Funding

Information about some of the key organisations responsible for film funding

British Film Institute (BFI)
The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK. It distributes Lottery funds for film and has a wide range of support schemes for film funding including: Development funding; Production funding; Completion funding; International co-production funding; First feature funding; BFI NET.WORK for new and emerging directors, writers and producers; BFI Vision Awards for new generation producers and production companies.
The BFI offers a specialised funding application process for Documentary support via pitching sessions held three times each year.
The BFI website also hosts a useful Funding Finder guide to the wide range of funding opportunities for new and emerging writers, directors or producers, to assist with short films, features and professional development.

Creative England
Creative England supports the sustainable growth of independent creative businesses, and the talent that feeds them, in every part of England outside London. Creative England offers a range of funding opportunities across Business Investment and Talent Development across tech, games, film and TV, including the landmark low budget feature film initiative iFeatures (see below).

Creative Europe Desk UK
Creative Europe Desk UK provides free advice and support for applicants from the UK for Creative Europe funding and training streams (the European Union's programme to support the audiovisual, cultural and creative sectors from 2014-2020 ). Creative Europe Desk UK’s team of specialists is based across the UK (in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast) and organises workshops, seminars and industry events.
Creative Europe funding is available through a range of production, training and networking schemes for film and TV producers, video game developers, film distributors, sales agents, audiovisual training providers, organisers of film festivals, film markets and networks, film education specialists and cinema exhibitors.

Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the national is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland on behalf of all who live, work or visit Scotland. Creative Scotland distributes arts funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery, and invests in Screen arts including feature film production and short film production initiatives.

 

 

Ffilm Cymru Wales (formerly Film Agency for Wales)
Ffilm Cymru Wales is the sole agency for film in Wales, with a remit to help develop a film sector in Wales and maximise the economic, educational and cultural benefits of film. Ffilm Cymru Wales supports Welsh or Wales-based writers, directors and producers with development and production funding, industry assistance and mentoring opportunities.
Ffilm Cymru Wales also aims to bring film makers and audiences together by encouraging more people to see more films in more venues, and promotes the use of film in education and community regeneration.

 

FIlm London
Film London offers several film funding schemes: Short Films: London Calliing an annual scheme that nurtures and champions the UK capital’s most exciting breakthrough filmmaking talent with a comprehensive package of production funding, training and expert mentoring.; Microwave is Film London’s intergrated training and funding initiative for low budget feature-length filmmaking which gives development and mentoring support to all of the shortlisted projects, as well as production finance and distribution support to the final commissioned films; Artists' Films: FLAMIN Productions commissions new, single screen works that are ambitious in premise and duration.

 

Northern Ireland Screen
Northern Ireland Screen is the government-backed lead agency in Northern Ireland for the film, television and digital content industry, driving global growth through boosting the economy, celebrating Northern Ireland culture and enhancing children’s education. Northern Ireland Screen's mission to accelerate the development of a dynamic and sustainable screen industry and culture in Northern Ireland is supported by intervention in the following areas: Production and development funding for film, television and digital content;  Information and locations service and production support for filming in Northern Ireland; Custom-built studio facilities; Marketing of Northern Ireland as a worldwide production location and promoting its product and talent; Financial assistance for training and skills development; Production funding for Irish Language and Ulster-Scots programming; Investment in film education, heritage and archive, film festivals and cultural cinema.
Northern Ireland Screen is funded by Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) and the Department for Communities; it is delegated by the Arts Council of NI (ACNI) to administer Lottery funding for film in Northern Ireland.

 

BBC Films
The BBC is a public service broadcaster and has a feature filmmaking arm, BBC Films which aims to make strong British movies with range and ambition and is committed to finding and developing new talent. BBC Films makes and co-produces approximately eight films a year.
BBC Writersroom champions and supports new writing in film, TV, radio and theatre.

Channel 4
Channel 4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded public service broadcaster. Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division with a separate but linked organisation Film 4 Productions, as its feature filmmaking arm.
As well as supporting existing British talent, the organisation offers many opportunities for emerging talent through film production schemes and other
initiatives.

 

Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund
Established in 1924, the CTBF is the UK charity for Cinema Exhibition, Television and Film, supporting professionals behind the screen in times of need. The CTBF raises funds through fundraising events including the Royal Film Performance, donations, and a supporters scheme.
The CTBF also run talent development programmes including the JBAs (John Brabourne Awards), The Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing programme, and the Richard Attenborough Scholarship in association with The NFTS (National Film & Television School).

iFeatures
iFeatures is Creative England's low budget feature film initiative, supported by BBC Films, the BFI and Creative Skillset. The aim of the scheme is to support the development and production of low budget feature films, and to discover and mentor the next generation of filmmakers with a passion to tell stories rooted in the English regions.
With each annual round of awards iFeatures funds the development of up to 12 projects. After an intensive six months development process, up to three of these projects will be selected for production, with budgets of £350,000 per film.

Indiegogo
Founded in 2008, Indiegogo is the leading global platform for crowdfunding, empowering anyone, anywhere, to raise money to bring ideas to life. Offering a wealth of tools to source funding, launch, market and manage projects Indiegogo has helped facilitate over $1 billion of funding campaigns in areas such as film, music, charity and small business.

Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a crowd funding website for creative projects. Kickstarter has facilitated funding for a diverse array of projects, ranging from indie films, music and comics to journalism, video games, and food-related projects.
Kickstarter helps find the resources and support needed to make creative ideas a reality. Every artist, filmmaker, designer, developer, and creator on Kickstarter has complete creative control over their work — and the opportunity to share it with a vibrant community of backers.

 

SDI (Scottish Documentary Institute)
SDI specialises in documentary training, production and distribution and supporting filmmakers. SDI Productions is the feature production arm of the Scottish Documentary Institute and is now one of the leading independent production companies and resources for creative documentary in Scotland.

 

Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation whose aim is to improve the health of humans and animals. For many years the Trust has been encouraging the collaboration between scientists and artists to help generate understanding and debate around key issues affecting science and society. This is achieved through a variety of awards and initiatives open to all art forms including fiction and documentary film and TV.