Benjamin Barfoot is a self-taught filmmaker who developed his craft by doing — learning to shoot, edit, direct, and even compose music through years of hands-on experience. His early work often meant working entirely alone, becoming a one-stop shop out of necessity. Driven by a desire to understand the world through people and place, he began independently making films that took him into complex, emotionally charged environments — including a self-funded road trip across Israel and Palestine to explore both sides of the conflict, and filming on the streets of Egypt during the revolution.

These early projects naturally led to commissioned work with BBC Current Affairs and Vice, where Benjamin created a wide range of content from branded documentaries to hard-hitting factual pieces. This evolved into a longstanding relationship with BBC Panorama, where he directed large-scale investigative films alongside leading journalists. More recently, he has worked with BBC Studios, directing travel, food, and culture documentaries — as well as conservation films that explore global issues through a human lens. Throughout it all, his approach remains grounded in instinct, emotion, and an ability to shape stories as they happen.