Paul Burgess
Paul is an award-winning Editor and Director who has cut landmark documentaries, feature-docs and drama-docs for major international broadcasters and platforms. A highly skilled storyteller with a finely tuned instinct for pacing, music and narrative, he excels at making complex subjects accessible, emotional and compelling.
Paul worked on the exceptional three-part series Free at Last: Unresolved Stories of Apartheid, winner, in 2025, of Outstanding Documentary Series at South Africa’s National Arts and Culture Awards, as well as a Global South Award at the Prix Italia. He also edited Maggi Hambling: Making Love with the Paint and Empire State of Mind, both nominated for Grierson awards, and Storyville: The Curse of Oil, which won a Cine Golden Eagle Award for News Analysis.
Another highlight of Paul’s credits is Rock Out, directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. A feature documentary exploring the often-hidden queer history behind rock, punk and heavy metal. Following festival screenings at Sheffield DocFest, Outfest LA and many more, the film has now been developed into a four-part series for Amazon Prime.
Creative, passionate and collaborative, Paul brings a wealth of experience to every edit, paired with strong editorial judgement and a high level of technical expertise.
Work by Paul
Rock Out
Free at Last: Unresolved Stories of Apartheid
Maggi Hambling: Making Love With the Paint
Days That Shook the BBC with David Dimbleby
Empire State of Mind
The Traffickers
Rock Out
In electric, personal, and historical ways, this riveting documentary, directed by Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, explores whether there is, or ever was, a home for Queer in the hyper-masculine, black painted worlds of heavy metal, punk and rock & roll.
Excavating the often-veiled queer lives of some of the greatest culture-defining disruptors and masterminds of music in the 1960s and 70s, Rock Out demands to know what unique value ‘gay’ brought to creating and revolutionising rock, punk, and metal – from the perspective of managers, producers, artists and fans – and why those contributions have been left buried for so long.
Free at Last: Unresolved Stories of Apartheid
“Free at Last:Unresolved Stories of Apartheid” is a three-part documentary series that explores the complexities of the Apartheid era and its aftermath, confronting the idea that South Africa’s horrors are confined to history.
Featuring key political figures, eyewitness testimony, and rare archival material, the series sheds light on the brutal legacy of Apartheid and the ways it continues to shape society today. It traces the difficult transition out of Apartheid, challenging the perception of a “happy ending” to Mandela’s era by exposing the divisions, inequalities, and unresolved tensions that remain.
By confronting the nation’s trauma and revealing untold stories, Free at Last asks why so many perpetrators have evaded accountability, and what true justice and reconciliation might look like.
Maggi Hambling: Making Love With the Paint
Intimate portrait of the renowned British artist Maggi Hambling as she reflects on her life and creative journey. Filmed to commemorate her 75th birthday, the documentary provides a rare glimpse into Hambling’s rural Suffolk studio, where she is seen working on a mysterious black canvas.
The film delves into Hambling’s formative years, her artistic liberation during her student days, and her encounters with notable figures such as Francis Bacon. It also explores her personal relationships, including her profound connection with Henrietta Moraes, Bacon’s muse, whom Hambling continues to draw from memory following Moraes’s death.
Days That Shook the BBC with David Dimbleby
David Dimbleby asks how best the BBC can seek to serve all its audience, and looks at issues such as the Falklands War and race relations, where its impartiality has been tested.
Empire State of Mind
In this insightful series, Sanghera embarks on a journey across the United Kingdom—from Brighton to Edinburgh—to investigate how the British Empire has shaped modern British society. He examines the pervasive impact of imperial history on national identity, multiculturalism, and systemic racism.
Through interviews, historical analysis, and personal reflection, Empire State of Mind offers a compelling examination of how Britain’s imperial past continues to influence its present and future.
The Traffickers
Hedayat embarks on a global journey across 22 countries over 14 months, uncovering the dark underbelly of international trafficking. Each hour-long episode focuses on a different facet of the black market.
Through immersive storytelling and on-the-ground reporting, Hedayat sheds light on the human cost of these illicit trades, emphasizing that the black market is not solely operated by nefarious individuals but often involves ordinary people driven by survival.
The documentary offers a sobering look at the complexities of global trafficking, challenging viewers to consider the ethical implications and the pervasive nature of these underground economies.