Who can apply
Producers can apply for between £5,000 and £25,000, for stand alone fiction short films in live action, animation or immersive/virtual reality, that have directors based in England. If your director is based in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, or your project is a documentary, use our funding finder page to find relevant opportunities.
Projects can be up to 15 minutes in length and teams must be made up of at least two people across the three creative roles of writer, producer, and director (director-producers are not eligible to apply).
The fund is intended to stimulate new ideas and stories, so it doesn’t support adaptations of existing material, apart from of the writer’s own previous work.
We can only accept applications for projects that are scheduled to start production between 1 October 2025 and 30 June 2026.
When you'll hear from us
We’ll contact you by Monday 30 June 2025 to let you know if we're progressing or declining your application. Please do not contact us for updates about your application before this date.
How to apply
This fund closed at 11am on Tuesday 25 March 2025. We cannot consider any applications after this time. The next round of applications is scheduled for spring 2026.
You can still read the guidelines or listen to the guidelines.
Get help with your application
We’re 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.
Introduction to our funds in alternative formats
Below you can find introductions to BFI NETWORK funds in easy read format and British Sign Language (BSL). Before you apply, you should read, or listen to, the full guidelines.
For more information on funding you can apply for and what support we provide, read our FAQs.
If you have any questions relating to this fund or your application, you can email bfinetworkfunding@bfi.org.uk.
About BFI National Lottery funding
Since the very first National Lottery draw in 1994, public support — raised directly through National Lottery ticket sales — has funded more than 670,000 projects, raising more than £46 billion for good causes.
As a recipient, it is important to publicly acknowledge the source of this funding throughout the lifespan of the project. Effectively communicating that it is supported by BFI National Lottery funding ensures those engaging with the work recognise the value and benefit of this unique Good Cause funding.
Therefore, if your application is successful, you will be responsible for prominently crediting BFI National Lottery funding and thanking National Lottery players.
As such, you are encouraged to ensure that elements of your project/s which have the potential to engage a broad public audience are capitalised on, in order to communicate this message. More details will be supplied once an award has been made.