Who can apply
Project funding and Resilience funding are available to legally constituted organisations that:
- operate a screen archive, collection network or similar
- have the remit to collect and preserve screen heritage collections (not sound, paper or other static format) and make them accessible to the general public on a not-for-profit basis, either as the sole or partial activity of the organisation
Applications can include workforce development programmes, training, and skills for staff.
Individual Skills funding is available to people who are currently working in the UK screen heritage sector or can demonstrate an intention to work in it (for example, through detailing previous actions taken to seek work in the sector). Applicants must be 18 years old or above, have a UK bank account and be eligible to work in the UK.
When you can apply
Apply for Resilience funding
Applications for Resilience funding will open on 29 September 2025 and are accepted on a rolling basis until 31 March 2026.
If you need a funding decision by 28 February 2026 (to allow for contracting in March 2026), please apply as soon as possible and no later than 30 November 2025.
Apply for Project or Individual Skills funding
Applications are accepted all year round. For:
- Project funding, you need to apply at least 16 weeks before the planned start of any funded activity
- Individual Skills funding, you need to apply at least eight weeks before the start date of your training/development opportunity, but no more than 3 months before
We aim to make a decision within twelve weeks of receiving your complete Project or Resilience application, or within six weeks of receiving a complete individual bursary application. If we need additional information from you, it may take us longer to reach a decision.
Successful applications will need to address the aims of the BFI Screen Heritage Fund.
All funded activity must be completed by 31 March 2029.
How to apply
You can apply online once you’ve read the funding guidelines in full. There is an application link in the guidelines.
For Project and Resilience funding, you can send us an optional Expression of Interest (EOI) first if you prefer to. We’ll then give you feedback on your eligibility to apply, based on the information you’ve provided.
We aim to respond to Resilience EOIs within 15 working days and Project EOIs within 10 working days.
- Read the Project funding guidelines in full before applying
- Read the Resilience funding guidelines in full before applying
- Read the Individual Skills funding guidelines before applying
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your project in advance of completing an application, please contact us: screenheritagefund@bfi.org.uk.
Q&A sessions
We’ll be hosting online Q&A sessions for fund applicants on:
- Wednesday 15 October from 2pm to 3:30pm
- Tuesday 28 October from 2pm to 3:30pm
- Monday 10 November from 2pm to 3:30pm
- Thursday 20 November from 11:30am to 1pm
- Wednesday 10 December from 2pm to 3:30pm
If you’d like to join a session, email screenheritagefund@bfi.org.uk to register and we’ll send you a Teams link.
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.
About BFI National Lottery Funding
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.