MASTERCLASS
Archival Research for Documentaries
Join a 3-week online course to learn the best practices in archival research, clearance and storytelling – and get ready for your next doc production. Next dates: not yet announced.

3
WEEKS TO GROW YOUR ARCHIVAL SKILLS
5
HOURS OF
ONLINE LESSONS
(2-month ACCESS)
3
LIVE SESSIONS INCL. A PARTICIPATIVE ROUND-TABLE
6
VIDEO CONVERSATIONS with
TOP ARCHIVE EXPERTS
Level
FUNDAMENTALS FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE
OVERVIEW
The Archive Valley Masterclass
At Archive Valley, we see a lot of Film and TV Professionals struggling with archival work,
while there is a growing appetite for working with archives.
So we came up with this concrete solution.
Engaging and practical, the Archive Valley Masterclass is specially tailored to help you navigate the fascinating world of archival research and deal with its many aspects, from the research phase to the licensing process and master deliveries.
By the end of this 3-week course, not only you will know about the entire process including concrete tips and best practices gathered from archive experts worldwide, but you will also come away with the confidence to handle the archival work of your current and upcoming productions.
Archive Valley Masterclass #1, #2 and #3 are over.
Want to get updated about the next edition?
Please, share your contact details below.
WHAT
Learning Objectives
During this 3-week course, you will learn how to:
- Conduct an archival research;
- Master research methods and search technics;
- Uncover new amazing archival sources to tell your story;
- Anticipate the costs and budget wisely;
- Avoid common mistakes and pitfalls;
- Understand rights-clearance and the fair use exception;
- Deal with the licensing and ordering process;
- Organize your entire archival workflow;
- Make the most of archival clips and materials;
- Assess the need for colorization and other technologies;
- Benefit from a network of local archive experts;
- Practice your skills thanks to exercises.
HOW
A 100% Online Course
2 Hours of Class per Week
MORE THAN 40 VIDEO MODULES THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW AT YOUR OWN PACE
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES AND A COLLABORATIVE ARCHIVE DIRECTORY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS (REPLAY) WITH TOP ARCHIVE PRODUCERS TO GO FURTHER

A 2-HOUR ROUND-TABLE TO INTERACT WITH OUR SPECIAL GUESTS
"The comprehensive overview and expert insights you receive on the masterclass could be a lifeline to many."

Madeline Bates, Consultant and former FOCAL International Director of Outreach
WHO
Dedicated to Film & TV Professionals
This course is open to producers, associate producers, and filmmakers
willing to acquire the ins and outs of archival research.
It's a prerequisite for any film, tv or media professional who:
- has an historical documentary project in mind or is about to start one;
- is developing a new program, a documentary, or a docu-series with significant archival needs;
- often faces challenges in dealing with archival research and archival clearance in production;
- would like to start a freelance activity as an archive researcher.
Everything you need to know
to work with archives.
Number of attendees is limited.
Get notified by e-mail about the next dates.
Meet your Instructor

Camille Chavanne has been Archive Valley’s Head of Research since 2016.
She manages the community of archive professionals and supervises footage research for the many different projects that pass through the platform. Before joining the Archive Valley team, she worked as an archive researcher for several French production companies.
Camille holds two Master’s degrees: in History, and in Audiovisual Heritage Management from INA (National Audiovisual Institute, Paris).
Discover the Special Guests who joined
the last Archive Valley Masterclass



Enjoy our Past Live Sessions With Top Archive Producers
(Available for Replay)

Live Sessions:
June 8 (30 min. intro),
June 17 (45 min. mid-course point) &
June 29 (2-hour round-table).
Oups… You’ve missed the last edition. Want to know when the next one will start ?
Or Request Access to our New Archive Valley Masterclass for Teams
(soon available).
Learning Path
A 3-Week Online Course
Introducing the Archive Valley Masterclass
Introductory Live Session
Lesson 1 - Archival Research (2 hours)
LOOKING FOR ARCHIVAL CONTENT
– Part 1 : How to tackle a research : guidelines and guidances.
– Part 2 : Uncovering archives for your story.
– Part 3 : Search methodology and technics.
BONUS : 2 Conversations with Top Archive Producers (Replay)
– A cross-conversation with Laura Tusi (Maradona / HBO) and Maya Avidov (Formula 1 : Drive to Survive / Netflix)
– A conversation with Rosemary Rotondi (Inside Television ; CitizenFour).
Lesson 2 - Archival Clearance (2 Hours)
UNDERSTANDING RIGHTS AND COSTS
– Part 1 : Organizing your workflow.
– Part 2 : Rights, licensing agreements, and fair use.
– Part 3 : Anticipating the costs & budgeting wisely.
BONUS : 2 Conversations with Top Archive Producers (Replay)
– A cross-conversation with James McDonald (Fear City : New York vs the Mafia / Netflix) and Kenn Rabin (Selma, Milk)
– A conversation with Marianna Yarovskaya (An Inconvenient Truth, Last Days in Vietnam)
Lesson 3 - Archival Storytelling (1 Hour)
TELLING STORIES WITH ARCHIVES TODAY
– Part 1 : Code of ethics and the recent debates about innovative techniques
– Part 2 : Stories from the archives.
BONUS : 2 Conversations with Top Archive Producers (Replay)
– A cross-conversation with Rich Remsberg (Bobby Kennedy For President / Netflix) and Lily Yudinsky (Hidden Face).
– A conversation with James RM Hunt (American Murder: The Family Next Door / Netflix, My Generation).
Bonus - 6 Replays of the past Live sessions with experts (5 hours)
– Live sessions about Archival Research (replay)
A Cross-conversation with Archive Producers Laura Tusi (Maradona / HBO) and Maya Avidov (Formula 1 : Drive to Survive / Netflix)
– A Conversation with Rosemary Rotondu (Inside Television, CitizenFour)
– Live sessions about Archival Clearance (replay)
A Cross-conversation with Archive Producers James McDonald (Fear City : New York vs the Mafia / Netflix) and Kenn Rabin (Selma, Milk)
A conversation with Marianna Yarovskaya (An Inconvenient Truth, Last Days in Vietnam)
– Live sessions about Archival Storytelling (replay)
A Cross-conversation with Archive Producers Rich Remsberg (Bobby Kennedy For President / Netflix) and Lily Yudinsky (Hidden Face)
A Conversation with James RM Hunt (American Murder: The Family Next Door / Netflix, My Generation).
Some kind words from our past attendees