Contents
1. About this fund
The UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF), financed by the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and administered by the BFI, seeks to increase the UK screen sector’s international competitiveness by offering additional, targeted support at each stage of the screen content supply chain.
The UKGSF supports international business development, co-production, promotion and distribution activities to:
- grow the revenue and sustainability of UK independent screen businesses by supporting their international activity
- enable industry to further grow international partnerships and to develop projects with international appeal for mutual benefit
- increase the reach of UK screen content to international audiences
The International Distribution Fund
The International Distribution fund aims to grow exports and global demand for UK independent film by supporting the UK film industry to achieve measurable results which would not have been achievable without UKGSF support, including increasing:
- the number and value of international sales of UK independent film
- international audiences for UK independent film
- commercial returns for UK screen companies, rights holders and financiers
UKGSF International Distribution therefore makes two forms of support available:
- Festival Launch — awarded to either the UK producer or UK sales agent of a UK film, to support the launch of the film at an eligible film festival with the aim of increasing the film’s profile and sales
- Prints & Advertising (P&A) — awarded to either the UK producer or UK sales agent of a UK film, to contribute towards the P&A costs of either a grouping of international distributors, or a single international distributor if releasing an animated feature or a documentary feature, with the aim of increasing the film’s circulation, audience size and box office potential
These guidelines cover P&A funding only.
Read the guidelines for Festival Launch funding.
Prints and Advertising (P&A) funding
UKGSF P&A funding aims to help secure wider and higher profile international cinema releases of UK films. We make non recoupable grants to films that have clear appeal to identified international audiences and strong potential for commercial success.
P&A costs are the marketing and technical costs associated with the theatrical release of a UK independent film in a given territory, incurred by the local distributor. UKGSF P&A funding is available for certain eligible P&A costs, as defined in Section 3 below.
This will enable UK independent films to:
- secure better international release results by way of wider releases, higher admissions and increased press coverage
- increase promotional opportunities so that distributors can more effectively launch UK independent films in international territories
- boost the competitiveness of UK producers and UK sales agents in the international independent film sales marketplace
- increase international consumer and industry recognition of the director, producer, cast and crew, to raise the international profile of UK creative individuals and help drive funding and pre-sales on future UK independent films
- secure better returns for rights holders and financiers from international release successes
If you have any questions about the fund or the application process please email ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.
2. Check if you’re eligible
Applications must be made by a UK registered and centrally managed company.
The application must be made in the name of either the UK-based sales agent appointed to sell the film internationally or the lead UK producer of the film and, in each case, such entity must also qualify as an eligible applicant (as per the requirements set out below).
You’ll need to coordinate and submit an application on behalf of the distributors who have acquired the theatrical rights for, and intend to theatrically release, the film in the territory or territory grouping.
Each P&A funding application should relate to a single film.
Only one grouping application can be made per film. For single territory applications for animated features or documentary features, up to three applications can be made per film, provided no grouping application has been made.
Lead applicant organisation
Your organisation must meet all the following criteria:
- be a limited company registered and centrally managed in the UK and in good standing, whose core business is either:
- securing and selling distribution rights to new feature film titles; or
- producing independent narrative content for cinema release, VOD or television broadcast
- has either:
- been appointed as the UK sales agent selling the international rights for the film; or
- acted as the lead UK producer on the film, and has not been engaged on the film only in a production services capacity
- be the parent company and not a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created solely for the project
- not have more than 25% of its shares held, directly or indirectly, by one or more of the following third parties:
- a non-UK corporate entity
- a television broadcaster/SVOD platform or operator
- a company defined as a large company under the Companies Act 2006 — this means the company has at least two of the following:
- turnover of more than £54 million
- balance sheet total of more than £27 million
- more than 250 employees
We may not assess your application if you have mismanaged a previous BFI award or have not provided deliverables on time without reasonable justification.
Eligible film
You can apply for funding for films that meet the following criteria:
- has a production budget of £15,000,000 or less
- is a new feature length (minimum 60 minutes running time) live action or animation, fiction or documentary film
- has been completed no more than 24 months prior to the application date, or is currently in production or post-production
- will have its earliest release in the eligible territory or territories no earlier than 20 working days after the date of application
-
qualifies or is wholly capable of qualifying for certification as a British film under one of the following:
- the cultural test for British films
- one of the UK’s official bilateral co-production treaties
- the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production
We encourage you to check that your project meets the relevant requirements and certification deadlines before applying to UKGSF. Read more information on British Certification. If you’re unsure if your project can qualify, email certifications@bfi.org.uk before you apply.
- has not been fully financed by a studio, mini major or streaming platform
- is a film whose theatrical release rights have been acquired by an eligible distributor in each of the territories included in the eligible territory grouping, or the eligible single territory for animated features or documentary features, for which support is being sought
- a theatrical release is defined as the exhibition of film in cinemas within a territory to the paying public. Limited screenings during a film festival do not constitute a theatrical release.
Eligible territory grouping
You can apply for funding for a grouping of territories that meets the following criteria:
- includes a minimum of four international territories, or, if applying with an animated feature or documentary feature under the single territory criteria, please refer to details below.
- includes at least two territories from the following list of key territories:
- Australia/New Zealand (as a block, or Australia alone)
- Benelux (as a block only)
- France
- German Speaking territories (as a block, i.e. Germany, Austria, German speaking Switzerland, or Germany alone)
- Italy
- Japan
- Latin America (as a block, or Mexico or Brazil alone)
- North America (as a block, or the US or Canada alone)
- Poland
- Scandinavia (as a block only)
- South Korea
- Spain
The UK (or, where applicable, the UK and Ireland) may be included as part of a territory grouping but shall not be considered a key international territory.
Where a film is being distributed in the UK and Ireland by the same distributor, the territory should be counted as one block in the grouping for the purpose of the application.
If a film is being released in Ireland but not the UK, or by a distributor not releasing the film in the UK, Ireland may be included as a separate international territory in the grouping.
UKGSF may at its sole discretion choose to exclude a proposed territory or territories from an application, where the territory or territories fail to meet the necessary standard of assessment, but where other territories in the grouping have succeeded in meeting that standard and eligibility requirements are still met.
Single territory P&A funding for animated features and documentary features
For films that are either animated features or documentary features, you may make an application for P&A funding for:
- up to three single international territories (excluding the UK & Ireland) where the film is being released, or
- an eligible grouping, if releasing in four or more territories
Eligible distributor
The distributor for the film will need to:
- control the rights necessary to release the film in cinemas in at least one territory within the territory grouping, or, for animated features or documentary features, control the rights necessary to release the film in cinemas in the territory
- directly control the release date, target screens, marketing and promotion of the film in the applicable territory or territories
- be a corporate entity established and in good standing in accordance with the local laws of the applicable territory and/or of its incorporation
- not be a mini major, studio or streaming platform
If you have read these guidelines thoroughly and are still unsure if you are eligible to apply, please email us at ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.
3. What you can use the funding for
You may apply for support on behalf of each distributor for each eligible territory or territories, for certain eligible costs (as defined below) in connection with the local theatrical release of the film.
If your application is successful, you will be contractually and financially responsible for the management of the P&A funding including, but not limited to:
- collating supporting paperwork and submission documents from the distributors
- taking receipt of the entire P&A funding for the film
- distributing such P&A funding to distributors for use in their respective eligible territory or territories, in accordance with the terms of the application and the P&A funding agreement
- coordinating and collating final report materials from the distributors
Funding caps
The maximum P&A funding available per film across the territory grouping is £100,000.
The maximum P&A funding available per territory (or per territory block, if the territory has been bought as a block by the distributor) within the territory grouping is £30,000.
The P&A funding allocated to any individual distributor for each respective territory (or territory block):
- should be no higher than the minimum guarantee paid by that distributor for the film; and
- cannot exceed 25% of that distributor’s total release costs
The total release costs are defined as:
- the minimum guarantee (MG) plus the entire anticipated P&A costs to be paid or incurred by the distributor for the film (including those funded by the requested UKGSF grant) for the respective territory or territory block.
If the application is successful, and after all the releases have taken place, the applicant will be obligated to provide a final report with the breakdown of actual total release costs for each territory, to ensure that the UKGSF grant allocation per territory has not exceeded 25% of total release costs in each territory.
For animated features and documentary features applying for a single territory release, the maximum P&A funding shall be subject to the caps above.
Example 1:
- MG paid by eligible distributor for Turkey: £40,000
- P&A costs for Turkey: £90,000
- Total release costs (MG + P&A costs for Turkey): £130,000
- Maximum P&A funding that can be requested for Turkey: £30,000
In other words: maximum is no greater than the MG paid and no more than 25% of the total release costs and capped at £30,000 per territory
Example 2:
- MG paid by eligible distributor for Scandinavia: £60,000
- P&A costs for Scandinavia: £40,000
- Total release costs (MG + P&A costs for Scandinavia): £100,000
- Maximum P&A funding that can be requested for the given territory: £25,000
In other words: maximum is no greater than the MG paid and no more than 25% of the total release costs and capped at £30,000 per territory.
A Grant Request Calculator is available, which will automatically calculate the maximum grant that can be requested for each distributor for a given territory, based on their MG and total P&A costs.
- Download the Grant Request Calculator below.
Partnership funding
Any applicable minimum guarantees paid by a distributor and the distributor’s own P&A contribution for any given eligible territory will be considered partnership funding.
Costs incurred and paid for by any distributor prior to you submitting your application for P&A funding may also be counted as partnership funding.
Eligible costs
A grant request for P&A funding can be made for the following costs:
Print costs
- technical material costs for the film, including manufacture of DCPs (digital cinema package), film print, print insurance, VPFs (Virtual Print Fees), KDM (Key Delivery Message) encryption
- translation, subtitling or dubbing costs into a local language, or accessible version creation
Advertising and promotion costs
These should be related to the release of the film in the territory to exhibitors (b2b) and consumers (b2c) and may include design and production or original materials or access and re-versioning of third-party materials.
- costs of promotional and marketing materials including:
- posters, printed materials, fliers and leaflets
- trailers
- creation of TV, radio, print and web advertising
- costs related to media buying including:
- TV, radio, print, outdoor, internet and social media advertising
- in-store and cinema promotional materials
PR costs
These should be related to the commercial release of the film within the territory and may include expenses such as:
- costs of hiring a local press agency
- costs of goods/merchandise
- festival or theatrical premiere costs in the territory
- press junkets/interviews, press screenings/previews (including tech costs), press tour
Talent costs
These should be related to attendance of director or cast at the theatrical premiere or during a promotional tour within the territory and may include expenses such as:
- travel and accommodation
- appearance fees
- logistical costs
Other ancillary costs
- shipping, post, courier, freight
- censorship, local rating and any approved edits
Ineligible costs
The following costs will not be eligible for UKGSF P&A funding:
- minimum guarantee payable by the distributor for the film
- applicant and/or distributor’s company overhead (including sales, marketing, finance, legal, technical and other staff costs; insurance, telecoms, local taxes)
- applicant and/or distributor’s company personnel expenses (including market or festival office; shipping costs; registration; travel and accommodation costs; per diems or hotel extras, cabs, entertaining)
- authorised sub-distributor’s costs unless documented and auditable on terms equal to or better than the distributor in the applicable distribution agreement for the film
- any costs already covered by an existing UKGSF grant (for example, if a contribution towards subtitling costs in a given language has been funded by the UKGSF Festival Launch strand for a given local language festival, then the film cannot receive P&A funding for subtitling in the same language) or a BFI grant (including any costs supported by, or associated with a project supported by, the Audience Projects Fund).
The UKGSF reserves the right to exclude any other costs which do not reflect the spirit and intention of the International Distribution P&A strand.
It will need to be clear from the information given in the application that any award from the UKGSF International Distribution P&A strand would achieve good value for public funds, including through supporting only activity and outcomes that would not otherwise occur.
Retrospective costs, for example, costs already incurred prior to the date of application, cannot be covered by funds awarded by the UKGSF (although as noted above, they may be counted towards the required partnership funding).
P&A funding awarded under UKGSF International Distribution will be made in the form of non-recoupable grants. Under the terms of such grants, successful applicants will be contractually required to fully disclose the amounts received by them from the UKGSF when accounting to the applicable UK producer(s) and financiers of the film.
Where costs for any activity have been met by P&A funding, the supported distributors must not seek to recoup any such costs, whether as release expenses or otherwise, in order that the benefit of these grants is shared by the rights holders and financiers of that film.
To the extent that the applicant or any distributor subsequently receives any other funding in respect of any costs covered by a P&A award, then they will be required to immediately repay an equivalent amount of the grant to UKGSF.
4. How to apply
When you can apply
We accept and assess applications on a rolling basis.
An applicant will collate and submit the relevant information for an application from distributors who intend to release the film in cinemas, in a territory grouping, comprising no less than four territories; or up to three territories if applying with an animated feature or documentary feature under the single territory criteria.
Applicants are responsible for:
- deciding on the allocation of the overall P&A grant request between the eligible territories, using the Grant Request Calculator to determine the maximum grant requests per territory/territory block
- co-ordinating the application and reporting processes, including providing distributors with the correct UKGSF templates to complete where relevant
- the accuracy of the information provided directly by the applicant and submitted in the application form;
- ensuring that all information provided to the applicant by distributors for inclusion in the application form is accurate to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief
- acting as a representative for and an intermediary between the UKGSF and the distributors, including receiving and administering any P&A funding awarded by UKGSF
Download templates for your application
For multi-territory group applications:
Download the Grant Request Overview template
Download the Total Release Costs & Release Plan template
Download a PDF preview of the application form
For single territory applications (feature animation and documentaries only)
Download the Total Release Costs & Release Plan template
Download a PDF preview of the single territory application form
Information you need to provide
Your proposal
You’ll need to provide details of:
- the applicant
- the territory grouping (or, for feature animation or documentary, the individual territory release)
- the distributors
- the film
- how the application will address the UK-wide priorities set out in the assessment criteria
- a screening link to the finished (or near-finished) film
Documents you’ll need to provide
You’ll need to upload:
- a Total Release Costs Budget and Release Plan (using the template provided) to be completed by each distributor for each territory detailing:
- their company profile and track record
- the main deal terms for the film
- details of their release strategy for the film
- anticipated receipts and performance for the film
- a breakdown of their anticipated total release costs for the film in the applicable territory, including a line-by-line budget for their total P&A costs
- a breakdown of how the UKGSF P&A funding they are requesting will be spent
If being completed on behalf of a territory block where costs are being converted from multiple currencies, a single Total Release Costs Budget & Release Plan template can be completed in GBP for the territory block as a whole.
- a Grant Request Summary (using the template provided) to be completed by the applicant summarising the grant requests and total release costs for each distributor for each territory
- a copy of the signed sales agency agreement/deal memo appointing the sales agent to sell the international rights for the film (where applicable)
- copies of signed distribution agreements relating to the film with every distributor in the eligible territory or territories
- a copy of the proposed final gross budget for the film, together with a detailed finance plan
- evidence that the film has qualified, or is wholly capable of qualifying, as British (letter of comfort, interim certificate, or final certificate)
- a corporate structure chart for the applicant, detailing all direct and indirect ownership interests, and corporate domicile of all related entities
Additional areas you will need to consider
You will also need to address the BFI’s cross-cutting priorities in your application.
UK-wide
The UKGSF seeks to ensure a UK-wide benefit and address geographic imbalance within the industry. You will be asked to answer a question on the UK-wide elements of your project. As part of our assessment we consider:
- where the applicant company and UK producer(s) are based
- where projects are shot/made
- how projects reflect the culture and talent of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions outside Greater London
Environmental sustainability
You’ll need to outline how environmental sustainability will be embedded into your project. This includes:
- considering how your project’s themes or approaches engage with the climate emergency
- implementing good environmental practice for your activity (e.g. travel and events)
- embedding sustainability within your organisation more broadly
If funded, you’ll need to report how you have applied the environmental sustainability principle in project delivery and more broadly. We’ll also signpost you to a range of tools, resources, and training opportunities to support you in making your BFI-backed project more sustainable.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
As part of your application, you must complete and submit the BFI Diversity Standards – UKGSF form so we can understand your intentions around diversity, inclusion and representation for your project. This means detailing how you will address industry under-representation in relation to disability, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status and geographical location. Please read the guidance on how to complete the Diversity Standards. If successful, you will need to report following the conclusion of your activity, evaluating how you have delivered against the aims of the Diversity Standards in practice.
Applicants to this fund need to respond to the Diversity Standards on a summary level. This means you are expected to fill in an overall response to each Standard A to E, not individual criteria. You are only expected to respond to each standard where you have relevant characters, narratives, activity and staff or crew, but you should still try to fill as much detail as possible.
Please refer to the guidance for ideas of how to respond given your project and activity type, the size of your company or project team, and any early career or career development roles you are able to offer. If your plans are not fully developed at the point of application, then please state the stage you are currently at and explain how you will turn your aims into actions. If we are interested in supporting your project we may ask you to further develop your ideas before we make a funding decision.
If your team or organisation has a long-standing commitment to diversity, enabling you to meet the BFI Diversity Standards by continuing your current practice, your application should outline how you will build on past achievements and show leadership to the wider industry.
Diversity Standards form
In your application you will be asked to answer a question about representation within your organisation’s leadership. You will also need to complete and submit the BFI Diversity Standards – UKGSF form before you submit your application.
You’ll need to create an account for the BFI Diversity Standards portal, if you don’t already have one. Once you have logged in to the portal, click ‘start new application’ and select the Diversity Standards – UKGSF version of the form.
Please ensure that you have information about your activity, current staff, any early career and training opportunities and your accessibility processes before you start filling in the form.
This form will give you a unique reference number, which you’ll need to complete the main application form.
Application forms received without a completed and submitted Diversity Standards form will be considered incomplete and therefore ineligible.
The information you provide within your Diversity Standards form may be shared with any funding partners or the BAFTA and BIFA film awards, and used to help inform future funding decisions, research, and strategy. Any equality monitoring data will be anonymised.
If you have questions or concerns about your ability to meet the standards or would like to discuss approaches to meeting the criteria, you can contact the Diversity Standards Manager in the BFI Certification Unit on 020 7173 3273 or email diversitystandards@bfi.org.uk.
Submitting your application
To apply, you’ll need to create an account or have an existing account on our grant website. You’ll then need to complete and submit the online application form. You can save your application and return to it when you need to.
For guidance about how to use our new BFI applicant portal:
For feature animation and documentaries only:
Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible so please ensure that you complete all sections of the application form with the information requested.
If you need additional support using the application form or encounter technical issues, please contact us at ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk
Speculative submissions
We will only consider funding projects that have been submitted to us through the formal application process. This means that we cannot accept, or read, informal submissions such as scripts or application materials submitted by any means other than via the online application portal.
5. What happens after you apply
- Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a unique ID number and an automated confirmation of receipt. If you do not receive this, please contact ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk
- You’ll get confirmation we received your application within five working days.
- We will review your application to check that it is eligible for assessment.
If your application is ineligible
We will endeavour to inform you of this within four weeks. If you then realise you’ve made an error on your application which has rendered it ineligible, please tell us immediately, as we may allow you to correct it and resubmit. We continue to verify application eligibility throughout the assessment process and may determine at any point that an application is ineligible.
If we need more information to determine eligibility
We may write to you to obtain more information about your application. If we need more information, it may have an impact on our ability to take a funding decision within the response timeframes above. You will be required to respond to this request within five working days or as otherwise specified in correspondence. If no response is given within that timeframe, the application will be declined.
How your application is assessed
The UKGSF supports projects that are in clear need of public funding and that make a case for achieving significant results against our stated aims. Our assessment scores eligible applications against the following criteria:
International growth – 20%
- For grouping applications only:
- The range of territories in the territory grouping, including the number of key territories (as listed in the definition of eligible territory grouping in section 2 of these guidelines); and
- The quality, scale and ambition of the release plans.
- For single territory applications only:
- The additive value of the supported release to the film’s overall international distribution strategy; and
- The quality, scale and ambition of the release plan in the territory specifically.
- How each distributor will take advantage of any relevant opportunities, including local events and key dates, to maximise the impact of release spend and raise the profile of the film in the applicable territory.
- The level of detail provided on activity or spend facilitated by P&A funding.
- Any experimentation and innovation demonstrated through the planned activity and how this is linked to growing audience or revenue.
Finance – 20%
We’ll consider:
- Economy and efficiency evident in the proposed release plan and total release costs budget (for example, are the costs reasonable, will deals secured on items and services represent good value for public money).
- Scope and ambition of the total release costs budget, including amount of minimum guarantee, and the nature and amount of planned P&A expenditure not covered by the requested UKGSF P&A funding.
- The stage at which each distributor committed to the film for the applicable territory, especially if a project was acquired before completion at any stage (development, script, production, post-production).
- Inclusion of release comparison titles to demonstrate market potential, risk and proportionality of spend and ambition.
Funding outcomes – 20%
We’ll consider:
- The level of UK funding and creative involvement in the film, which will in turn generate greater monetary and reputational outcomes for the UK talent involved, with priority given to films with majority UK cast and crew and majority UK financing.
- Enhancement of projected admissions and box office, allowing for higher monetary and reputational benefits to UK producers.
- The projected impact for UK directing/producing/writing talent, including the impact on the career of the UK producer(s) and/or those working on their first or second features.
- The potential for higher prominence and reputational benefit for UK cast, for example, event attendance in territory, photo opportunities, awards, consumer profile, industry profile.
Track record and team – 15%
We’ll consider:
The ability of the applicant and each distributor, based on evidence of previous experience of the company and/or its staff, to deliver significant international sales/distribution for comparable UK films.
Additionality – 15%
We’ll consider:
- How existing release plans will be enhanced by P&A funding, especially the impact on scale of release, target length of run, increased press coverage and audience reach.
- How the P&A funding will be targeted towards activity in ways which deliver higher ancillary values for the film after theatrical release (including television, SVOD, TVOD).
- The potential of the release to increase awareness of UK film in each territory and enhance and expand international perceptions of UK film.
UK-wide benefit – 10%
We’ll consider:
- Where the applicant and the UK producer(s) (if not the applicant) of the relevant film are based.
- Where the relevant film is shot/made.
- How the relevant film reflects the culture and talent of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions outside Greater London.
- Any other proposed UK-wide benefits identified within the application.
Cross-cutting BFI priorities
Each of the following must be fully addressed:
- the quality and ambition of plans to address the Diversity Standards
- feasibility and impact of the company’s intentions for activity to be more environmentally sustainable and reduce negative environmental impact
Assessment process
All applications will be assessed by the UKGSF team at the BFI. We may consult external reviewers with relevant expertise during the assessment process.
You may be invited to a meeting or phone call to discuss the application further. This does not mean that we have made a commitment to make an award. The meeting is an opportunity for us to discuss your application and project with you in more detail. You may need to supply further information after the meeting and we will need to review that before we can make a final decision.
If we don’t receive any further materials or information from you within five working days or as otherwise specified in correspondence, your application will automatically be marked as ‘withdrawn’. This will not affect your ability to apply for other BFI funds or to the UKGSF in the future.
Projects which are not progressing beyond the assessment stage will be declined by email. This email will state that we have reviewed your application and are not considering it further and that your application is now closed.
Identity checks
We undertake due diligence assessments of the applications we are recommending to our decision-making committee for funding. As part of this, before applying to the committee, we may request the bank details of the lead applicant. We will request the personal address and date of birth of the CEO or Managing Director of the organisation applying. We will use this data to run an identity check. Our request for this information is not an indication or confirmation of funding and you will be informed separately of the funding decision on your application. Please note that this is not a credit check. We will be unable to submit your application to our decision-making committee until we have received your completed form.
Grant Finance Committee consideration
Following the assessment of your application, all projects which are being recommended for funding will be submitted to the BFI’s Grant Finance Committee. This committee is made up of members of the BFI Executive Board and other staff members who make funding decisions in line with the BFI Grant Funding Policies and Procedures handbook. This is the final stage of the funding decision process.
6. Getting a decision
You will be informed in writing if your application has been unsuccessful or successful.
If you’re successful
Stage 1: Funding agreement
Each successful applicant will be required to enter into a standard UKGSF P&A funding agreement, containing the total funding awarded for the release of the film by the distributors in the territory grouping, or the distributor in a single territory application. This must be countersigned by the applicant and returned to the BFI within 14 days of issue or it will automatically lapse.
In addition, each distributor will be required to sign individual inducement letters, acknowledging the terms of the P&A funding. A template of the inducement letter will form part of the funding agreement.
Stage 2: Payment
An amount equal to no more than 50% of the grant will be paid to the applicant upon signature of the funding agreement provided that they have met all of the conditions precedent to the award specified in the funding agreement, including providing evidence that:
i. the first release of the film in the territory grouping is confirmed and no more than six months away; or, in the case of a single territory application, that the release date is confirmed and no more than six months away
ii. a notice of availability for delivery has been issued to the first distributor to release the film in the territory grouping
iii. all minimum guarantees due by all distributors for the eligible territory or territories before or on the respective delivery to each distributor, have been paid in full; and
iv. inducement letters have been signed by each distributor
The balance of the grant will be paid upon receipt and approval by UKGSF of a final report, to be submitted no more than three months after the last theatrical release of the film in all of the territories included in the territory grouping, together with proof of full payment of all of the minimum guarantees payable by all of the distributors for the territory grouping.
In the case of a single territory application, the balance of the grant will be paid upon receipt and approval by UKGSF of a final report, to be submitted no more than three months after the theatrical release of the film in the territory, together with proof of full payment of all of the minimum guarantee payable by the distributor for the territory.
Stage 3: Reporting
The final report must include:
- a marketing report detailing how the film was marketed and promoted in each eligible territory, including local press articles and times and dates of any television or radio coverage, or links to any online coverage
- a full release report indicating: (i) for theatrical release – opening and total box office admissions and box office rentals received by the distributor for each eligible territory (ii) any VOD deals confirmed during that period (iii) any other activity or exploitation of the film in the eligible territory or territories in the funded period
- a statement of the benefits to each distributor and to the film’s release
- promotional data including but not limited to: (i) a list of all press coverage achieved through the participation of the film at festivals and markets, where this activity was supported by the P&A funding; and (ii) examples of the marketing and advertising materials which were produced with the support of the P&A funding, for example, copies of trade advertising, festival-specific posters
- a cost statement detailing actual expenditure compared against the total release costs budget submitted for each of the eligible territories
After an offer of funding has been made, successful applicants will be issued with further guidance on final reporting, including details of the information required to be provided by the distributors of each eligible territory.
Feedback on an unsuccessful application
We aim to make the application process as transparent as possible. Because of the volume of applications we receive, we do not have the resources to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. We will keep the data and supporting materials you sent to us in line with our records retention policy.
Resubmission
No resubmissions can be made to the International Distribution P&A strand for projects that are declined unless there is a substantial and significant change in elements, or where an application has been withdrawn from the previous funding process by the applicant.
If you meet either of the above criteria, please contact us to confirm whether you can apply. If you then submit a new application for the same project, ensure that you identify any revised project elements clearly in the new application.
We welcome your feedback on the application process and how we might improve it, via ukglobalscreenfund@bfi.org.uk.
7. Conditions of funding
If your application is successful, before we make any payments to you, you will be required to enter into a UKGSF International Distribution P&A funding agreement with the BFI that sets out the terms and conditions of your award.
In addition to the BFI General Funding Conditions, these terms and conditions will include the following (but may also include others specific to your application):
- Any award must be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was requested, as set out in your application, and solely on UK elements.
- The award is a grant that is not recoupable by the BFI, except in the circumstances set out below and in the funding agreement.
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Subject to clause seven below, all grants awarded will be paid in accordance with the following payment schedule:
An amount equal to no more than 50% of the grant will be paid to the applicant upon signature of the funding agreement provided that they have met all of the conditions precedent to the award specified in the funding agreement.
The balance of the grant will be paid upon receipt and approval by UKGSF of a final report, to be submitted no more than three months after the last theatrical release of the film in all of the territories included in the territory grouping, together with proof of full payment of all of the minimum guarantees payable by all of the distributors for the territory grouping.
In the case of a single territory application, the balance of the grant will be paid upon receipt and approval by UKGSF of a final report, to be submitted no more than three months after the theatrical release of the film in the territory, together with proof of full payment of all of the minimum guarantee payable by the distributor for the territory.
- The applicant must manage and distribute the P&A funding to each distributor approved by the fund as set out in the funding agreement.
- If the actual total release costs for the film for any territory are less than the respective total release costs budget as attached to the funding agreement, then UKGSF may proportionately reduce the amount of the grant payable or require a portion of the grant to be repaid.
- Any part of the UKGSF grant not spent on costs by the end of the funded period (as defined in the funding agreement) shall be reimbursed immediately to the BFI, unless the UKGSF approves its use on other costs. We may require evidence of expenditure by way of copies of receipts/invoices for expenses covered by the funding.
- We reserve the right to adjust the payment structure at the BFI’s sole discretion. The BFI will pay the grant to the UK limited company registered in the UK.
- The offer of funding and the funding agreement may be terminated and any funding already advanced may be required to be repaid in the event that any of the requirements set out in these guidelines or any of the terms of the funding agreement are breached.
- The BFI may withdraw any offer of funding and terminate the funding agreement if it has reasonable concerns relating to the film and/or its ability to be distributed internationally, any of the distributors’ partnership funding, or if the applicant and/or any distributor operates in a way which might bring the BFI or DCMS into disrepute.
- Successful applicants will be provided with detailedbranding guidelines that set out the specific requirements for acknowledging this funding and the UKGSF as a UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport fund administered by the BFI. We require grant recipients and distributors supported by UKGSF International Distribution P&A funding to increase the visibility of the Government’s support by:
- Promoting and displaying the UKGSF logo on promotional materials
- Assisting in communicating the benefit of the UKGSF, to ensure that its value and impact is recognised and understood by key stakeholders
- Making themselves available and encouraging key talent to take part in promotional activities
It is an important condition of UKGSF funding that the source of the funding is prominently acknowledged through use of the UKGSF logo and through agreed verbal and written acknowledgement. Partners and beneficiaries are expected to take opportunities to highlight not just the fact of the funding but why their project is funded and therefore the increased opportunity that is possible through the Government’s support.
- Successful applicants will be issued with guidance on final reporting, including requirements around benefits generated by the grant and promotional activity.
- You will be required to deliver against the undertakings made by you in relation to the BFI Diversity Standards. Failure to deliver against those undertakings without good cause may affect your ability to receive future project funding from the BFI.
- Successful applicants and distributors will be required to take part in formal evaluation of the UKGSF if contacted by an independent evaluator. This will include the provision of information on the relevant film release and the funded activities to inform this evaluation. This may include, but shall not be limited to, information in respect of the film release and the funded activities for the purposes of case studies, quotes from the grantee benefiting from the award and provision of visual materials relating to the funded activity.
- The applicant will be required to grant to the BFI and DCMS the right to use stills and clips from the supported film for the purpose of promoting the UKGSF in any media throughout the world for a period of at least three years from the date of issuance of the conditional offer of funding.
- Distributors accounting for the release of the film in their respective territory may not seek to recoup any costs which are funded by the P&A funding, whether as release expenses or otherwise.
- If the applicant or any distributor subsequently receives any other funding in respect of any costs covered by the P&A funding for the applicable eligible territory, then the applicant and/or the distributor will be required to immediately repay an equivalent amount of the grant to the BFI.
- The offer of funding and the funding agreement may be terminated and any funding already advanced may be required to be repaid in the event that any of the requirements set out in these guidelines or any of the terms of the funding agreement are breached.
- The BFI may withdraw any offer of funding and terminate the funding agreement if it has reasonable concerns relating to the film or its ability to be distributed internationally, any of the distributors’ partnership funding, or if the applicant or any distributor operates in a way which might bring the BFI or DCMS into disrepute.