Film Director CV example

Film is all about perspective – and your CV should reflect yours. This isn’t just about listing jobs or awards; it’s about creating a compelling narrative that tells a recruiter or producer exactly what kind of storyteller you are.

This guide walks you through writing a CV, showing you how to align layout and content with your experience and goals as a film director.

A film set thrives on clarity. Your CV should serve the same purpose: making your skills, experience, and style immediately clear to whoever’s reading it. Whether it’s a studio exec, a commissioning producer, or a creative agency director, they need to scan your document and quickly understand what you bring to the table – without needing a second take.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Place your name and personal details prominently at the top of your CV for quick access. Adding a photo is up to you.
• Profile – Open with a compelling overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.
• Core skills – List your key abilities in this section, focusing on those that will be most relevant to the job.
• Work experience – Provide a detailed breakdown of your work history, starting with the most recent job first.
• Education – List your qualifications, including degrees and relevant certifications, in reverse chronological order.
• Additional info – Use this optional space for relevant hobbies or personal pursuits that enhance your application.
  

Use bullet points to make the document easy to scan. Choose a clean, professional font and use clear section headings to create flow. Two pages is your ideal length limit – enough to show range without losing focus. Prioritise structure and readability across your CV’s format, even if your directing style leans experimental – clarity wins auditions here!

This short paragraph sits at the top of your CV and sets the tone for everything that follows. It should reflect your creative approach and track record of bringing projects to life – not just visually, but logistically and collaboratively.

More than a highlight reel, your CV profile is your chance to show what you bring to a set and how your direction contributes to the overall production.

Here are some tips on what to include:

• Where you worked – Mention the studios, networks, or production houses you’ve directed for, including the types of projects.
• Your top qualifications – Note any formal training in directing, screen production, or film studies.
• Essential skills – Briefly outline your strengths in visual storytelling, crew leadership, and production oversight.
• Genres or formats – Refer to the mediums you’ve directed in – short film, feature, TV drama, documentary, etc.
• Value delivered – Highlight the creative impact of your direction: festival wins, strong reviews, audience engagement, or successful project delivery.
  

In the core CV skills section, focus on your ability to lead a production creatively and logistically. This is your chance to outline your high-level competencies – not in vague terms, but in clear alignment with the needs of a production company or commissioner.

Keep it specific to the kind of directing work you’re applying for. This section should reflect tangible abilities, from collaborating with cinematographers to working within tight budgets and schedules. Tailor it carefully, using the job spec as a guide: those are the keywords recruiters are looking for.

Your work experience should tell a story just as well as your films do. Each project should show how you took a vision and turned it into something real – not just directing performances, but shaping the tone and delivering a cohesive end product.

Walk the reader through your projects or jobs in reverse chronological order. For each one, write a brief paragraph to set the context – name the production, the company, your role, and its scale or format. Then use bullet points to outline key contributions and achievements, such as creative decisions, shoot coordination, budget management, and audience or critical response.

• Outline – Name the production, client, or studio, and clarify whether it was a short film, feature, series, or other. Include your role and the scope of the project.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “directed” and “guided.” For example: “directed a 12-episode web series for a youth-focused streaming platform” or “guided actors through scene work and improvisational workshops.”
• Achievements – Focus on outcomes. Did the production premiere at a notable festival? Was it picked up by a distributor? Use tangible results – audience numbers, awards, reviews – to show the success of your direction.

While experience is often king in the film industry, a relevant qualification can help show your formal grounding in media production. This section should clearly list your academic background, including any degrees, film school training, or industry-certified workshops.

There’s no need to go deep into every module – just outline your main education credentials, especially if they’re tied to directing, editing, production management, or screenwriting. If you’ve done a residency or mentorship programme, include that too.