Making an application for the UK Global Screen Fund International Co-production strand

Contents

1. Overview
2. Check if you’re eligible
3. What you can use the funding for
4. How to apply
5. What happens after you apply
6. Getting a decision
7. Conditions of our funding

1. Overview

Welcome to the guidelines for the International Co-production strand of the UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF): financed by the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and administered by the BFI. Please read these guidelines carefully before applying.

The UKGSF is a three-year scheme that seeks to boost the UK’s international competitiveness by offering additional, targeted support at each stage of the screen content supply chain.

The UKGSF supports international business development, co-production, promotion and distribution activities, so as to:

• grow the revenue and sustainability of UK independent screen businesses by supporting their international activity
  • we define a ‘UK independent screen business’ as an organisation that has no more than 25% ownership by the following third parties:
    • a non-UK corporate entity
    • a television broadcaster/SVOD platform or operator
    • any company defined as a large company under the Companies Act 2006
• enable industry to further grow international partnerships and to develop projects with international appeal for mutual benefit
• increase the reach of UK screen content to international audiences

The International Co-production strand

The International Co-production strand opens for applications at midday on 30 September 2024 and closes at midday on 25 November 2024.

Applications will be assessed and funding decisions made following the application closing date.

The objective of the International Co-production strand is to support internationally co-produced feature films as well as internationally co-produced television documentaries and animation. All projects should have strong export potential and international audience reach and be able to demonstrate the potential to generate revenues for the UK producer.

This funding aims to increase the number of international co-production projects involving UK collaboration that are highly exportable, and which are able to cross borders and share stories with international audiences. The International Co-production strand will therefore support UK producers to work as partners on international co-productions and enable them to participate meaningfully in the creation of exciting new global projects. In helping to support international creative and business collaborations, we want this funding to increase the visibility, the level of financial and creative input, the revenues and the international track record of UK producers.

The International Co-production strand intends to have global reach. It will support UK producers seeking to collaborate with international partners in new markets that they have not worked in before, as well as those wanting to strengthen ties with existing international partners in familiar foreign markets, thereby supporting reciprocal relationships.

In order to achieve these aims and objectives, we provide non-recoupable grants to independent UK producers as part of their UK financial contribution to both:

• “minority” feature film co-productions in any genre (including fiction, animation and documentary)
• animated and documentary television co-productions (whether “minority” or “majority” in nature), which are co-produced with international partners

Across both feature film and television, we are looking to support international co-productions that:

• make persuasive cases for their international audience and market appeal
• are able to show international distribution and revenue potential
• access new markets that the UK producer has not previously engaged with, or strengthen ties with existing partners in familiar foreign markets
• improve reciprocity between the UK and other nations in co-production
• come from teams that can demonstrate a previous successful track record, whether through success at festivals, awards, and/or box office/viewing figures
• have secured third party financing towards the proposed UK financial contribution to the relevant co-production

Prioritisation

In making awards through each of the strands, the UKGSF is seeking to ensure a UK-wide benefit and address geographic imbalance within the industry. This means that as part of our assessment we will consider:

• where the applicant UK production company and individual UK producer(s) are based
• where projects are shot and/or made
• how projects reflect the culture and talent of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions outside Greater London

Any queries about the Fund or the application process should be directed to ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.

2. Check if you’re eligible

Applications must be made by an independent UK production company, led by at least one individual UK producer, both of which meet the Eligible Applicant criteria set out below.

Eligible Applicants may apply for funding in respect of the following forms of content, which must also meet all of the Eligible Content criteria set out below:

1. feature film co-productions, in any genre (including drama, animation and documentary) and in any language, where the UK producer is a “minority” co-producing partner (i.e. the contribution of at least one of the other co-producing partners is greater than the overall contribution of the UK producer)
2. television co-productions, in the animation and/or documentary genres only, and in any language, where at least two (for “minority” UK co-productions) or three (for “majority” UK co-productions) broadcasters are contributing to the finance plan

Applicants can seek funding towards the UK producer’s creative contribution to the project during production and/or post-production, depending on the needs of the project and the structure of the co-production itself. For projects where the UK producer’s creative contribution will only be during post-production, our assessment will look at whether there is a balanced and proportionate artistic, creative, technical and/or financial overall contribution from the UK. We cannot accept applications from projects that have commenced production and are seeking completion funding. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not support fiction or animation productions that have already started shooting or principal animation.

Official and unofficial co-productions

We will prioritise applications in respect of official co-productions with countries which have bilateral treaties with the UK and/or countries which are members of the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production.

If applicable, we expect producers to seek certification as an official co-production under an existing bi-lateral treaty or the Convention and if not, we will not consider your application unless:

1. you submit a compelling case for co-producing in an unofficial capacity notwithstanding the availability of a bilateral treaty and/or the Convention
2. the project is fully capable of qualifying as a British Film, either:
   • under the relevant UK cultural test
   • as an official co-production under one of the following:
     • the UK’s bilateral treaties
     • the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production for film
     • the UK’s bilateral treaties which allow television co-production

Read more on British certification. If you need advice as to whether your project is capable of qualifying, contact certifications@bfi.org.uk before submitting your application.

Unofficial co-productions with production companies in emerging markets will need to make a compelling case for why we should consider this territory — for example, strong sales potential, unique subject/access, new relationships.

We encourage you to check with the BFI Certification department to ensure that your project meets the relevant requirements and certification deadlines prior to applying to UKGSF. 

Eligible Applicant criteria

To be eligible to apply to the International Co-production strand, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• you are applying through a limited Company registered and centrally managed in the UK and in good standing, whose core business is producing independent narrative content for cinema/commercial online release or television broadcast
• the lead UK applicant’s company is not a company in which more than 25% of its shares are held, directly or indirectly, by one or more of the following third parties:
  • a non-UK corporate entity
  • a television broadcaster/SVOD platform or operator
  • a company defined as a large company under the Companies Act 2006 — this means the company has at least two of the following:
    • turnover of more than £36 million
    • balance sheet total of more than £18 million 
    • more than 250 employees
• the lead individual UK producer connected to the applicant company can give evidence of demonstrable production experience. This is defined as having a personal on-screen Producer credit on at least one project that:
  • meets the definition of narrative-driven screen content (as defined in Eligible Content below)
  • has had commercial distribution, or broadcast in the UK or internationally

Eligible Content criteria

Your project must also meet all of the relevant criteria:

All projects

• Your project has secured or will secure by 16 December 2024 at least one other source of funding on the UK financial share, in addition to any prospective contribution from the UKGSF International Co-production strand and/or the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC) and/or any non-cash flowed sources of finance. For the avoidance of doubt, this may include a VOD platform, provided that the VOD platform is not acquiring worldwide rights on a buyout basis
• Your film project (excluding animation and documentary film projects) has not commenced principal photography or financially closed before before 24 February 2025 and is set to commence principal photography between 24 February and 25 July 2025
• Your animation project (whether film or TV) has not commenced principal animation, or financially closed, before 24 February 2025 and is set to commence principal animation between 24 February and 25 July 2025
• Your documentary project (whether film or TV) is due to be completed before 25 May 2026

If your project is set to commence principal photography or principal animation (with commitments from lead cast and director) between 25 November 2024 and 24 February 2025 you may be eligible for an earlier funding decision through fast track. 

In addition to the above, either your film or your TV project (as applicable) must meet all of the relevant criteria below:

Your Film

• Is a ‘single project’, feature-length (no less than 60 minutes in length), fiction, animation or documentary film with potential for a theatrical release
• Is a project where the UK co-producer is a “minority” co-producing partner
• Qualifies or is wholly capable of qualifying for certification as a British film either under:
  • the Cultural Test;
  • one of the UK’s official bilateral co-production treaties; or
  • the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production
• Has secured at least 60% of the overall finance (i.e. of the financing required to cover the total budget of the film) in addition to any prospective contribution from the UKGSF International Co-Production strand and/or Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC) and/or any non-cash flowed sources of finance
• Whether the film is produced as an official or unofficial co-production, the total budget of the co-production has an overall UK financial and creative contribution of at least 10% on multi-lateral co-productions and 20% on bi-lateral co-productions

Your TV Project

• Is a ‘single project’ or episodic animation or documentary project, with a minimum aggregate duration of 24 minutes, and is intended for TV/online broadcast and:
  • for ‘minority’ co-productions, has at least two broadcasters from two different countries contributing to the finance plan (this can include a broadcaster from the UK)
  • for ‘majority’ co-productions, has at least three broadcasters from three different countries contributing to the finance plan (this can include a broadcaster from the UK)
  • VOD platforms can be included, provided that the VOD platform is not acquiring worldwide rights on a buyout basis
• If your project is a TV documentary, you can have a theatrical release if the project is intended primarily for the television market and meets the above requirements
• Has secured at least 60% of the overall finance, in addition to any prospective contribution from the UKGSF International Co-Production strand or Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC) and/or any non-cash flowed sources of finance

When you’re ineligible

The fund will not support the following types of content:

• filmed productions such as theatre shows, sporting or music events, or artist installation work 
• projects seeking only completion costs 
• immersive and interactive media of any kind 
• video or digital games of any kind, including related platforms and tools 
• music videos and video-clips 
• TV dramas 
• multimedia art projects and installations 
• student films and graduation works 
• live recordings, TV game shows, talk shows, reality shows or educational, teaching and ‘how-to’ programmes 
• documentaries promoting tourism, “making-of”, factual entertainment programming, constructed reality shows, reports, current affairs, news programmes, docu-soaps, animal reportage
• works of a promotional nature, being part of a promotional campaign or advertising for a specific product, organisation and/or brand 
• work that is incapable of obtaining a BBFC certificate no more restrictive than BBFC ‘18’, or the equivalent certification within another format 
• work that does not meet the other eligibility criteria stated elsewhere in the funding guidelines

This list is not exhaustive and if you’re unsure about whether your project is eligible, email ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.

Applicants cannot make simultaneous applications for production funding for the same project to the UKGSF International Co-production strand, and to the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund or the BFI Doc Society Fund. You can only receive production funding from one of these sources for any single project. Projects which have received prior development funding from, or been unsuccessful in seeking funding from, any of the above funds may still be eligible for UKGSF International Co-production strand production funding support, as long as they adhere to the above.

Other sources of support

If you are not eligible for the UKGSF International Co-production strand, we have other resources that might be relevant:

• the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund 
• the BFI Doc Society Fund
• BFI NETWORK which offers opportunities for new and emerging filmmakers to grow their skills and contacts, and supports short film production and feature idea development

If you have read these guidelines thoroughly and are still unsure if you are eligible to apply, please email us at ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.

3. What you can use the funding for

Eligible Applicants may apply for funding of up to a maximum of £300,000 towards the UK production spend of a project that meets the Eligible Content criteria set out in the Check if you’re eligible section above, subject to the other restrictions set out below.

Funding requested from the International Co-production strand cannot exceed 50% of the overall UK financial contribution to the project. This is a maximum limit, and we will expect to see substantial levels of third party financing included as part of the overall UK financial contribution. Those seeking funding equivalent to 25% or more of the overall UK financial contribution to the budget from the International Co-production strand will be required to demonstrate a persuasive need for this higher level of funding, and a strong track record in previous co-productions.

In order for your application to be successful, you must demonstrate that 100% of any International Co-production strand funding that may be awarded to you, and 100% of the proceeds of any Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC) that you are able to claim in respect of the project, will be included as part of the UK producer’s financial contribution for the purposes of official co-production qualification i.e. you may not allocate any of such funding to another co-producing country. Find out more about the AVEC/VGEC system and how to apply for British certification and expenditure credits.

Where the film is produced outside of an official co-production agreement, any funds awarded from the International Co-production strand must be allocated to UK spend within the budget and paid by the UK co-producer on qualifying UK expenditure in line with the co-production treaties or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production rules as explained in the BFI Certification Co-production guidance notes. Except as otherwise approved in writing by the BFI, deviation from these allocations will not be permitted.

Due to limited funding we discourage individual producers from making multiple submissions to this strand of UKGSF in any single application period, whether via a single production company or separate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).

Eligible costs

Any funding granted under the International Co-production strand must be applied solely against the UK elements for your project. Successful applicants will therefore be required to:

• make use of the UK’s talent pool, through cast and/or crew and/or post-production and location facilities etc.; and
• comply with the eligible expenditure requirements set out in the applicable bilateral treaty or the Convention on Cinematographic Co-production; or
• for unofficial co-productions, apply the UK financial contribution on costs which, as a minimum, constitute qualifying UK expenditure in line with the BFI Co-production guidance notes

As part of their application, eligible applicants will be required to submit a production budget based on industry norms and market rates, to include:

• at least national minimum wage for any UK crew
• at least equity minimums for any UK cast
• at least Writers Guild of Great Britain minimums for UK scriptwriters
• for film: clearance of all rights in the project worldwide in all media in perpetuity (except for those sums due in respect of music public performance rights)
  • for TV: clearance of all rights in the project in all UK broadcast and online media in accordance with the applicable union or guild agreement and, where appropriate, the requirements of the published terms of trade with the relevant Public Service Broadcaster
• repayment of any BFI Development Awards and/or Vision Award (if applicable)
• all customary production insurances (including errors and omissions) on which the BFI will require to be named as an additional insured
• all the delivery materials (see further below) required by the BFI including access materials and any costs related to achieving BAFTA albert certification
• adequate unit publicity, stills, EPK
• a mandatory Film Skills Fund (FSF) levy, or Skills Fund for Animation or equivalent recognised skills programme for television, of 0.5% of UK core expenditure (subject to the FSF cap)
• sufficient allowance for accounting and audit costs including those related to the final Audit Statement and the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC), if claimed
• adequate legal costs for the production and financiers
• all financing costs
• a contingency suitable to the needs of the project

BFI Delivery Materials

Below is a summary of the delivery materials that are required for BFI-funded projects, the cost of which must be contained in the budget for the project. Please note this is a summary only and a more detailed list of delivery requirements is available on request.

For Film:

• 1 uncompressed and unencrypted clone of the Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM) delivered on a portable hard drive
• 1 unencrypted Digital Cinema Package (DCP) delivered on a CRI or portable hard drive
• 1 Pro Res 4444 QuickTime mezzanine file (Pro Res) delivered on portable hard drive or uploaded direct to a secure client account
• Hard of Hearing (HOH) subtitle files for all formats/platforms
• Audio Description (AD) tracks for all formats/platforms
• If any other financier of the project requires 1 (one) digital print (final version as used for UK theatrical release) the BFI shall have the option to also request delivery to the BFI of 1 (one) digital print. If the project has been produced in a foreign-language the print should incorporate dialogue subtitles in the English language
• Evidence of BAFTA albert certification for the film, including pre and post-production carbon calculations, or evidence of equivalent approach as agreed with the awardee by the BFI

For TV:

We require these materials to be supplied by the producer to the BFI National Archive to the same specification required by DPP compliant broadcasters (AS-11 DPP HD/1080i/25 AVC Intra Video/MXF OP1a). All broadcast master files should be accompanied by an MD5 checksum for use in the BFI’s file integrity checking processes. This should be supplied as a csv or plain text document. Any automated quality control (AQC) or eyeball quality control (EQC) documentation generated for DPP compliance also should be included with the delivered files.

• Digital master files of all finished programmes funded through UKGSF delivered irrespective of broadcast platform
• Broadcast master files to DPP specification of all finished episodes or standalone programmes funded through UKGSF delivered prior to first broadcast
• Narrative audio track for the visually impaired: narrative description of content on screen
• Open captions (English): Open captions are text displayed to assist hearing impaired audience members. Caption text includes scene dialogue and descriptions of key sounds i.e. “phone rings” or “door slams”. Open captions are rendered by the server or projector and will display the timed text captions on screen, visible to the entire audience
• Closed captions (English): Closed captions are text displayed to assist hearing impaired audience members. Caption text includes scene dialogue and descriptions of key sounds i.e. ‘phone rings’ or ‘door slams’. Closed captions are generally presented off-screen on dedicated devices and are not generally visible to the entire audience

Environmental sustainability

All teams applying for International Co-production funding need to plan their project and its budget with the environment and the climate crisis in mind. This means working to reduce your carbon emissions as much as possible, and your impact on the natural world; and to maximise the positive environmental benefits your project could have. This will require you to think about how you travel, where your energy comes from, how you cater, what materials you consume and what you do with them afterwards, etc. We ask all teams to share and embed sustainable values and behaviour with cast, crew and their supply chain, and promote sustainable production to colleagues within production and across the wider industry.

When planning your application and budget, please consult the BFI Sustainability Pledges for Production and BAFTA albert’s Production Handbook. BAFTA albert also provide free sustainable production training which you will be required to complete as part of the albert certification process. Please check here for upcoming dates: https://wearealbert.org/about/free-training/. Full details of the certification process can be found on the Production Tools page of the albert site. Documentary projects may wish to consult Doc Society’s Green Doc Protocol when planning their production.

If you have concerns about your ability to meet the requirements of BAFTA albert certification, please contact us to discuss this on ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk. Flexibility may be provided where an equivalent certification system is already in place for the production, or where the UK’s status as a minority co-producer means that the UK producer has limited influence over the production conditions as a whole. In all circumstances, grantees will be expected to make best endeavours to achieve sustainable production.

4. How to apply

When you can apply

Applications open at midday on 30 September 2024 and close at midday on 25 November 2024.

Projects set for principal photography or principal animation between 25 November 2024 and 24 February 2025 (with commitments from lead cast and director) may be able to apply under the Fast Track process and be eligible for an earlier funding decision. Such projects will need to apply to the Fund no later than 30 October 2024.

Additionally, Fast Track projects need to score highly against our assessment criteria and demonstrate timelines that mean an early decision is essential for the production to be realised. They will need to evidence this upon application with:

• all relevant documentation to support the finance plan
• evidence of at least 80% secured of the overall finance (i.e. of the financing required to cover the total budget of the film or TV project and/or animation), in addition to any prospective contribution from the UKGSF International Co-Production strand and/or Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC)and/or any non-cash flowed sources of finance 
• evidence of start of principal photography or animation between 25 November 2024 and 24 February 2025 (with commitments from lead cast and director)
• the project will have secured at application stage at least one other source of funding on the UK financial contribution, in addition to any prospective contribution from the UKGSF International Co-production strand and/or Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC)and/or any non-cash flowed sources of finance . For the avoidance of doubt, this may include a VOD platform, provided that the VOD platform is not acquiring worldwide rights on a buyout basis

The Fast Track process cannot include projects that:

• have started principal photography or principal animation before 25 November 2024
• are financially closed

Submitting an application

You need to create an account to make your application online. You can save your application and return to it later.

Please note that applications from 2023 are hosted on our new system. If you had an account to apply to our funds using our previous system you will need to create a new account. If you would like to access a previous application then please contact us at ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.

Make sure you complete all the sections as incomplete forms will be automatically ineligible.

You can view a PDF preview of the application form below:

Download templates for your application

If you need additional support using the application form, please contact us at ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk

Speculative submissions

We will only consider funding projects that have been submitted to us through the formal application process. This means that we cannot accept, or read, informal submissions such as scripts or application materials submitted by any means other than via the online application portal.

Information you need to provide

You will be required to submit the following information:

Your proposal

• Project proposal in English, including:
  • The synopsis
  • Biographies of writer, director and producer
  • How the project benefits your business development plans
  • An outline of why and how your project shows export potential and can generate revenues
  • How your planned co-production will be structured, information on your producing partner(s) with a list of their credits/experience, how the production budget and resources will be managed, and detailed information on the UK elements of the production
  • Commitment to making use of the UK’s talent pool, through cast and/or crew and/or post-production facilities etc.
  • Locations and cast, where known
• Your distribution approach including target audiences, markets and territories — including an explanation of why those markets have been selected and what opportunities have been identified — potential distribution methods and partners
• The total budget for your project (including UK contribution) and the amount you are requesting from the International Co-Production strand
• The co-production’s actual and potential financial partners and any expenditure to date. You need to include an initial calculation of the relevant UK creative industry tax relief (if applicable) and any other public incentives or subsidies available to the production
• Any anticipated unusual or challenging technical or budgetary requirements
• Your environmental impact planning. We will require you to undertake BAFTA albert certification or an equivalent approach as agreed with BFI
• Your previous work and track record including any success at festivals, awards and audience reach (e.g. box office, viewing figures)
• Information on the UK-wide benefit of the project

Attachments

• Preliminary production package consisting of an: 
  • overall timeline for the project to include prep, shoot, locations, post-production and a delivery date
  • industry standard production schedule
  • industry standard production budget
• Script (for feature films), treatment (for documentaries), or storyboard/bible (for animation)
• Proposed full finance plan (you must use the template provided) that matches the budget along with all funding agreements, indicating the sources of each funding amount and whether such funding is secured or is awaiting confirmation. The finance plan must include Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC) where the production is able to apply for it
• Budget detailing split of expenditure per country and the spend of the award on UK elements of the budget (you must use the template provided)
• Sales agreement and sales estimates provided by your sales agent (for film) or distributor (for TV)
• Production cash flow
• Proposed recoupment schedule that clearly demonstrates the UK producer’s share of revenue

In addition:

• Any LOCs (for cast, financiers etc.), if available
• Any visual materials to support the application (optional)
• Chain of title documents (optional)

BFI Diversity Standards 

As part of your application, you must complete the BFI Diversity Standards tab so we can understand your intentions around diversity, inclusion and representation for your project. This means detailing how you will address industry under-representation in relation to disability, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status and geographical location. Please read the guidance on how to complete the Diversity Standards section of your application form. If successful, you will need to report following the conclusion of your activity, evaluating how you have delivered against the aims of the Diversity Standards in practice. 

If your plans are not fully developed at the point of application, then please state the stage you are currently at and explain how you will turn your aims into actions. If we are interested in supporting your project we may ask you to further develop your ideas before we make a funding decision. 

If your team or organisation has a long-standing commitment to diversity, enabling you to meet the BFI Diversity Standards by continuing your current practice, your application should outline how you will build on past achievements and show leadership to the wider industry. 

Successful applicants will be required to submit an Equality Monitoring Report before final credit sign off and as part of deliverables required to release final payment. This Report will request information on the contributors to your project and will be used to measure success against the BFI Diversity Standards. If you do not hold equality monitoring data for key staff working on your project, we advise that you send out anonymised equality monitoring forms prior to activity commencing so that you have the information to hand when completing your final report. The information will be used to measure achievement against the BFI Diversity Standards. 

Projects achieving a high level of good practice will be able to display the BFI Diversity Standards logo in the end credits to advertise to the industry and audiences the contribution that their project has made to sector diversity. 

Please note that the information provided by applicants within both their Diversity Standards and Equality Monitoring forms will be anonymised and used to help inform future funding decisions, research and strategy. 

If you have questions or concerns about your ability to meet the standards or would like to discuss approaches to meeting the criteria, you can contact the Diversity Standards Manager in the BFI Certification Unit on 020 7173 3273 or email diversitystandards@bfi.org.uk. 

Equality Monitoring Form

You’ll be asked to complete an equality monitoring form when you submit your application. The form asks for demographic information on the staff working on your project or in your organisation. The data that you submit on this form will be confidential and anonymous and not seen by the staff assessing your application. However, we will not be able to put forward your application for assessment until you have completed the equality monitoring form.

5. What happens after you apply?

1. You’ll get confirmation we received your application within 2 to 3 working days.
2. We’ll request any additional information we may need during the eligibility and assessment process. The amount of time it takes for you to supply this may have an impact on our ability to take a funding decision within the timeframes outlined below.
3. You’ll get a decision within 13 weeks from the closing date unless applying under the Fast Track process. For Fast Track applications a decision will be made within 4 weeks from the application date, during which time the project cannot be financially closed or have started production and/or principal animation. A successful funding decision under the Fast Track process will be conditional on principal photography or principal animation commencing between 25 November 2024 and 24 February 2025.

Once submitted, we will review your application and if necessary, may write to you or request to meet with you to obtain more information about your application. If we need additional information from you, it may take us longer to reach a decision on your application.

We will check that your application is eligible for funding. Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible so please ensure that you complete all sections of the application form with the information requested.

If your application is ineligible, we will send you an email to inform you of this within three weeks of the fund closing date. If you then realise you’ve made an error on your application which has rendered it ineligible, please tell us at this point, as we may still be able to assess it.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a unique ID number and an automated confirmation of receipt. If you do not receive this, please email us on ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk to let us know.

How your application is assessed

Our assessment will score applications against the following criteria:

1. Plan for International Growth and Innovation: 20%

• Proposed benefit to producer’s international company growth
• Whether a sales agent/international distributor is attached to the project
• The project’s international appeal, taking into account its creative team, content, cast, the co-production approach, any pre-sales and distributors/broadcasters attached, identified target audience(s), planned distribution methods, awareness of potential markets, relevance of choice of territories
• International and domestic sales appeal of the lead cast and status of their attachment to the project
• Innovation shown through approaches to reaching target audiences, co-production approach, distribution methods and new markets and partnerships
• Whether the project is an official co-production under a bilateral treaty or the Convention, and if not, why the territory represents opportunity for potential e.g. sales, unique subject/access, international partnerships

2. Finance Plan: 25%

We will assess the robustness of the finance plan and financial viability of the project, including the proportion of budget and funding partners secured, and will look at:

• Level of third party UK partnership funding secured – note that projects with higher levels of UK partnership funding secured will score more highly than those seeking 25% or more of the total UK financial contribution from the International Co-production strand
• Percentage of overall budget secured; projects with a higher level of financing secured will be prioritised over those with limited financing secured
• Whether the project has secured finance or an LOC indicating commitment in funding the production from a regional or national film fund or broadcaster in the majority country of production
• How allocation of UK spend and a balanced contribution is safeguarded if working outside the treaties and how the applicant is making use of UK talent pool

3. Funding Outcomes (for applicant/IP owners): 20%

• The benefits of the co-production for the UK producer, including economic, professional and network development, access to talent relationships
• The benefits for the UK screen industry of the project’s co-production model, including: whether the producer is working with territories they have not co-produced with before, and projected return on investment for the UK producer
• Increased audience/revenue/partnerships/production

4. Track record and team: 15%

All of the producer(s), writer(s) and director(s) in the co-production need to be able to demonstrate a creative track record. If collectively they have multiple previous works that have been produced and found international success, and particularly any previous successful international co-productions, this will strengthen the application. The fund can support UK producers working with first time feature and television directors provided that they have a strong track record in a relevant creative sector e.g. theatre or short film.

In your application we will assess:

• experience of the companies, teams, talent and partners involved
• demonstrable past success e.g. at festivals with awards or audience reach (box office, viewing figures)
• experience of producing previous successful international co-productions (this will be assessed for all applications and will be a particular focus for applications seeking above 25% of UK share of spend)

5. Additionality: 10%

• How the funding makes a difference to your project in terms of e.g. projected revenues, company growth, new international relationships, new territories
• How your proposal demonstrates that the co-production would not otherwise happen without UKGSF support

6. UK-wide benefit: 10%

• Where projects are shot and/or made
• Where the applicant UK production company and individual UK producer(s) are based
• How projects reflect the culture and talent of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions outside Greater London
• Any other proposed UK-wide benefits within the application

7. Cross-cutting BFI priorities required across all open programmes: 

Each of the following must be fully addressed: 

• the quality and ambition of plans to address the Diversity Standards
• feasibility and impact of company’s intentions for activity to be more environmentally sustainable and reduce negative environmental impact

Assessment

All applications will be assessed by the UKGSF team at the BFI. We may choose to consult external reviewers with relevant expertise during the assessment process.

The UKGSF will seek to support projects that are in clear need of public funding and that make a case for achieving significant results against the stated aims of the UKGSF.

You may be invited to a meeting or phone call to discuss the application further. It is important to understand that having a meeting with us does not mean that we have made a commitment to fund your production. The meeting is an opportunity for us to discuss your application and details of the project with you in more detail. You may need to supply further information after the meeting and we will need to review that before we can make a final decision.

If we don’t receive any further materials or information from you within four weeks of our requesting it, your application will automatically be marked as ‘withdrawn’. This will not affect your ability to apply for other BFI funds or to UKGSF in the future.

Projects which are not progressing beyond the assessment stage will be declined by email. This email will state that we have reviewed your application and are not considering it further and that your application is now closed.

6. Getting a decision

We intend to make the majority of funding decisions after the application closing deadline. We reserve the right to take a funding decision prior to this point for any projects set for principal photography or principal animation between 25 November 2024 and 24 February 2025 (with commitments from lead cast and director) that meet our assessment criteria and have timelines that mean an early decision is essential for the production to be realised.

If you’re successful

• You will receive a written offer of funding
• You will need to sign the offer of funding and return it to the BFI within 7 days

Your offer of funding will set out details of how you’ll receive the funding, how to use it and how we expect you to report to us.

Following assessment by the UKGSF team, all projects which are being recommended for funding will be submitted to the BFI Grant Finance Committee for final approval. This committee is made up of members of the BFI Executive Board and other staff members who make funding decisions in line with the BFI Grant Funding Policies and Procedures handbook.

Resubmission

No resubmissions can be made to the International Co-production strand for projects that are declined unless there is a substantial and significant change in elements, or where an application has been withdrawn from the previous funding process by the applicant.

If you meet either of the above criteria, please contact us to confirm whether you are able to apply. If you then submit a new application for the same project, please ensure that you identify any revised project elements clearly in the new application.

Feedback

We aim to make the application process as transparent as possible. Please note however that, as a result of the volume of applications we receive, we do not have the resources to provide feedback to applicants that are unsuccessful.

This means that, if we are unable to support your application, you will receive a standard email from us that states this outcome without providing further information about the decision. If we met with you to discuss your project as part of the assessment process and your application was not successful, we may give you feedback on the decision by either phone or email.

We welcome constructive feedback from you on our application process, so we can continue to improve.

7. Conditions of funding

If your application is successful, we will send you a written conditional offer of funding. The offer of funding must be countersigned and returned to the BFI within 7 days of issue or it will automatically lapse.

Before we make any payments to you, you will be required to enter into a UKGSF production finance agreement with the BFI that sets out the terms and conditions of the International Co-production strand funding (the PFA).

In addition to the BFI General Funding Conditions, these terms and conditions will include the following (but may also include others specific to your application): 

1. Any award must be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was requested, as set out in your application, and solely on UK elements.
2. The award is a grant that is not recoupable by the BFI, except in the circumstances set out below and in the funding agreement. 
3. All grants awarded will be paid in accordance with the following payment schedule:
   • 30% payable on the later of: signature and satisfaction of relevant conditions precedent and the project’s financial closing
   • 50% payable upon receipt of evidence that all commercial funding has been received by the production; “commercial funding” means any funding other than funding provided by a bank, a public broadcaster or a national public funding body
   • 10% payable on receipt of the physical delivery materials
   • 10% payable on paper deliverables (including final audit, equality monitoring report etc.)

To the extent that any of the International Co-production strand funding is required sooner than provided for above, you will either need to cash flow this yourself or arrange for a third party to cash flow the amounts so required. You will also need to ensure that any anticipated Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits (AVEC) proceeds which form part of the UK financial contribution to the project are cash flowed by you or a third party during production, as the BFI cannot cash flow these. For the avoidance of doubt, any such cash flowed amounts will be considered to be “commercial funding” unless they are cash flowed by a bank, a public broadcaster or a national public funding body.

Please note that, for unofficial co-productions in particular, a larger proportion of the grant may be held back by the BFI so as to ensure that the relevant UK spend requirements are being adequately met.

4. The BFI will pay the grant to the UK limited company registered in the UK (either as a company incorporated in the UK or incorporated in the European Union or European Economic Area and registered as a branch in the UK). The BFI funding must be paid into a separate dedicated production account.
5. The offer of funding may be terminated, and any funding already advanced may be required to be repaid, in the event that any of the requirements set out in these Guidelines, or any of the terms and conditions of funding set out in the PFA, are breached.
6. The BFI may withdraw any offer of its funding if it has reasonable concerns relating to the viability of the project, the nature and terms of any UK partnership funding, the nature and terms of any of the financial contributions of any of the other co-producers, or if any of the co-producers operates in a way which might bring the BFI or DCMS into disrepute. Any material changes to the financing structure and/or co-production parties, co-production status and/or cast, without UKGSF’s prior approval, may impact any UKGSF funding. 
7. You will be required to include the UKGSF animated logo and presentation credit in the opening (or main, if appearing at the end) credits of the production, and certain further UKGSF credits and logos in the end credits of the production pursuant to the UKGSF branding guidelines.
8. Successful applicants will be provided with detailed branding guidelines that set out the specific requirements for acknowledging the International Co-production strand funding and the UKGSF as a UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport fund administered by the BFI. Generally, we require grant recipients to increase the visibility of the Government’s support by:
   • Promoting and displaying the UKGSF logo
   • Assisting in communicating the benefit of the UKGSF, so as to ensure that its value and impact is recognised and understood by key stakeholders
   • Making themselves available and encouraging key talent to take part in promotional activities

You may also be asked to provide access to the production for UKGSF activities such as promotion of the Fund and/or international exchange/training.

It is therefore an important condition of UKGSF funding that the source of the funding is prominently acknowledged through use of the UKGSF logo and through agreed verbal and written acknowledgement. Partners and beneficiaries are expected to take opportunities to highlight not just the fact of the funding but why their project is funded and therefore the increased opportunity that is possible through the Government’s support.

9. Successful applicants will be required to grant, or use reasonable endeavours to secure the right to grant to the BFI and DCMS, the right to use stills and clips from the supported production for the purpose of promoting the UKGSF in any media throughout the world for a period of at least three years from the date that the conditional offer of funding was issued.
10. You will be required to clear worldwide rights in all media in perpetuity from all individuals or organisations who are contributing to, or whose material is to be featured in, the production (save only for music public performance rights).
11. You will be required to provide a contribution to the SIF levy of 0.5% of the project’s UK core expenditure (subject to the SIF cap).
12. You will be expected to put in place all customary production insurances (including errors and omissions insurance) on which the BFI must be named as an additional insured.
13. You will be required to provide the BFI Delivery Materials set out in these Guidelines to the BFI, the costs of which must be included in the budget of the production.
14. The BFI will require certain approvals over your production including in relation to the terms of all other finance, and all key production and financial documentation prepared in relation to the production.
15. You will need to establish clear chain of title to your project i.e. demonstrate you have or can acquire all the rights necessary to produce and exploit the production.
16. The BFI is keen to ensure that you receive your full entitlement to a reasonable producer fee and production company overhead from within the production budget and does not encourage deferral of any such amounts.
17. You will be required to ensure that your project is produced in accordance with the requirements of all unions and guilds having jurisdiction and with all applicable laws and statutes.
18. You will be required to ensure that any agreement for the distribution of your project in the UK provides for the availability of soft-subtitling and audio-description materials in cinemas and on any video-on-demand, DVD or Blu-ray disc release of the production.
19. Successful applicants will be issued with guidance on final reporting, including requirements around benefits generated by the grant and promotional activity.
20. The BFI will hold back 10% of its funding until delivery to the BFI of specified paper delivery materials including a final audited cost report certified by an independent auditor, a final narrative and data report, an Equality Monitoring Report (which helps us to measure against the BFI Diversity Standards form that you submitted), and proof of BAFTA albert certification or equivalent approach as agreed with the awardee with BFI.
21. The BFI will expect to be provided with information about the progress of the production e.g. regular production reports and dailies and for BFI and/or DCMS representatives to be able to attend any stages of production subject to reasonable prior notice.
22. You may also be asked to provide access to the production, or the completed project, for other BFI activities such as film education and/or from time to time to make yourself, the writer and/or the director of your production available (subject to professional commitments), to provide industry training or mentoring, if the BFI reasonably requests.
23. You will be required to deliver against the undertakings made by you in relation to the BFI Diversity Standards. Failure to deliver against those undertakings without good cause may affect your ability to receive future project funding from the BFI.
24. Successful applicants will be required to take part in formal evaluation of the UKGSF if contacted by an independent evaluator. This will include the provision of information on the relevant production and the funded activities to inform this evaluation. This may include, but shall not be limited to, information in respect of the production and the funded activities for the purposes of case studies, quotes from the grantee benefiting from the award and provision of visual materials relating to the funded activity.
25. In order to ensure proportionality, no group of applicants (or SPV) can receive more than £625,000 in combination from any or all of the UKGSF funding strands over a three-year fiscal period.