Award-Winning UK Documentary Production Studio
Documentary Production That Moves the World
From the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish Coast, we bring broadcast-quality cinematic storytelling to brands, NGOs, and global audiences. Hard-hitting stories that drive change.
We Are Here Now Films
Storytelling. It’s in our name.
It’s in our nature.
Founded in 2016 by filmmakers Ed Smit and Oliver Couch, Here Now Films was born from a simple but radical idea: that the agility of a small, dedicated crew shouldn’t compromise the cinematic scope of a blockbuster.
We believed that with the right eyes behind the lens, a two-person team could capture the same grandeur as a twenty-person unit—without the bloat, the slowness, or the carbon footprint.
Today, that belief has built one of the UK’s leading documentary production studios. We are not just camera operators. We are journalists, strategists, and artists. Whether we’re filming in a luxury care home in London or tracking environmental restoration in the forests of Uganda, our mission remains consistent: to find the human heartbeat in every story and project it onto the screen with uncompromising beauty.
400M+
Viewers via BBC World
£1.6M+
Funding Raised
100+
Publications Featured
Our Process
The “Agile Cinema” Methodology
In a world of disposable content, we build assets that last. Our process is designed to be rigorous yet flexible, allowing us to capture the unscripted magic of real life while ensuring your strategic goals are met.
01
Discovery & Journalism
Great documentaries aren’t written in a boardroom—they’re discovered in the field. We operate like a newsroom, conducting deep-dive research and pre-interviews to uncover the narrative arc that will resonate most deeply with your audience.
02
Production
Authenticity requires intimacy. Our in-house crews master the “fly-on-the-wall” technique with cinema-grade technology (RED/ARRI/Sony) but keep our physical footprint small, accessing sensitive environments without disrupting reality.
03
Post-Production
This is where the story is truly told. Our editors are narrative architects handling the entire pipeline in-house: offline editing, colour grading, sound design, and motion graphics. Every cut serves the story.
04
Distribution & Impact
A film is only as good as its reach. We don’t just deliver a file—we deliver a strategy. We optimise content for theatrical release, broadcast standards, and vertical social platforms, meeting your audience where they are.
Documentary Services
How We Can Help You
From branded company documentaries to impact campaigns, we create documentary content that doesn’t just tell stories, it transforms them into measurable results.
Branded Documentaries
The future of advertising is journalism. Modern audiences tune out traditional advertising – they crave connection and authenticity. We help forward thinking brands transition from “Advertisers” to “publishers”, creating films that build trust, authority, and longevity.
Ideal for: CSR Campaigns, Brand heritage stories, Building deep consumer trust.
Impact & NGO films
Stories that drive change. For charities and non-profits video is the most powerful tool available. We specialise in “impact-productions” – films designed to alter policy, raise funds, or change public perception, turning complex data into compelling human narratives.
Ideal for: Fundraising galas, impact reporting, public awareness campaigns.
Feature & Broadcast
Cinema quality non-fiction. We’re experienced in long from production for cinema and TV, navigating the complexities of international logistics, rights management, and the new UK Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) to deliver series and features that stand the test of time.
Ideal for: Cinema Release, TV Broadcast, Streaming Platforms.
Selected Work
The Work Speaks
From global art institutions to environmental pioneers, here’s how we’ve helped organisations tell their most important stories.
TATE GALLERIES
Profiling the Artist’s Soul
The Tate needed to translate the visceral, physical experience of their “Artists in Residence” programme into a digital format. They needed films that didn’t just explain the art, but felt like the art.
We embedded our crew with artists Ro Robertson and Outi Pieski. For Robertson, we spent days on the Cornish coast, capturing the interplay between the artist’s body and the tidal landscape. For Pieski, we travelled to Finland to document the Sami cultural struggle—letting the artists lead the narrative.
The Outcome
A series of intimate, visually stunning profiles that extended the exhibition experience to a global online audience, garnering high engagement and praise for their sensitivity.
ECOTRUST Uganda
Visualising the Triple-Win
ECOTRUST operates a complex “Triple-Win” model (Environment, Community, Economy) involving carbon credits and biodiversity. They needed to celebrate their 25th anniversary with a film that made this complexity accessible and emotional.
We deployed a crew to Uganda, capturing sweeping aerials of landscape restoration and intimate interviews with local farmers benefiting from the “Trees for Global Benefit” programme. High-end cinematography showing the tangible beauty of their scientific work.
The Outcome
A suite of assets, including a 5-minute Hero Film, used to secure international funding and demonstrate transparency to stakeholders.
ALTI GLOBAL
Defining a New Standard in Wealth
AlTi Global, a leader in private wealth management, needed a corporate film that conveyed “trust” and “longevity” without the stuffy clichés of the finance sector.
We collaborated closely with their leadership to script a narrative focused on their client-first philosophy. Filming in London and New York, we used slow, deliberate camera movement and warm lighting to create a sense of stability and calm.
The Outcome
A “Brand Film” that anchors their digital presence, differentiating them in a crowded market. The success led to a commission for a second film.
KYN LUXURY CARE HOMES
Stories of the Makers
KYN, a luxury care home brand, wanted to differentiate themselves in a crowded market by showcasing the human stories behind their exceptional service, the artisans, chefs, and caregivers who make their residences special.
We created a series of branded micro-documentaries, each profiling the passionate individuals who bring the KYN experience to life. Intimate, warm, and deeply human.
The Outcome
A library of authentic content that positions KYN as a premium brand built on genuine care and craftsmanship—not just facilities.
UK-Wide Coverage
Delivering Documentary Video
Production UK-Wide
From urban stories to remote landscapes, our distributed crew model allows us to produce documentary films anywhere in the UK without unnecessary travel costs. Need documentary production in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, or along the Cornish coast? We have specialist crews locally.
We provide full public liability (£5m+), professional indemnity, risk assessments, method statements, NDAs, and GDPR-compliant data handling — everything required for responsible, safe documentary filmmaking.
London HQ
National stories, London expertise
Our headquarters at 124 City Road puts us in the centre of the UK’s creative and cultural ecosystem. From the Square Mile to Southbank, Canary Wharf to the West End, our London documentary team has filmed stories for global institutions, galleries, NGOs, and brands shaping the future of culture, sustainability, and society.
Manchester
Documentary production for the North of England
Our Manchester crew covers the North without London travel costs, making high-end documentary production accessible to organisations across Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, and beyond. Whether it’s a social-impact story, a community narrative, or a character-led doc, we bring cinematic craft and editorial depth to every project.
Bristol
The South West’s creative engine
Bristol is home to some of the most respected factual and natural-history storytellers on the planet — and our Bristol crew brings that same spirit of craft to every documentary we produce. From sustainability films to social storytelling and longform brand documentaries, we understand the region’s creative landscape and how to film authentically within it.
Cornwall
Where Landscape Meets Story
Cornwall’s dramatic coastline and cultural identity make it one of the most cinematic locations in the UK. Our Cornwall documentary team specialises in environmental, tourism, community, and heritage storytelling — capturing the spirit of the region with sensitivity and authenticity.
Client Reviews
What Our Clients Say
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what the people we’ve worked with have to say.
Here Now Films brought extraordinary creativity and passion to our campaign, helping us shift from an exhibition-led approach to a destination-focused series of films. They handled everything — scripting, filming, editing — with total professionalism and a clear artistic vision that aligned effortlessly with our values. Communication was always smooth, and the team were genuinely a joy to work with. Stakeholders loved the final films, and the entire process felt seamless from start to finish. We couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated or talented team.
Working with Here Now Films felt like placing our innovative rainforest restoration trial in the safest possible hands. The team adapted brilliantly to the unpredictability of live fieldwork, quickly responding to changing conditions and capturing the essence of a pioneering conservation project. They delivered a visually compelling mini-documentary that resonated across the sector, helped spark new conversations, and reflected our brand and values perfectly. Efficient, flexible, and incredibly easy to work with — the film exceeded all our expectations.
Here Now Films brought a warm, personable, and highly professional presence to a project that required sensitivity, collaboration, and creative leadership. They delivered a powerful film that raised the profile of nature-based health interventions across Somerset, brought partners together, and even contributed to securing significant multi-year funding. Their communication was clear, their approach was values-driven, and their generosity in offering a charitable rate made the work possible for us. A brilliant team with exceptional creative vision.
Here Now are professional, creative and a pleasure to work with. The team are well organised, easy to communicate with and delivered an excellent result. Highly recommended.
I had a great experience with Here Now – they worked collaboratively with us and were an immeasurably great part of bringing the vision of the project to life.
The Power of Longform
Why Invest in Evergreen Content?
The digital ecosystem is cluttered with “fast content”, short-lived social clips that vanish in seconds. Long-form is different. It is Evergreen Content.
A well-crafted documentary acts as a permanent asset for your brand. It builds Topical Authority, signalling to both Google and your customers that you are an entity of substance.
Conversion Power
96% of users watch video content to learn more about a service before buying. Documentary builds trust like nothing else.
Longevity
A documentary produced today can still effectively communicate your values in five years. It’s not disposable content—it’s a legacy asset.
SEO Value
Long-form video content significantly increases “dwell time” on your website—a key ranking factor that boosts your search visibility.
96%
of users watch video before purchasing
1200%
more shares than text & image combined
81%
of video views now happen on mobile
Documentary Production FAQs
Common questions
Everything you need to know about working with us. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
Documentary budgets vary based on scope, location, and complexity. We provide transparent, itemised quotes for every project so you know exactly where your budget is going.
| Entry Level | £5k – £16k |
| Mid-Range | £25k – £100k |
| High-End / Features | £100k+ |
Entry level is ideal for short-form branded content, testimonials, or UK-based case studies. Mid-range suits high-end branded docs with international travel or extensive post-production. High-end covers feature-length documentaries, broadcast series, or global campaigns.
A typical branded documentary project takes 8 to 12 weeks from kickoff to final delivery. However, we’re built for agility and can accelerate timelines for time-sensitive projects or news-cycle reactive content.
Feature-length projects naturally require longer—typically 6 to 18 months depending on complexity, access requirements, and post-production scope.
We own Netflix-approved cinema-grade equipment including RED, ARRI, and Sony cameras. Our in-house gear means we maintain consistent quality while keeping budgets efficient—no expensive rental markups.
We also shoot with “Centre Cut Protection,” meaning we frame our 16:9 cinematic shots so they can be cropped to 9:16 for TikTok/Reels without losing the subject—a massive value-add for marketing teams.
Both. We often partner with creative agencies as their specialist production arm, but we also work directly with marketing teams at brands like AlTi Global and charities like ECOTRUST.
Whether you’re an agency looking for a trusted production partner or an in-house team needing end-to-end support, we adapt to your working style.
For branded and corporate work, you typically receive full ownership of the final deliverables with perpetual usage rights. We’re transparent about this from the start.
For feature documentaries and broadcast content, rights structures can vary depending on distribution arrangements, co-production agreements, and funding requirements. We’ll work with you to find the right structure for your project.
We have hubs in London, Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall, giving us access to both the creative heart of the UK and stunning natural landscapes. But we work nationwide and internationally, from the Scottish Highlands to Uganda, from New York to Finland.
Wherever your story needs to be told, we’ll get there.
Your Story is Waiting. Let’s Tell It.
Whether you’re a global brand looking to build a legacy, or an NGO looking to change the world, we’re ready to listen.
More Services
Looking for another service? As one of the UK’s leading video production companies we deliver work of all shapes and sizes.
