BFI Filmmaking Fund - Discovery and Impact feature funding

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 

Impact feature funding 

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

You’ll need to have a proposed first day of principal shooting that is at least 20 weeks after the closing date.

• Round 7
  • Opens: Monday 28 July 2025  
  • Closes: 5pm on Friday 29 August 2025
• Round 8
  • Opens: Thursday 12 February 2026
  • Closes: 5pm on Friday 6 March 2026 

If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email productioncoordinator@bfi.org.uk.

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 (closed) — read the Discovery funding guidelines 

If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email productioncoordinator@bfi.org.uk.

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.