Applications are now closed.
Our Short Film funding programme supports projects with directors based in England and is run in partnership with the BFI NETWORK Talent Executives who work with filmmakers on the delivery of funded projects. For directors based outside England or for filmmakers looking for documentary funding opportunities, please see our Funding Finder.
This fund supports the production costs of fiction shorts, in both live action and animation. We want to support short films that respond to our core objectives, which are to support:
- The early careers of ambitious filmmakers;
- Filmmaking that takes risks on talent, form and content;
- Work that recognises the quality of difference – in perspective, in talent, in recruitment;
- Work with cultural relevance or progressive ideas;
- Work from filmmakers based throughout the nation, not just in traditional industry centres.
We support standalone short films and this can include projects that have the potential, further down the line, to be developed into other forms or formats (e.g. a feature film, content in serial form). The fund is intended to stimulate new ideas and stories, so it doesn’t support adaptations of existing material. We welcome applications for amounts throughout the available budget range up to a maximum of £15,000. We are seeking applications for films of any length up to a maximum of 15 minutes.
Our funding is accompanied by creative oversight of the short film by a BFI NETWORK Talent Executive. As well as working with filmmakers prior to and during production, the Talent Executives may be able to advise you on:
- Finding screening opportunities regionally and further afield;
- Ways to meet potential collaborators for your project;
- Festival strategy for your film;
- Other means to gain industry exposure for your work.
APPLICATION TIMELINES
The Short Film Fund is now open. Please note this is the single funding round for the year 2022/23.
March 2023 marks the end of the BFI’s current strategy period, and our plans for talent development funding beyond this period will be announced in autumn 2022, with funds set to launch from April 2023 onwards. If you would like to find out more about the BFI’s consultation on its National Lottery funding strategy from March 2023, please visit https://www.bfi.org.uk/strategy-policy/next-our-consultation-plans-develop-new-national-lottery-funding-strategy-from-2023-203.
22/23 Round - Revised Dates
Applications open: 14th March 2022
Applications close: 2nd May 2022 at midday
Applicants informed of decision: by 18th July 2022
Deadline for securing additional finance: 16th September 2022
Latest date for full delivery to BFI of the finished film and other delivery materials: 15 March 2023
Download our Guidance on Co-finance here
Once the Talent Executives and external readers have completed their assessments, the regional Talent Executives will be in touch with shortlisted teams to discuss projects in more detail. The assessment process should be complete - with all teams receiving confirmation of the Talent Executive’s decision on whether or not they would like to support your project - by 18 July 2022. We anticipate making funding recommendations to the Lottery Finance Committee throughout late summer and autumn 2022, after which applicants will be informed in writing of the final outcome.
We expect all funded teams to complete production of their films and deliver the final film and related materials to the BFI by 15 March 2023.
We reserve the right to amend any of these dates where necessary.
Previous round dates – Autumn 2021
Applications open: 31st August 2021
Applications close: 27th September (midday) 2021
Applicants informed of decision: 17th December 2021
Deadline for securing additional finance: 28th February 2022
Please direct any queries about applications/funding to bfinetwork@bfi.org.uk.
