Filmmaker resume example & writing guide

This resume guide, along with the corresponding filmmaker resume example, will cover the following topics:

• What should a filmmaker resume include

• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education)

• Adding relevant key skills to your resume

• Choosing the right resume template for a filmmaker

What should your filmmaker resume include?

Much like a film, your resume should captivate your audience and ensure they watch (or read!) until the final credits. As a filmmaker, you’ll need to showcase your expertise in writing, directing, and managing a portfolio of film projects as well as highlighting any stand-out achievements and awards that set you apart from the competition. Creativity, collaboration, team leadership, and technical skills should also feature strongly.  

Your filmmaker resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header with your contact information

• The resume summary 

• The employment history section

• The resume skills section

• The education section

How can you create a professional summary?

For your filmmaker resume to be successful, open with a strong and convincing professional summary. This is the first section the hiring manager will see, so it needs to clearly communicate your filmmaking skills, experience, and accomplishments as well as why you’re so passionate about being a filmmaker.

One way to spark the hiring manager’s interest is to include a branding statement at the beginning of your profile. This short, catchy statement (15 to 20 words) should outline the scope of your filmmaking expertise and the added value you can bring.  

Follow this with a short paragraph of three or four sentences that provides more specifics on your filmmaking career. This could include your experience in directing film and video production, talent for visual effects, and ability to lead and motivate diverse teams.

See our adaptable filmmaker resume summary below.

How should you describe your work experience as a filmmaker?   

The all-important career experience section is your opportunity to showcase your storytelling abilities, film projects you’ve delivered, and your strong technical competencies. The first thing to do is review (and re-review) the job description to cherry-pick the key requirements of the project. Look out for skills and experience that are repeated or emphasized as these are the areas to focus on.

Detail your filmmaking experience in reverse chronological order, along with your job title, years of employment, and a short paragraph of core responsibilities. Highlight any specific accomplishments and film projects you have delivered via bullet points, including any specific facts and figures where possible.  

For example:

• Directed 300+ commercials for international clients, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sony Panasonic, Clorets, Aquana, Danone, Ford, and Nike.

Take a look at the adaptable filmmaker resume employment history section below.

Include a fitting filmmaker resume qualifications section

It’s important to detail where you received your foundational knowledge of film as well as any additional certifications or professional memberships. If your experience in filmmaking has been secured purely on the job, then frame your qualifications slightly differently.

• List your relevant education in reverse order, with the highest qualification first. This could include a degree in filmmaking, performing and production arts, or media, for example. 

• Create a qualifications section. If you haven’t completed any relevant academic studies and your experience is all on the job, then create a qualifications section. Place at the beginning of your resume and bullet point into four key sections: filmmaking expertise, soft skills, key strengths, and professional memberships. 

Which key skills are relevant for a filmmaker resume?

When outlining skills on a filmmaker resume, make sure they are relevant to the opportunity by checking the job description. By including keywords from the description, you’ll also be covering yourself if your resume gets parsed by applicant tracking systems (To learn more about conquering ATS, check out our article Resume ATS optimization.)

Our resume templates provide a key skills list that you can easily adapt for your own unique experience as a filmmaker. Include these keywords across your resume for maximum impact. Some critical skills for a filmmaker include:

• Film & digital content development

• Production management

• Creative storytelling

• Videography

• Artistic direction

• Crew management

How to select the most impactful filmmaker resume template

Your filmmaker resume should use a clean, clear, and modern resume design that is easy for the hiring manager to read. If you’re looking to present yourself as a creative filmmaker, it’s ok to add a little bit of color. Just don’t go overboard with images or design elements, as this can distract from the core information on your resume and also result in ATS struggling to parse your resume.

Reverse-chronological format is the best way to show your career progress as a filmmaker, with recent and relevant experience placed more prominently. Stick to one or two pages in terms of resume length.

When exploring our many resume templates in our resume builder, start by selecting the resume layout that best fits your situation. Find inspiration with our over 100 available resume examples.

Copyable filmmaker resume example

Key takeaways for writing a filmmaker resume

1. Being a filmmaker is an inspiring career choice, where you get to blend your passion for film, with making a positive impact on people’s lives. 

2. Focus on adding accomplishments in your resume. This could include awards, successful film projects, and notable clients as well providing a link to your portfolio/reel.

3. Showcase your soft skills across your resume. Your creative outlook, relationship-building skills, and collaborative approach are all something to shout about.

4. Make your life easier by using our online resume builder to create your filmmaker resume with adaptable templates and AI powered content.