Lottery funding for development and production

The Film Fund is the production and development heart of the BFI. We support filmmakers in the UK who are emerging or world class and capable of creating distinctive and entertaining work.

The Film Fund

Feature film funding – information and terms and conditions

Please ensure you have read the full information document and the Terms and Conditions for our funding before you complete the application form:

First-time directors

The Film Fund selects features from first-time directors (for funding at budgets of under £2,000,000) at quarterly intervals. We receive a high volume of applications from new directors, and have found it beneficial to look at these applications alongside each other. We also believe that a more structured approach allows us to provide successful applicants with the right level of editorial collaboration and support in raising finance. Applications can be made at any point, but will be assessed after the quarterly deadline for submission has passed and in accordance with a specific process. See Funding for first-time directors for more details.

Documentary funding

The BFI Film Fund will now consider production applications from documentary filmmakers through new twice yearly-pitching sessions – in Sheffield and London – with a panel of Fund executives, industry experts and peers. Any filmmakers wishing to apply for production funding for documentaries should read through our documentary funding information, in addition to the documents above, and note that their application to the Film Fund will be handled through this new process.

Applying to the Film Fund

Before you proceed to the application form below please note that applicants who wish to apply to the Film Fund are first asked to create an account. This is requested for the applicants’ convenience in order to allow the application to be saved before submitting it.

The account also allows the British Film Institute to confirm by email that the application has been received. At this point, applicants will be sent a unique Application ID for their records. Once applicants have an account set up, future applications will be pre-populated with their contact details.

To make a new application to the Film Fund if you already have an account login, or to create an account login if you are a new applicant, please proceed to the application form below:

• Film Fund application form

The applicant will be able to access all previously submitted applications, including in-progress applications, at any point by logging into their account:

• Account login

Contacting us and FAQ

Please refer to our frequently asked questions before contacting the Film Fund, as these may help answer your queries.

Future funding opportunities

For more information see Film Forever, the BFI’s plan for 2012-2017.

Production awards

In 2013/14 the Film Fund will make approximately 20 major production awards per year. Priority will be given to projects demonstrating a bold vision and creative excellence from new and established filmmakers, across a range of budgets and in any genre, that enrich British film culture and showcase the diversity of the UK and its storytellers.

Development awards

Pursuing creative excellence in the development of new material is fundamental to a film’s commercial and critical success. The Film Fund makes approximately 150 awards a year for the development of feature film projects, and in 2013/14 we will continue to make development a key priority of the Fund, with annual funding increases for development.