There are many routes to public film funding in the UK, with tax relief benefits and a wide range of awards and schemes running throughout the year with different agencies.
Features:
Creative England
Creative England offers a range of opportunities for film development and production and are particularly interested in regionally-based filmmakers and projects, which articulate a strong regional voice and sensibility. Creative England also provides a film office service to productions filming in England (outside London) to create investment, jobs and profile.
See our iFeatures page to find out more about Creative England’s feature film lab programme driving the development of low-budget, high-quality debut features from the most outstanding, daring and distinctive storytellers across the UK. The programme is run by Creative England and currently supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, BBC Films and the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions.
Link: https://www.creativeengland.co.uk/film-tv/
Link: https://www.creativeengland.co.uk/ifeatures/
British Film Institute (BFI)
The BFI supports, nurtures and promotes the art of film, television and the moving image. A charity, funded by Government and earned income, and a distributor of National lottery funds, they are at the heart of the UK’s fast growing screen industries, protecting their past and shaping their future across the UK. They support the future success of film in the UK by nurturing new voices and fresh ideas, enriching independent British film culture, challenging the UK’s screen industries to innovate and create work which takes risks and sparks debate. They bring their world-class cultural programmes and unrivalled national collections to audiences everywhere, and promote learning about the art-form and its heritage. They work closely with Government and industry to make the UK the most creatively exciting and prosperous place to make film internationally, lead the Screen Sector Task Force on Brexit and are working to provide information and clarity to producers and industry professionals on how the UK’s exit from the EU may affect the screen sector. They also support initiatives for continued collaboration with Europe and with other international territories.
Using funds from the National Lottery the BFI Film Fund develops and supports filmmakers with diverse, bold and distinctive films, that have a cultural relevance or progressive ideas, and which reflect people from different backgrounds, as well as a range of activities to increase the opportunities for audiences to enjoy them.
Link: https://www.bfi.org.uk/supporting-uk-film/film-fund
Film4
Film4 is Channel 4’s film production arm. They invest £15 million annually to develop and finance films for theatrical release in cinemas, working collaboratively with filmmakers and often in partnership with other funders. They prioritise stories with contemporary relevance based around British-led talent or content and only accept proposals via production companies or agents.
Link: https://www.film4productions.com/faqs
Shorts:
ShortFLIX
See the shortFLIX page to find out more about the short film initiative for aspiring new filmmakers aged 18-25 who are not in full-time education, employment or training. ShortFLIX is led by Creative England in partnership with Sky Arts and is supported by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions.
Link: https://www.creativeengland.co.uk/shortflix/
BFI Network
Made possible through National Lottery funding, BFI NETWORK exists to discover and support talented writers, directors and producers at the start of their careers. They have Talent Executives based in film organisations and leading cultural venues across the UK to offer funding for short films, support for the development of first features and provide a range of professional and creative development programmes.
For Norfolk’s BFI Network Representative please click here.
Link: https://network.bfi.org.uk/
John Brabourne Awards
The John Brabourne Awards has supported up and coming talent since 2007 and have over 100 alumni. They offer financial assistance of up to £5,000 to people in the UK film and TV industry who have already proved what they can do but now face obstacles to their success. This may be financial, health-related or due to a change in personal circumstances. This award is ran via the Film TV Charity Website.
Link: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/we-can-help/financial-support/john-brabourne-awards/
Genera Films
Apply for the opportunity to receive up to £5,000 short film funding and take advantage of some amazing offers and deals from their growing list of partners at Genera.