Discovery and Impact feature funding

• Discovery feature funding supports funding for debut directors with a budget of up to £3,500,000. It provides awards of up to £1,000,000.
• Impact feature funding is for more experienced directors or debut filmmakers with projects budgeted above £3,500,000. It provides awards of up to £1,250,000.

Applications must made by the film’s producer.

Full eligibility criteria are contained within the funding guidelines:

• Discovery section three – check if you’re eligible
• Impact section three – check if you’re eligible

 

You can apply online once you’ve read the funding guidelines in full. There is an application link in the guidelines.

Discovery feature funding

• The Discovery Fund is now closed. Round 6 of the Discovery Fund will open on Tuesday 25 March 2025 and close on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 5pm (GMT).

Read the funding guidelines

Impact feature funding

Funding can be applied for on a rolling basis.

Read the funding guidelines

If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email productioncoordinator@bfi.org.uk

Discovery feature funding

• The Discovery Fund is now closed. Round 6 of the Discovery Fund will open on Tuesday 25 March 2025 and close on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 5pm (GMT).

Impact feature funding

• The Impact Fund is open. The assessment period for the Fund is 12 weeks from your application being formally acknowledged. Due to the upcoming festive period, the Fund will close on Thursday 19 December at 5pm (GMT) and will re-open on Monday 13 January. Applications submitted after Monday 14 October will have a 14 week assessment, to allow for the festive period.

If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email productioncoordinator@bfi.org.uk

Since the very first National Lottery draw in 1994, public support – raised directly through National Lottery ticket sales – has funded more than 670,000 projects, raising more than £46 billion for good causes. As a recipient, it is important to publicly acknowledge the source of this funding throughout the lifespan of the project. Effectively communicating that it is supported by BFI National Lottery funding ensures those engaging with the work recognise the value and benefit of this unique Good Cause funding.

Therefore, if your application is successful, you will be responsible for prominently crediting BFI National Lottery funding and thanking National Lottery players. As such, you are encouraged to ensure that elements of your project/s which have the potential to engage a broad public audience are capitalised on, in order to communicate this message. More details will be supplied once an award has been made.