BFI Network Short Film Fund

BFI Network Short Film Fund is sponsored by British Film Institute (BFI). Supports new and emerging filmmakers across the UK with funding to produce distinctive short films.

Applying for BFI NETWORK England short film funding | BFI Applying for BFI NETWORK England short film funding These guidelines give you the information you’ll need to apply for BFI NETWORK England Short Film Fund. This fund closed at 11am on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. We cannot consider any applications after this time.

The next round of applications is scheduled for spring 2027. How much you can apply for What you can use the funding for What your project needs to achieve What happens after you apply List of delivery materials for funded projects You can also listen to the guidelines . BFI NETWORK is a collaboration between the BFI , national film organisations and leading cultural venues around the UK .

You can find more information about the partners that make up BFI NETWORK on our funding finder page . You can also find the projects that have been funded by BFI NETWORK . BFI NETWORK England short film funding supports early career filmmakers with fiction shorts of up to 15 minutes, in live action, animation and immersive/ VR .

We will use the word ‘film’ or ‘project’ in these guidelines to cover all of these. Awards will be made to standalone projects, including those that have the potential to be developed into longer form or serial form in the future.

All projects funded by BFI NETWORK must address some of the following aims, which are also detailed in the stated principles and outcomes of the BFI National Lottery strategy : Equity, diversity and inclusion — People from under-represented groups across the UK access the support they need to develop their careers and skills.

Impact and audience — People across the UK access a wider choice of film and the moving image, including stories that reflect their lives. Talent development and progression — Creative talent is supported and nurtured, as they emerge and throughout their careers and more people understand how to express their creativity through stories on screen.

Creative risk — People are better enabled to innovate and experiment creatively; a wider range of stories on screen are told that otherwise would not be. UK -wide — Everyone across the UK should be able to experience and create the widest range of screen culture. They should feel the benefits from the screen sector in terms of jobs and growth too.

Environmental sustainability - Screen organisations significantly reduce their carbon footprint. If you’d like support when making your application, you can find information at access support for BFI fund applicants . 3.

Check if you’re eligible All applications for funding must be submitted by the project’s lead producer who will be the main contact for the BFI . The email address used to create the BFI account and application must belong to the lead producer. Application limits per funding round Directors, writers, writer/directors (including co-directors, co-writers and co-writer/directors) can only be attached to one application per round.

Producers (including lead producers, co-producers, and writer/producers) can be attached to up to two applications per round. If you are a writer/producer, one application must be as a writer/producer and the other as a producer only. Once an application has been submitted, core team members cannot take on a different core role on another application within the same round except as outlined above for producers.

They may, however, take on crew or ‘below the line’ roles provided these are not core roles such as (co-)writer, writer/director or (co-)producer. We’re not able to accept any changes to key creative team members at any stage following the submission of an application.

You must disclose in your application if any core team member is involved in any other applications for BFI funding (or in applications that have already secured BFI funds).

Eligibility of applicant (lead producer) be the project’s dedicated lead producer they can be the writer of the project they are applying with but cannot be the director apply with their full legal name (if an artist name is used, please provide both names) If applying through a production company, the lead producer must: ensure that the production company is registered and centrally managed in the UK registered as a director of the company formally paired with the company as part of a BFI NETWORK Talent Lab be able to evidence that they are a permanent employee of the company (which cannot have the film’s director as a company director or a formal part of the company structure) meet the full eligibility criteria for the filmmaking team listed below Eligibility of the director The director or writer/director for your project must: the director’s postcode is used to determine which region the application will be assigned to for assessment not be the producer or co-producer of the project not have received a commercial distribution deal in the last 5 years This applies to any of their previous longform fiction works, whether theatrically or through a major online platform, unless the work was self-distributed not have directed more than one BFI NETWORK England short film if the director has previously directed a BFI NETWORK England short film, then there must be clear career and creative progression outlined in the application for a second BFI NETWORK short film not have been attached as a writer, director or writer/director to a development or production award from the BFI Filmmaking Fund or BFI NETWORK delivered to the BFI in the last two years meet all requirements for the filmmaking team Eligibility of the writer not have received a commercial distribution deal in the last 5 years this applies to any of their previous longform narrative works, whether theatrically or through a major online platform, unless the work was self-distributed not have been attached as a writer, director or writer/director to a development or production award from the BFI Filmmaking Fund or BFI NETWORK delivered to the BFI in the last two years meet all requirements for the filmmaking team listed below Eligibility of filmmaking team When an individual works across two roles, they must meet the eligibility criteria for both roles (e.g. a writer/director must be a resident in England).

be able to demonstrate a creative track record in film, television, documentary, theatre, or other art forms this could be film or screen-based projects produced independently without commercial or institutional funding, including student work have completed full-time education no later than 12 weeks after the application deadline any student work (course materials, dissertations, final projects or examinations) must be fully completed no later than 12 weeks after the application deadline, and further years of study will not be considered be fully available to carry out their role and not take on potentially conflicting roles on the same project co-roles (i.e. co-directors, co-writers, co-producers) must meet the full eligibility of the core role Eligibility of your project We encourage applicants to carefully consider their level of experience when planning the scale of their project.

Filmmakers new to narrative fiction storytelling should apply with shorter scripts, or equivalent document for immersive/ VR or animation such as a storyboard.

All projects submitted must: be a standalone fiction short film in live action, animation or immersive/ VR have an intended length of up to 15 minutes including credits we would expect your script, or equivalent document to be no longer than 16 pages including the title page be original to your writer, and not an adaptation of third-party material writers can adapt their own previous work but must demonstrate that they have secured the rights to do so if your project is based on the writer’s pre-existing work, such as a short film, play, novel or short story, you must control the rights to it be capable of obtaining a BBFC certificate that is no more restrictive than BBFC ‘18’ VR or immersive projects (which are not subject to BBFC certification), must be capable of meeting an 18 or equivalent rating if the content was to be presented within a traditional short film format be capable of qualifying for certification as a British film (your own assessment of your project as being capable of qualifying for certification does not mean that it will necessarily pass) if you need advice as to whether your project is capable of qualifying, contact [email protected] before applying have secured, or have a contractual right to secure, certain necessary rights to complete the project including: the rights (including any underlying rights) in the story you are proposing this includes use of any necessary archive or journalistic material or, adaptations of writer’s own work (but not works created by any other third party as this would be ineligible) you’ll be required to provide written evidence of securing all such rights prior to any funding offer or payment of any award from the BFI all third-party clearance rights, including music for your project, for worldwide use in all media, in perpetuity, before it forms part of your script, or is included in the project (this is to ensure that you do not infringe any third-party rights whenever or wherever you show the film) not have commenced or finished principal photography or be in post-production When your project is ineligible You’re not eligible to apply for this funding if your project: includes any character based on a real individual ideas can be inspired by real events but all characters must be entirely fictional focuses on another art form such as literature, dance on film, poetry on film, opera or artists’ moving image adapts an existing work (fiction or non-fiction) that was not written by the writer (adaptations of the writer’s work are permitted as described above) apart from in exceptional cases involving archive or journalistic material as described above is intended primarily for broadcast television Get in touch with the team if you’re unsure if you are eligible for this funding by emailing [email protected] .

4. How much you can apply for You can apply for funding from £5,000 to £25,000. This fund is highly competitive, and you should bear this in mind when deciding what level of award you’ll need to deliver your project.

We encourage applicants to carefully consider their level of experience when deciding the scale of project and the amount of funding to apply for. If you are working with a new director, i.e. if they are moving into filmmaking from a different medium for example, theatre, or if they haven’t yet directed a fiction short film you should consider applying for a lower amount with a shorter script.

You do not have to raise third party finance (also known as co-finance) for your project if you are able to make it with the amount of funding you are requesting from the BFI .

If third party funding is raised in addition to the BFI award, the following guidance on co-finance amount should be considered: if requesting £5,000 to £20,000 from the BFI , co-finance should make up a maximum of 40% of the overall budget if requesting £20,000 to £25,000 from the BFI , co-finance should make up a maximum of 30% of the overall budget If you intend to raise third party finance but haven’t yet secured it when you apply, you must show us an achievable plan for securing these funds.

Please note we do not consider a UK tax credit loan as third party funding. If we recommend your application for funding, we’ll be in touch with a deadline for securing any co-finance and what documentation is required to evidence it. We may accept different levels of co-finance to those listed above on a discretionary and non-precedential basis.

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What you can use the funding for We can support the following costs (which must be listed as part of your budget where applicable): all costs you expect to incur in order to complete and deliver the film the costs of clearing all rights required (including music) for the project, for worldwide use in all media, in perpetuity on a full buy-out basis (except PRS payments for music as they cannot be bought outright) the costs of working with environmentally sustainable suppliers throughout all stages of production (you can look at BAFTA albert’s list of sustainable suppliers ) when preparing your budget, consider including sustainable production practice such as sourcing renewable energy increasing travel by train and other public or shared transport catering using local, seasonal ingredients using different and less environmentally impactful materials choosing sustainable solutions for digital storage and post-production crew payments at least in line with the London Living Wage (or equivalent) with parity across grades and across departments.

See guidance on engaging industry placements, interns, trainees and work shadowing on BFI -funded projects for more information cast payments, at least in line with equity minimum (including any cast buy-out fees) a fee for your film’s producer, director and writer (including writer/directors and writer/producers) this fee must at least be in line with other Heads of Department ( HOD s) on the project, or in line with cast and crew wages for shoot days this is the minimum requirement, but you can include higher fees fees cannot be waived or deferred adequate provision for unit publicity, stills and footage reasonable external legal fees to cover the costs of your production legal services, including in relation to clearing all third-party rights successful applicants will receive a pack of template agreements from the BFI (covering the writer, director, individual producer, cast, crew, locations, music composer) for use on your project all customary production insurances on which the BFI must be named as a loss payee all delivery materials required by the BFI including enhanced access materials — check list of delivery materials for funded projects a minimum 10% contingency to cover any unforeseen costs sufficient allowance for accounting and audit costs including those related to the final audit and, if you intend to apply, for the UK tax credit for the production up to £750 towards the costs of festival submissions or equivalent exhibition opportunities for the completed work any disability access support you require to complete your project (see access support costs below) We cannot provide funding for: core costs for day-to-day running of your production company which are not associated with the film activity that is already specifically supported by another external source of funding costs incurred prior to an offer of funding from the BFI This list is not exhaustive, and we may inform you that other types of activity identified in your application may not be included in your production budget.

If you or your team have access needs that will incur additional costs during work on your project, you can include these costs in your application. Funding can cover specific support for individuals who are disabled or have a physical or mental health diagnosis which will result in a verifiable additional cost to the project budget. If you require support for such costs, please identify them in your application budget.

If you are already seeking the maximum award amount and have not been able to cover access-related costs within that, we may increase the maximum award amount to provide for reasonable access costs. As part of your application, you must complete a budget spreadsheet, preferably using the template supplied.

When preparing the budget, you should consider that: not all cost types will be relevant to your project, and you only need to include estimated amounts for costs you think you’ll need to cover while making your film at this stage in-kind contributions (i.e. for resources, locations or time) must be clearly identified in your budget your project must be produced in accordance with all applicable UK laws, including in relation to cast and crew payments you will need to demonstrate that cast and crew are being fairly paid The template budget spreadsheet can be accessed below: BFI NETWORK production budget template Microsoft Office - OOXML - Spreadsheet 121 KB If you’re unsure of how to use the spreadsheet or have any questions about your budget, contact your local film hub or email [email protected] .

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What your project needs to achieve Key Performance Indicators The BFI will measure the success of BFI NETWORK England short film funding using the following Key Performance Indicators ( KPI s) which funded projects will contribute to: number of projects supported – 25 number of applications received – 600 applications received from outside of London and the Southeast (in terms of director location) – 50% funded projects completing carbon footprinting – 100% funded projects taking part in dedicated training in environmental sustainability for film – 90% Equity, diversity and inclusion We ask applicants to address equity, diversity and inclusion by engaging with the BFI Diversity Standards for film .

We will prioritise projects that will make a significant contribution to improving equity, diversity and inclusion across the industry and so your application will need to make clear, specific commitments to making this change. If successful, you’ll need to report following the conclusion of your activity, evaluating how you’ve delivered against the aims of the Diversity Standards in practice.

Your project will contribute towards achieving our inclusion targets for producers, writers and directors supported. Our funding supports national, regional, and local activity to ensure that communities throughout the UK feel the benefit of the screen industries and culture. Projects should address, and contribute to delivering, against the BFI ’s UK -wide principle.

You can do this through considering where your project will be set and any plans for engaging local communities when it goes into production. Environmental sustainability You’ll need to outline how environmental sustainability principles will be embedded into your production from development stage onwards.

This includes: reducing carbon emissions as much as possible minimising negative impacts and maximising environmental benefits Key areas to address in your planning and application include: energy, transport, food, materials use, biodiversity, and influencing change.

If your project is funded, you’ll need to: have at least one of the creative team (writer, director or producer) complete relevant continuing professional development (for example, a workshop delivered by BAFTA albert Academy ). we also recommend that crew members take relevant training to strengthen your team’s sustainability efforts.

complete carbon footprinting using tools such as BAFTA albert carbon calculator , which should be started in pre-production We’ll also signpost you to a range of tools, resources, and training opportunities to support you in making your BFI -backed production more sustainable. BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund opening and closing dates are on our website .

We can only make awards to projects that have been submitted to us through the online application process. This means that we cannot accept or read application materials submitted by any means other than the online application portal. Information you’ll need to provide Applicant details – Lead producer You’ll need to provide your contact details.

You must apply using your legal name but if you have an artist name, or another name that you’d like us to address you by, please include this using the following format: ‘Legal Name (aka ‘Artist Name’)’. You can also include details of an additional contact to be copied in on project correspondence. We will ask you some questions on your eligibility.

You can find the criteria in the eligibility of applicant section of these guidelines.

If you are applying with a company, you’ll need to provide your organisation details such as: full registered company name company registration number link to registration website (e.g. Companies House) If you’re not listed as Managing Director, you need to attach an employment contract between you and the company to the application CV summaries for core team (i.e. producer(s), writer(s) and director(s)) and any co-writers, co-directors and co-producers links to one relevant previous work from each core team member and a brief explanation as to why you’ve included this work viewing links must not expire, nor need a subscription or a login and be provided with passwords (if applicable) we may decide not to review all of these before making a decision your project’s title or working title proposed pre-production dates proposed principal photography dates story outline – full storyline, including reveals and ending director’s creative vision for the film (written or video statement) impact statement for the film (written or video statement) career progression statement (written or video statement) production proposal (written or video statement) statement about project’s UK -wide and regional impact statement about project’s environmental sustainability details of any previous funding you have applied for from the BFI , including BFI NETWORK or any applications awaiting a decision Optional links to materials expressing your ideas for your project, for example: mood board or taster reel We strongly encourage you to include something that will give us an understanding of your director’s visual ideas for the film.

This section will ask for: the amount of funding you are seeking from the BFI the total cost of the project any access costs you want to apply for your case for National Lottery good cause support details of any other finance you have secured, or will need to secure, in order to make your project Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – BFI Diversity Standards This section asks you to describe how your project responds to the BFI Diversity Standards for film .

As well as this information being used to form part of our assessment, information may be anonymised and aggregated as part of overall statistics published about the Diversity Standards and inform future policy.

Documents you’ll need to attach At the end of the form, you’ll need to attach: a completed production budget preferably using our template which includes: the full budget for your project a finance plan showing any third party finance you intend to raise for your project the full script (not a treatment or outline) for your project in standard industry format, submitted as a PDF or Word document and dated on the front page if your project has a format that doesn’t lend itself to regular script presentation (for example, animation, immersive, XR or VR ), or you have an alternative medium of expression you would like to use (for example, because you’re neurodivergent and work more visually), you can submit your ideas in your preferred medium for example, applications for an animated short may submit a storyboard instead of a script proof of address for your director or writer/director (we use the director’s postcode to determine which BFI NETWORK region will assess your application) this must be a Council Tax bill, bank statement or utility bill dated in the past three months, showing your name and address other personal details such as bank details or other personal information of third parties should be redacted permission from your regional BFI NETWORK Talent Executive to resubmit your project if resubmitting a proposal from a previous funding round (if applicable) We will retain your data and supporting materials in line with our records retention policy.

You’ll be asked to complete an equality monitoring form when you submit your application. The data that you submit on this form will be confidential and anonymous and will not be seen by the staff assessing your application. It requests information about you and your team.

When filling it in, you can select ‘prefer not to say’ if you’d rather not share the information requested. Please note that we will not be able to put forward your application for assessment until you have completed the equality monitoring form. Submitting an application You need to create an account to make your application online.

You can save your application and return to it later. Make sure you complete all of the sections, as incomplete applications are ineligible and will be declined. Please consult the PDF preview of the application form to see the questions you will be asked in full: BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund application preview PDF 461 KB Get access support with your application You can get help if you need support to apply for funding.

You might need support because you are disabled, neurodivergent or for another reason. Please go to Access support to apply for BFI Funds for more information. Check the guidance on how to use our BFI applicant portal.

If you have any questions when completing the application form, please contact us on [email protected] . We welcome your feedback on the application process and how we might improve it. 8.

What happens after you apply We’ll send you confirmation that we have received your application within five working days. If you have not received an email from us within five working days (and have checked in your junk folder for it), please email [email protected] . We will then check whether your application is eligible for funding using the criteria identified in the Check if you’re eligible section.

If your application does not meet our eligibility criteria, we will email to tell you that we will not be able to consider it. If you have passed initial eligibility checks, the BFI will confirm by email that your application will progress to assessment and a unique ID number will be assigned to the application.

Eligibility checks continue throughout the assessment process and we may tell you at a later stage in the assessment process that your application is ineligible. How your application is assessed Your application will be assessed by at least two people against how well it meets the aims of the funding .

An external reader will assess the sections of the form relating to your experience, the story, and its development, while a member of the BFI NETWORK talent team, based in the region where your director is located, will assess the full application.

the strength of the project proposal and its script (or other submitted materials) how the story might connect with audiences the impact of your (and any team member’s) previous work the strength of the project team the strength of the case made for any potential career impact for the filmmaking team your demonstration of need for National Lottery funding.

Our funding is not intended to substitute or replace existing or commercial funding or other income that would or might otherwise be available. National Lottery funds can only be awarded to applicants who demonstrate a compelling case for National Lottery support.

the feasibility of the budget, its value for money and whether the project as described in the application requires the amount of money requested from the BFI the overall balance of projects receiving support, to ensure variety in the nature of the projects funded by the BFI any previous BFI awards you have received, including any open awards and how you have managed them We will not generally prioritise applications from producers who have received more than 4 formal offers of BFI NETWORK National Lottery funding for short film production or early development within the last 5 years.

We may share parts of your application with other BFI teams, or further external consultants, to help with our assessment. All external consultants helping with the assessment process will maintain confidentiality and not retain any application materials after their review.

Assessment process and timeline As the regional hubs all handle a different volumes of applications, the assessment timelines can vary per region, and the assessment steps may not happen at the same time across the regions. If we receive an exceptionally high number of applications, require additional information from you, or if there are other circumstances beyond our control, the assessment period may be extended.

We will keep you updated on any changes to timeframes . In the event the assessment period is extended, the proposed start date of principal photography of the film should be extended accordingly. If we contact you during the assessment process to discuss your project, including requests to update documents, or fix broken links, this does not indicate any commitment to fund your project.

Step one – initial assessment and regional longlisting Applications are assessed by an external reviewer and a regional BFI NETWORK talent hub representative. Applications that most strongly meet the aims of the funding and assessment criteria will progress to the next step.

Step two – regional shortlisting The regional BFI NETWORK talent hubs will share a longlist of projects with the central BFI NETWORK team to create a shortlist of projects. Non-shortlisted applicants are notified in writing that they have been unsuccessful. Step three – regional interviews Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview with the BFI NETWORK talent hub in the region where their director is based.

After the interview, we may request further information, or schedule a further meeting to discuss the project. Step four – due diligence checks All applicants are informed in writing whether their application is unsuccessful, or recommended for approval.

All applicants being recommended for approval must complete an ID verification check: you will receive an email inviting you to fill out a form where you need to provide your personal address, date of birth and contact details.

if the lead applicant is applying under a production company, they will need to be listed as the Managing Director of the organisation or be a permanent employee of the company we will only use this data to run an identity check (this is not a credit check and will not affect your ability to obtain credit from other organisations). The ID verification check is not an indication of funding.

Step five – BFI Grant & Lottery Finance Committee G/ LFC Each project that is being recommended for funding must be presented to and be formally approved by the BFI Grant & Lottery Finance Committee (G/ LFC ).

To ensure we have all the information needed for presenting your project to G/ LFC , you will need to send the following paperwork to your assigned Talent Executive(s): a finalised budget, preferably using the supplied budget template we may request that you amend specific lines or allocations on your budget, before we make a final recommendation we