Between 2024 and 2026, up to six challenge calls will be identified where innovative new thinking could catalyse a step change in the industry, whilst producing learning and insights that benefit the whole screen sector.
Challenge Call 3 – Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data for film production
Funding available: up to £200,000.
The BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy outlines an aim to “drive improvements in the diversity” of the UK screen sector, fostering a healthy and equitable industry and understanding current inequalities so that they can be addressed. Key to this aim is understanding the diversity of the UK’s film production workforce.
For a number of years, key screen sector organisations, including film agencies, film funders, public service broadcasters and commercial studios have tried different collection methods for gathering data on the diversity of film production crews. Despite developments, there are still significant gaps around the data and insights which are available, and there is no current system in use across film production that captures the majority of the workforce’s data accurately and securely, producing valuable and robust insights.
This Innovation Challenge Fund is an opportunity to accelerate the research and innovation around equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data monitoring, and support the development of the best possible system to do this work.
It will do this by funding research and development (R&D) in three key areas:
- understanding workforce needs (what is the user experience of providing this data, and how can it be improved to increase engagement)
- developing a model for how diversity data can be used effectively across the sector (what data is needed, and how can it be interoperable across users and systems)
- the technical infrastructure required to collect and monitor this data efficiently, while maintaining data security
When you can apply
The deadline for applications is midnight on Tuesday 21 January. Awards are expected to be made in April 2025.
You need to read the funding guidelines before you apply. The application link is included in the guidelines.
More information and support
We will be hosting a video conference Q&A to answer any queries you may have about the challenge call on Tuesday 3 December at 11am.
Register to attend the Q&A conference
Get access support
We can provide assistance to you if you have access requirements and need some support to apply. See Access support for BFI funding applicants.
If you have any questions about the fund, email innovationchallengefund@bfi.org.uk
Previous challenge calls
Video games (challenge call 1)
The fund’s first challenge call supported innovation in the UK video games sector. Applications for this call are now closed.
Successful awardees have been announced (download the PDF).
You can also find information about the video game challenge call.
AI in screen and moving image archives (challenge call 2)
The fund’s second challenge call supported moving image archives to develop skills and AI literacy across the sector.
Applications for this call are now closed.
Successful awardees will be announced in December. You can find information about the AI in screen challenge call.