Mini-Docs

A mini documentary is a ten-minute film about one person or one idea. We make them about the people and ideas in your company that the world should know about.

Mini-doc filming
From the creators of

Mini-docs we've made

We have made short films about one person and the thing they care about, and they have been watched millions of times. Here are some examples.

Short documentaries for companies

Mini-docs are made to introduce one person or one idea in around ten minutes. Here are three we make for companies.

The portrait

This film is about one person at the company worth knowing. It shows their work and the way they think, and it introduces them better than any bio or interview.

The idea film

This film is about one thing the company believes or built, explained by the people behind it. It is the film you send when someone asks what you actually do.

The series

Several mini-docs, one per person or one per idea, released over several months. It keeps the company in front of the same audience without a new campaign each time.

Other films we make

A mini-doc is not always the right fit. These are the other films we make.

Documentary Production

For when the story needs an hour.

Brand Story Films

For when the product has people worth meeting.

Company Story Films

For when the founding story should be on record.

Nonprofit & Impact Films

For when donors need to see the work.

Recruitment Videos

For when candidates should see the work before they apply.

Everything you get with the film

You commission one mini-doc and receive everything below with the rights to use all of it.

How a film gets made

Our mini documentary production runs in four steps, from the first conversation to the finished film.

01

The conversation

You tell us who or what the film is about and the budget you have. We tell you honestly what it can get you, and you get a fixed quote before anything starts.

02

Research

We talk to the person off camera, find the angle the film is built around, and plan one or two filming days. You approve the plan before the cameras roll.

03

Filming

A small crew films the person at work and in conversation over a day or two. Nothing is scripted and nothing is staged.

04

The edit

We cut the film to ten minutes or under, you see two cuts, give notes, and the finished version is delivered in the format you need.

The crew

Josiah Mcgarvie, Ida Bechtle and Guillermo Lopez, the team behind Cult.Repo. They have spent years filming the people who built the modern web. Berlin Film House is the same crew, making documentaries for companies.

Josiah Mcgarvie
Josiah Mcgarvie
Ida Bechtle
Ida Bechtle
Guillermo Lopez
Guillermo Lopez

Frequently asked questions

What is a mini-doc?

A mini documentary is a short documentary, usually around ten minutes, about one person or one idea. It is made in the same way as a full-length film but with significantly less material to cover. It is a great format for a company video.

What does a mini documentary cost?

Pricing depends on filming days, locations and length. Tell us your budget in the first call and we will tell you honestly what it can get you. Then you get a fixed quote, so there are no surprises.

How long does a mini-doc take to make?

Several weeks, depending on location and complexity. One or two filming days, then the edit.

Where do companies use mini-docs?

You can post a mini-doc on your company YouTube channel and social media. Many companies also put it on their website and their careers page, and show it at conferences.

Can a mini-doc be about a customer instead of an employee?

Absolutely. A customer using what you have built is one of the most convincing films a company can have.

What is the difference between a mini-doc, a short documentary and a micro documentary?

The key difference between these terms is length. A short documentary is the festival term for anything under 40 minutes. A mini-doc is the online term for a film around ten minutes. And a micro documentary is usually a few minutes long, made for social media. We say mini-doc because that is what our audience calls a ten-minute film.

Got a story worth filming?

Tell us what it is and who it is for. We read every message and reply ourselves.