BFI Filmmaking Fund - Discovery feature funding

BFI Filmmaking Fund - Discovery feature funding is sponsored by British Film Institute. This fund provides awards for debut directors with production budgets between £1,000,000 and £3,500,000 to support original live-action and animation feature filmmaking.

Discovery and Impact feature funding | BFI | BFI BFI Filmmaking Fund - Discovery and Impact feature funding Awarding National Lottery funding to support original live action and animated feature filmmaking. These guidelines were updated on 1 July 2026.

Producers can apply for the following: Discovery feature funding provides awards of up to £1,000,000 for projects with debut directors and a production budget between £1,000,000 and £3,500,000 Impact feature funding provides awards of up to £1,250,000 for projects with: experienced directors with production budgets above £1,000,000 debut directors with production budgets above £3,500,000 This fund is open and accepting applications on a rolling basis.

You must apply at least 20 weeks before your project’s proposed first day of principal photography. Discovery feature funding Round 2 is now open and closes at 5pm on Thursday 13 August 2026. The application window for Round 2 has been extended.

You’ll need to have a proposed first day of principal shooting that is at least 20 weeks after Thursday 13 August. If your proposed first day of principal photography is less than 20 weeks after Thursday 13 August, get in touch with us: [email protected] .

Fund closes – closes at 5pm on Thursday 13 August 2026 Fund opens – Thursday 12 November 2026 Fund closes – closes at 5pm on Wednesday 16 December 2026 If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email [email protected] . You can apply online once you’ve read the funding guidelines in full. There is an application link in the guidelines.

Impact feature funding (open) — read the Impact funding guidelines and apply Discovery feature funding (open) — read the Discovery funding guidelines and apply If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email [email protected] . Get help with your application We are committed to making our funding accessible to all.

If you have access requirements and need some support applying for funding, see access support for BFI funding applicants . Since the very first National Lottery draw in 1994, more than £50 billion for good causes has been raised directly through National Lottery ticket sales, funding more than 700,000 projects.

As a recipient of National Lottery funding, it is important to publicly acknowledge the source of this funding ensuring that those engaging with your work recognise the value and benefit of this unique Good Cause funding. If your application is successful, you will be responsible for prominently crediting BFI National Lottery funding and thanking National Lottery players.

To communicate this message, you should ensure that the elements of your project which have the potential to engage a broad public audience are capitalised on. More details will be supplied once an award has been made.