Discover the impact of National Lottery Good Cause funding on people, communities and the UK film industry

Rocks (2019)

From keeping local cinemas at the heart of communities and opening doors to young people through education, to backing our creative talent so they can bring UK stories to the screen, National Lottery funding has supported people and organisations across the UK for more than three decades. As the distributor of National Lottery funding for film, the BFI works with partners UK-wide to ensure this public investment has the greatest possible impact and reaches the people, projects and places where it is needed most. Explore the stories and achievements made possible through National Lottery Good Cause funding.

Our areas of support

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Fund more of what matters to you. The UK Government has recently launched a survey seeking views on the future of National Lottery Good Cause funding.

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Supporting UK filmmakers and stories

National Lottery Good Cause funding enables homegrown talent to make work that reflects their lives and tells UK stories. It helps bring stories from every corner of the UK to the big screen. From coastal towns and big cities to rural communities, our films reflect the people, places and experiences that make the UK unique. 

BFI funded productions

We are proud to support bold and original storytellers. Explore fiction features and immersive works that have received production funding from the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund.

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Backed by BFI

Highlighting some of the astonishing and engaging work that has been supported by the UK public, including National Lottery funding through the BFI.

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BFI NETWORK supported shorts

Made possible through National Lottery funding, BFI NETWORK provides short film production and early feature development funding, industry-backed professional development and networking support to producers, writers, and directors aged 18 and above.

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Supporting cinemas and screen culture

National Lottery Good Cause funding supports people and communities across the UK to connect with film and screen culture. Through initiatives such as Escapes, rural touring schemes, and community cinema screenings, National Lottery funding enables audiences who might otherwise face barriers to participation to experience film within their own communities.

RIP IT UP

RIP IT UP, a UK-wide season running until October 2026, explores and celebrates the transformative energy and evolving face of youth rebellion, culture and self-expression on screen. The season is made possible thanks to National Lottery Good Cause funding through the BFI Film Audience Network.

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BFI invests £9.25 million to support UK-wide screen culture for audiences

The first awards from the 2026 to 2029 BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund include multi-year awards for exhibitors, festivals, specialist audience organisations, as well as shorter-term activity, all demonstrating support for ambitious, audience-facing projects across the UK.

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First details announced of increased £33.5 million BFI investment in audience development

The ESCAPES initiative is renewed for three years following a successful pilot which saw over 215,000 tickets claimed across 223 independent cinemas since 2024.

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Supporting young people

National Lottery Good Cause funding helps to inspire and support children and young people across the UK to take their first steps into a career in the film industry.

National Saturday Clubs

National Saturday Clubs help young people explore screen careers through hands-on experience in filmmaking, editing, sound design, visual effects, animation and scriptwriting, while building creativity, confidence and practical skills.

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Into Film

Into Film’s careers and progression programme helps 11 to 18-year-olds explore opportunities in the screen industries. Its careers hub provides educators and careers professionals with resources, including dedicated content for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) / Additional Support Needs (ASN) / Additional Learning Needs (ALN).

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BFI Film Academy

BFI Film Academy is a free, UK-wide training programme for 16 to 25-year-olds looking to get started in the film and TV industry. It offers a hands-on, collaborative filmmaking experience, with a strong focus on developing technical and transferable skills.

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BFI pledges £14.6m National Lottery good cause funding for education and skills development for 5 to 18-year-olds

UK-wide partnerships with Into Film and National Saturday Club renewed over three years to deliver activity nationwide.

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Supporting skills development and careers in the film industry

National Lottery Good Cause funding helps people from all backgrounds access careers in the sector. The BFI Skills Clusters Fund is designed to empower local partnerships to develop crew bases and skills in production hubs across the UK. By drawing on local knowledge, partners work together to identify skills gaps, strengthen talent pipelines and create career opportunities for people in their communities. Through training, mentoring and industry support, Skills Clusters help people from underrepresented backgrounds enter and progress in the screen industries, ensuring a wider range of people can benefit from the growth of the sector.

BFI pledges £11.85 million to support screen production workforce development and training across the UK

The first awards from a total of £35.55 million BFI National Lottery funding for Skills and Workforce Development include £9 million to seven partners across the UK to lead BFI Skills Clusters, and a further £2.85 million pledged for additional Clusters in areas where local production centres are developing.

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News and case studies