Funding opportunities for new and emerging UK writers, directors and producers.
Shorts
NETWORK Shorts
BFI NETWORK
Each filmmaker whose work is chosen to be showcased as a NETWORK Pick will able to apply for a cash award to help produce their next short film.
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Beacons
Ffilm Cymru Wales
Beacons gives new and emerging filmmakers the opportunity to test their skills, with awards of up to £15,000 and the chance to raise further funding through crowdfunding or third party deals.
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New Shorts Focus
Northern Ireland Screen
New Shorts Focus is an initiative to find Northern Ireland resident filmmakers exclusively from groups that are underrepresented in the film and television sector.
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Shorts to Features
Northern Ireland Screen
Shorts to Features provides an opportunity for emerging creative teams to create a live action or documentary short film which is tonally and thematically aligned with their feature film ambitions. Awards will be up to £20,000.
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Short Film Call
Northern Ireland Screen
Individual Production Awards of up to £2,250 are available to new filmmakers to show what they can do. And awards of up to £7,500 for production companies looking to develop relationships with writers and directors.
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Scottish Shorts
Scottish Film Talent Network
Scottish Shorts is a comprehensive short film development and production programme for new filmmakers. Five high quality shorts will be commissioned with budgets ranging from £5,000 to £10,000.
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Emerging Talent Shorts
Scottish Film Talent Network
Emerging Talent Shorts supports filmmakers who would benefit from making another short before embarking on their first feature.
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Features
First Feature Development
BFI Film Fund
Filmmaking teams who can demonstrate previous experience in writing, directing and producing are eligible, and we aim to help these filmmakers develop compelling and viable projects to a point at which they are ready to seek production funding.
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iFeatures
BFI, BBC & Creative England
iFeatures is Creative England’s low budget filmmaking initiative for films set in the English regions.
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Horizons Fund
Ffilm Cymru Wales
The Horizons Fund will support up to 25 filmmakers to nurture their feature film projects and career development with awards of up to £6,000 each.
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New Writers Focus
Northern Ireland Screen
Writers based in Northern Ireland and new to feature film are eligible to apply. The one year development scheme includes residential seminars, writers room, and project and writer development.
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Script Development Awards
Northern Ireland Screen
Script development awards are available for companies to develop feature film, television drama scripts and digital content. The awards are up to £10,000 per stage, to a maximum of £40,000.
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First Feature Development
Scottish Film Talent Network
Tailored support is available for emerging filmmakers to develop their first feature project. This support may include writers’ fees, story editing, script development, mentoring, work-shopping or other professional development.
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Professional development
NETWORK @ LFF
BFI NETWORK
NETWORK @ LFF is an internationally focused professional development programme at the very heart of the BFI London Film Festival, providing a unique opportunity for up to 15 UK writers and directors to participate in masterclasses, screenings, events and one to one meetings with industry professionals.
BFI NETWORK X BAFTA Crew
BFI NETWORK / BAFTA
BFI NETWORK X BAFTA Crew is an enhanced version of the popular professional development programme. It connects emerging 'below-the-line' talent with writers, directors and producers, providing a rare opportunity for peer to peer networking and development across all key roles within production.
Net.workshops
Northern Ireland Screen
New writers and directors are eligible to attend Net.workshops to help develop production skills. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Talent Programme Bursary
Scottish Film Talent Network
SFTN offer a Talent Programme Bursary designed to support writers, directors and producers to attend development programmes, talent labs, single workshops and seminars. Filmmakers can apply for bursaries to support travel, accommodation, fees and accreditation costs.
Other resources
FUNDING
Brit Doc: support and resources for documentary filmmakers. Its focus is on supporting great films, brokering partnerships, building business, sharing knowledge and attracting new audiences.
Crowdfunding: is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people. The best-known crowdfunding sites include Indiegogo, Kickstarter and gofundme, but there are many more.
IDA documentary fund: funding for feature-length documentarys that are explorations of original, contemporary stories and that integrate journalistic practice into the filmmaking process.
Jameson First Shot: three writers/directors are annually selected to have their scripts made into short films by the team at Jameson First Shot.
The SFFILM Documentary Film Fund: support for riveting documentaries in post-production distinguished by compelling stories, intriguing characters and an innovative visual approach.
With Teeth: a comissioning fund designed to prioritise the artists’ vision, concieved by LSFF and supported by Arts Council England National Lottery Funding.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
4Talent: initiatives and experience for those wishing to work across media, to inspire real change – both in the industry itself and in people's lives.
BAFTA Guru: advice and schemes to help the next generation of creatives shine through.
BBC Writersroom: responsive, proactive and an open door to writers, seeking out fresh voices from across the UK. This project exists to support, develop and challenge writers throughout their careers, across the BBC.
British Council: links UK films and filmmakers to international audiences, working to find opportunities for creative exchange.
Creative Skillset: the industry skills body for the Creative Industries, working across film, television, radio, fashion, animation, games, visual effects and more.
Doc Fest: Sheffield Doc/Fest is a film festival, industry sessions programme and marketplace, offering pitching opportunities, discussion panels, in-depth filmmaker masterclasses, and inspirational documentary films.
Eave: provides professional training opportunities to bring producers from different regions of the world together with the aim of facilitating co-production relationships.
Edinburgh International Film Festival Talent Lab: gives emerging filmmakers the opportunity to discuss the industry, their projects and ideas with a selection of invited industry professionals including sales agents, executive producers, literary agents, story editors and distributors.
BFI Film Academy: open to anyone aged 16-19 from anywhere in the UK and from any background. BFI Film Academy offers a real chance to be part of our future film industry.
Guiding Lights: supports upcoming filmmakers and professionals through high-level mentoring, complemented by a range of training and networking activities.
Inside Pictures: programme that supports the development of an ever-stronger European film industry through the development of world-class leaders.
Sundance Labs: filmmaker labs for writing and directing that provide an opportunity for filmmakers to incubate their ideas.
NETWORKING
Cinema Jam: a community of directors, producers and film freelancers who meet up monthly. Networking events include screenings and Q&As with guest speakers.
Hiive: the professional network for creative people, allowing you to show your work, forge connections and join 'swarms' to share ideas.
Film London Talent Connect: find writers, directors and producers to collaborate with.