can't wait to connect with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals!

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfilhzoL4GaxiX_IThRnzFeKdx1Sqoax2BVWibH9vF8JirOjA/viewform

24/09/2025

We're working with Curious Minds to provide a paid placement for a local person who's looking to work gain experience at film production company!

Want to work with us?

We're looking for an eager studio assistant to join our team. You'll be supporting us with all sorts of tasks, from day-to-day admin and preparing for shoots, to being on location during production or helping out at workshops / events.

No experience needed. You just have to be aged 16-25, based in Wigan and not in full time education work or training.

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This is part of Curious Works who are providing paid work placements, free training, and career guidance for young people aged 16-25 in Wigan and Leigh.

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Deadline: Wednesday 15th October, 4pm

More details and how to apply - https://curiousminds.org.uk/get-involved-with-curious-works-rjg7 #:~:text=Curious%20Works%20is%20back%20for,Applications%20are%20now%20open!

20/09/2025

We're dead chuffed we got asked to produce the film for the launch of the new cultural strategy for the next five years

It was also lovely to hear from and Darren Henley who reminded us of all the great talent we have right here on our doorstep.

We also got to see performances by , , .walsh98 , and , hosted by thr wonderful

We can't wait to be part of this next journey.

Keep your eyes on WIGAN!

12/09/2025

Earlier this year, Northern Heart collaborated with the charity Global Action Plan on two fascinating films. The project focused on the serious health impacts of gas cooking, a widely unknown source of indoor air pollution.

The team at GAP conducted a series of tests with local Manchester residents, and the findings were genuinely shocking.

We're excited to see Global Action Plan's vital work featured on BBC's Morning Live, which includes a clip from one of the films we produced.

It's genuinely fulfilling to see the charities we collaborate with get the national coverage their work deserves. This is a big driver for us at Northern Heart, and I'm really pleased to see another film project we've delivered shared on TV.

09/09/2025

Last week was a bit of critical one for us at Northern Heart. We took some much needed time away to completely rework our business plan.

The trip started with some wild swimming and a sauna, a good way to clear the head before four days of intense, focused work in a little cabin lodge.

We spent that time stripping things back to the bare bones. In an industry that’s changing fast, we challenged our values, addressed some of our biggest hurdles, and really locked down the core qualities we bring to our work.

It was a tough but necessary process, especially for a small production company navigating the shifting landscape of broadcast, film, and commercial work.

But, we now have a fresh, exciting plan for the next 12 months and beyond.

While the short term will be a bit of a return to basics, we see a clear path toward more fulfilling work.

28/08/2025

Say hello to our two new Development Researchers, Lewis Doherty and Vicky Best!

They've joined the Northern Heart team to help us amplify the development of our original documentaries and branded content.

This has all been made possible thanks to the fantastic training both Lewis and Vicky received from ScreenSkills and Mission Accomplished. Now, they're bringing those insights, learnings, and motivations to Northern Heart to help us elevate our work.

We asked Vicky what it feels like to join the team:

"I’m looking forward to being a part of Northern Heart Films' continued growth. This company has championed me for years, and being here truly feels like I’m setting down roots. It’s the perfect place for my own Northern heart."

You might recognise both Lewis and Vicky! They have both come through our groundbreaking Northern Doc Fund, a special initiative by Northern Heart Films that helps aspiring Directors and Producers break into the film and TV industry.

We're so excited to have Lewis and Vicky on board as we continue to grow Northern Heart Films into a leading production company for authentic Northern voices.

We can't wait to see what new stories we'll uncover together.

15/07/2025

The king in the North has spoken and Northern Heart have done Manchester proud!

All joking aside, it's lovely to have been involved in such a meaningful project, collaborating with Greater Manchester Combined Authority on their Strategy launch.

View our film here: https://youtu.be/m3Iu3smH2Io?feature=shared

14/07/2025

What is special about living in Greater Manchester?

It's not every day we get to tackle a project at Northern Heart that asks a question we can genuinely explore as residents of Greater Manchester.

Being based right here in Wigan it was a chance to dive deep into a question close to our own hearts.

Last week marked the launch of the Greater Manchester Strategy, and alongside it, we proudly unveiled our latest piece of work.

This short film is a bit of a love letter to everything that makes Greater Manchester shine.

For more on the GM strategy visit:
https://togetherwearegm.co.uk/

10/07/2025

Last night, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Greater Manchester Strategy officially launched, and we at Northern Heart are incredibly proud to have led the vast majority of its creative delivery! 🚀

We crafted a short film to be the centrepiece of the launch and teamed up with the brilliant photographer Keith Vaughton to capture a diverse range of everyday people across Greater Manchester.

Even Mayor Andy Burnham loved the film, saying our team did Manchester proud! What a night!

People from across the city-region reflect on what the Greater Manchester Strategy’s vision meant to them. We commissioned Wigan based Northern Heart Films t...

03/07/2025

Yesterday evening Northern Heart had the pleasure of welcoming filmmakers from all three years of our Northern Doc Fund for a fantastic masterclass.

It was a truly insightful session, focusing on how to forge a successful career in the independent documentary space.

We were really pleased to have filmmaker Brett Chapman lead the workshop.

We've admired Brett's work for a few years now, and it was brilliant to finally get this arranged. His unapologetically Northern perspective and story of building a career primarily based in Yorkshire was incredibly inspiring for our cohort of filmmakers.

This masterclass is just the start! We're excited to continue offering these valuable sessions going forward as we grow our Northern Doc Fund.