TRIDOC begins with a 5 days residential seminar that is a first introduction to the participants and their proposed film subjects. The aim is to start the writing process through the screenings of contemporary creative documentaries and through a series of practical exercises. It puts forward and discusses different modes of representations in documentary filmmaking. Theoretical, practical and ethical elements of filming in another country/culture are also examined.

After the seminar, each directing student goes in his host school for 35 days to prepare and shoot his documentary. He is assisted by the directing student of the host school and followed by the directing teacher of the host school. After 15 days, the cinematographer, coming from the third partner school, arrives in the host school and a triangular team IAD/BFM/NATFA with the sound engineer student is built. 5 days of preparation so that the team can test how to work together. 10 days of shooting. Then every body goes back home, the directing student with his rushes. He is then rejoined, for 30 days, by the editing student coming from the school/country where he has shot his documentary. The students are followed by an editing teacher of the school, the film is edited and mixed.

The purpose of TRIDOC is also to help promote cultural diversity and to contribute to the emergence of networks between the future audiovisual professionals in Europe. Getting to know each other, learning to work together, giving young European audiovisual students (directors, directors of photography and cameramen, sound engineers and production managers) the opportunity to get a taste of what is done in another EU Member State.