Cole Robinson

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Cole Robinson is a British documentary filmmaker from Teesside, England.

Contents

Early life and education

Robinson was born in Middlesbrough and grew up in Redcar, Teesside, in North East England. [1] He received his early education from Rye Hills Academy in Redcar. [2] [3]

Robinson launched his first business venture at the age of 12, selling autographs online. [4] He later studied economics, media studies, and business at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough. [5]

He then attended Northumbria University in Newcastle, where he graduated with a first class honours degree in entrepreneurial business management. [6] During his time at university, Robinson established Filmit UK, a video production enterprise. [6] [2]

Robinson is a lifelong Middlesbrough FC fan. [7]

Career

Robinson produces documentary films focusing primarily on geopolitics, working-class communities and global social issues. [1] [2]

His early career included travel and commercial film projects. In 2018, while studying at Northumbria University, Robinson was commissioned to create video content for the Moroccan National Tourism Board’s “Visit Morocco” campaign, following the success of an independent travel film he produced in the country. [4]

In subsequent years, he continued producing short films and documentaries centred on travel, often highlighting the people he met along the way. He has undertaken projects such as travelling through Europe without money or a phone, visiting eight countries in the process, trekking through the Amazon rainforest at the age of 19, and following trails leading to Machu Picchu. [8]

In 2022, Robinson released Exploring Croatia in 97 Seconds, produced during a five-week backpacking trip. [8]

In 2023, his documentary How One City Is Quietly Dominating World Football explored football culture in Rosario, Argentina, hometown of footballer Lionel Messi. Filmed shortly after the 2022 World Cup final, the documentary considered how Rosario, despite socio-economic difficulties, consistently produces professional football players. [9] [10]

In 2024, Robinson produced The Dark Reality of Life on Easter Island , a documentary which examined contemporary issues faced by the indigenous Rapa Nui community, including cultural preservation, economic exploitation, and environmental pressures resulting from tourism. [5] [1] Later, in the same year, Robinson directed Tyne-Wear Derby: In With Sunderland , a documentary created with the football media outlet COPA90. [11] [5]

In 2025, Robinson worked with the British Library and Leeds Libraries to create two documentaries for the Voice of the Fans exhibition. [5] [11] In the same year, Robinson worked on Europe’s Deadliest Land Border Is in Africa, which featured interviews and commentary from David Stenner, filming in Melilla and at the fence, and archival documentation of violence at the border. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gouldsbrough, Patrick (September 20, 2024). "Filmmaker shares secrets of 'one of the most isolated places on earth' in documentary". The Northern Echo.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Barlow, Georgia (July 16, 2025). "Yorkshire filmmaker visits Europe's deadliest land border in new documentary". Yorkshire Post .
  3. "Cole Robinson | Rye Hills Academy". www.ryehillsacademy.co.uk.
  4. 1 2 "Entrepreneurial student frames new career in film". Northumbria University. February 14, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Banks, Georgia (December 15, 2024). "Redcar filmmaker who 'broke mould' returns to college to inspire students". Teesside Live.
  6. 1 2 "The graduate behind the North East's fastest growing video agency". November 1, 2019.
  7. "Cole Robinson biography".
  8. 1 2 "VIDEO: Exploring Croatia in 97 Seconds". Croatia Week. January 20, 2022.
  9. Miah, Rahima (June 5, 2023). "Middlesbrough filmmaker visits Messi's childhood home for new documentary; Cole Robinson investigated how the city the footballing legend grew up in has gone on to produce talented footballers". Evening Gazette.
  10. Miah, Rahima (June 5, 2023). "Boro filmmaker visits Messi's childhood home for new documentary". Teesside Live.
  11. 1 2 Robson, Dave (July 20, 2025). "Tees filmmaker who made Messi movie handpicked by British Library". Teesside Live.