BFI and DCMS invest over £2 million into the latest UK Global Screen Fund International Business Development Awards

The BFI has made 24 new awards through its UK Global Screen Fund, supporting international opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector. Financed through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the awards see a further £2,069,000 being allocated through the fund’s International Business Development strand, which has now made 134 awards totalling over £11 million to date.

Designed to support UK companies across film, TV, animation and interactive narrative video games in securing new business partnerships and enhancing their international activities, International Business Development funding is awarded in the form of non-recoupable grants ranging between £50,000 and £200,000, via one of three tracks:

• Film Transformation, for internationally-focused transformational business strategies related to independent UK films, spanning three to five years

• General, for business strategies to create, acquire and/or exploit intellectual property (IP) across film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative video games, with strategies spanning three years  

• Challenger, a new £50,000 award with optional additional mentorship component introduced for earlier-stage screen companies, launched in April 

Alongside this latest round of awards, the UK Global Screen Fund has today launched its brand new Video Games Release funding, designed to support UK video game developers to mount release campaigns for their games in international territories, through marketing, promotion and localisation, with the aim of increasing circulation and sales potential. Enhancing the UK Global Screen Fund’s international distribution strand, this new Video Games Release funding will offer grants of up to £50,000 and is part of the UKGSF’s strategic plan for 2026-29 following its recent expansion and budget increase to over £18m per year, up from £7m per year previously. For further information on eligibility and how to apply, register to join the upcoming Video Games Release webinar on 19 May.

“This latest round of awards demonstrates the quality and diversity of our incredible independent screen sector, spanning film, TV, animation and games, across the UK,” said Denitsa Yordanova, BFI Director of UK Global Screen Fund and International Funds. “The ambition of these companies in developing truly global growth strategies, and in striving to reach new international audiences, is exciting to see and it is so important that we continue to build on the UK’s strength in the global content marketplace, investing to support the screen sector in reaching its full potential.”

“Rogan is delighted to be a recipient of this year’s round of International Business Development support from the UK Global Screen Fund,” said Soleta Rogan, Managing Director at Rogan Productions. “In a now-globalised world of production, support like this further enables the company to bring its work to the international stage and forge partnerships in multiple territories, bringing increased opportunities to expand and diversify our output. This support comes at a critical time as we are expanding rapidly, fostering a global reputation for excellence and moving into new fields. With our catalogue of titles from Freddie Mercury: the Final Act to Grenfell: Uncovered, we have shown how we can bring a global dimension to UK stories. We are pressing on into fiction and look forward to engaging more markets with our particular brand of storytelling.” 

“We’re delighted to receive support from the UK Global Screen Fund’s International Business Development strand,” said Rachel Glendinning, Co-founder & Production Director at Friday Sundae. “This award comes at a pivotal moment for Friday Sundae as we establish There Are No Ghosts at the Grand as our first original IP and build towards a future slate of distinctive narrative games for international audiences. The funding is already helping us strengthen the foundations needed for global growth, from localisation and audience development to international marketing, community-building and partnerships. As the game begins to reach new audiences internationally, including the US and Japan, this support is hugely valuable in helping a small UK studio build sustainable relationships overseas and turn early momentum into long-term opportunity.”

UK Global Screen Fund applications are currently open for:

• International Business Development – closing 11 June

• International Distribution Prints & Advertising (P&A) – assessed on a rolling basis

• International Distribution Festival Launch – assessed on a rolling basis

• International Distribution Video Games Release – assessed on a rolling basis

Applications for International Co-production funding will re-open in September.

Support towards engaging a Head of Development and Researcher, enabling the company to make further strides in its TV strategy, with additional costs for market attendance and the acquisition of Intellectual Property. The female-led West Midlands-based film and TV company received a BBC Indie Award 2024 and has since been developing a slate of scripted TV ideas. Recent credits include A Blue Butterfly (post-production) and Low Rider (EIFF In Competition, BFI Flare). Tomorrow Died Yesterday (Producer, TV series in development, Plan B / Apple TV+).

Contribution towards the hire of an International Business Development Executive who will help bridge the gap between the company’s internationally-appealing projects and international buyers and financiers. The genre-film focused company, previously as a provider of services for hire on film and TV, is no focused on producing their own IP. Recent credits include Shadowscan, Been So Long and Industry.

Support for the hire of a Head of Quality Assurance to allow the company to produce and expand their development pipeline, with a focus on original-IP games. The company, based in the East of England, produces interactive video games for a range of audiences. A recent credit includes the two times BAFTA-nominated Disney Illusion Island.

Supports towards expanding the company’s international profile through the hire of a Brand Manager, as well as contributing to marketing and social media strategy. The animation company based in Northern Ireland, operated out of Derry, has multiple award-winning projects, the best-known of which is the Puffin Rock property.

Support towards an international audience growth strategy with a focus on Asia for Messy Goes to Okido along with the launch of YouTube channels in relevant regional languages. The London-based children’s animation company is recognised as an expert in communicating often complex scientific topics in an age-appropriate way for early years which they use to produce a series of projects with educational and international appeal.

Funding to hire a Publishing Manager as well as contributing towards marketing to support the company’s scaling up strategy as a videogame publisher. Draknek & Friends specifically deal with puzzle games that are high quality, rewarding, and elegant, often taking a theme, mechanic, or ludicrous idea and pushing it to its natural conclusion. They have released multiple award-winning titles including A Monster’s Expedition and A Good Snowman is Hard to Build and published many more including LOK Digital and Bonfire Peaks.

Support to engage a Digital Producer to lead the development of a digital-first pipeline and targeted investment in software and marketing/PR, with the aim of increasing efficiency, scalability, volume, and quality of the company’s IP. With a strong track record in international co-productions the company has produced seven feature films and established a focused, high-quality pipeline spanning commercial genres, director-led projects, premium television, and documentaries. Credits include major titles such as Cliffhanger, The Crow, and The Uprising alongside original IP in both factual — Leo Regan’s Family in my Head - and fiction — Gerard Johnson’s Odyssey.

Contribution towards the hire of a Head of Production allowing the company founder to focus on new business opportunities.  Known for using drama techniques to elevate cinematic feature documentaries, the company will enter the innovative, edgy space between documentary and drama, to internationally coproduce low budget arthouse ‘marmite’ feature fiction. Documentary credits include the BIFA nominated, Off The Rails and BAFTA nominated, From Scotland with Love.

Support for a number of hires, including an International Marketing Manager, a Community Manager and Localisation Producer to expand the company’s international reach and support an expanded production pipeline following the successful release of their first PC and console title There Are No Ghosts at The Grand. The award-nominated game studio based in Bristol, previously, delivering interactive narrative content for major entertainment and cultural partners worldwide, has now pivoted into own-IP games.

Support towards the hire of creative producer and head of business affairs Suzanne Alizart, travel to markets and strategic PR underpinning the establishment of Glimmerama, the new creative distribution label for Glimmer Films. The East Midlands based, documentary-focused production company founded by filmmaker Jeanie Finlay is recognised for its bold storytelling and internationally acclaimed work which has received numerous awards and been distributed to a global audience. Recent credits include Your Fat Friend, The Great Hip Hop Hoax, Seahorse and All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea, which premiered in competition at CPH:Dox in March.

Support towards new staffing and reversioning costs to aid in the company’s digital strategy. The factual based company has over a decade of experience in both co-production and solo lead production for factual series, usually with themes related to history and archaeology. Credits include Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning film Green Book: The Guide to Freedom (Smithsonian) and critically acclaimed investigative history single The Woman in The Iron Coffin (PBS).

Funding towards the hire of a Marketing Assistant to manage relationships with key influencers as well as engage in key marketing activities, supporting additional international sales for the company’s games. The female-founded immersive games company, based in Northern Ireland, develops games informed by research and scientific expertise in football and sports science, with a mission to improve sports performance through VR gameplay. Credits include Cleansheet Soccer which has over 150,000 players worldwide.

Contribution towards the costs of hiring a Development Executive focused on international business growth, to ensure projects are internationally appealing, and to identify and connect with suitable co-production and funding partners, as well as towards attending relevant international markets. King Banana TV focuses on producing impactful, quality children’s content. Credits include their mixed media, live action, and animation series, Yakka Dee! fully animated family sitcom, Nikhil & Jay, and new series currently in production, Yakka Do!

Funding towards the hire of a Business Development Lead to increase the company’s international sales and partnerships. The BAFTA-award nominated games studio is based in the East of England. Credits include their debut game, Paper Trail, which received over 70 awards and honours and has over 95% positive reviews on the Steam storefront.

Support towards the company’s scale up strategy through the hire of a Development Executive and Production Executive, as well as towards consultancy and travel to markets. The Scottish film company has several projects with international appeal in funded development or production, funded by UK and international sources including: The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford for the BBC, Filipinana and Lady for Film4 and Borges and Me for Oscar-winning US indie studio Big Beach.

Support towards working with international consultants, marketing and travel to help get international commissions from broadcasters and build routes into European co-production. The Wales-based factual company creates globally resonant films, often collaborating with young and emerging talent, with a focus on diverse and inclusive storytelling. Credits include Off the Rails, a Best Film winner at the Oscar-qualifying DocEdge in New Zealand, and My Extinction, a film about the future of disability, currently in production.

Support towards a Latin America-focused strategy, including the hire of a Development Executive with LatAm experience, relevant market attendance and training. The independent London-based production company has focused on fostering new and diverse creative voices while building meaningful international partnerships, with a particular interest in the European and Latin American markets. Credits include for The Settlers, which received the FIPRESCI award after premiering in Cannes, and Titanic Ocean.

Funding for the hire of a Development Producer to help build on the company’s international premium documentary output. The London-based documentary maker has grown their team organically over the years, and had numerous projects receiving international award recognition, including both Academy Award Nominated The Square and Hell and Back again and more recently, Spacey Unmasked and The Accidental President. 

Support towards the hire of a Development Executive to aid the company in developing and selling more internationally appealing projects. The factual Film and TV company has a good track record of working with broadcasters and SVOD platforms focusing on premium factual. Recent credits approach politicised subjects, such as Grenfell: Uncovered and Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd, or prominent political figures (e.g. their upcoming Free Nelson Mandela series).

Contribution to the hire of a Development Assistant Producer with US and international streamer focus, allowing the company to increase their international sales and commissions. The premium unscripted and documentary production company, previously producing titles for streaming services, has started to shift their strategy to retain more rights and work with international distributors. Credits include the EMMY-nominated feature doc A Deadly American Marriage for Netflix, Taylor for Channel 4, which was distributed globally by Blue Ant, Doom Scroll: Andrew Tate and The Dark Side of the Internet for Sky and a forthcoming series for Netflix about the murder trials of Karen Reid. 

Support towards the hire of an International Development Producer focusing on international development to bolster the company’s internationally-appealing slate, as well as some travel to markets. The award-winning film company, based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, has a past track record which includes working with well-known sales agents such as Protagonist, Bankside and Charades. Credits include BAFTA- nominated God’s Own Country and BAFTA award winning Kneecap.

Funding will support the hire of a Development Executive to drive international business strategy and growth. The female-led company is based in Belfast and produces bilingual (English/Irish) factual content. Strident has a track record in creating high-impact, premium documentary singles and series exploring contemporary social issues and trends. Recent productions include Men of the Manosphere, Caitlin Hanna: Trafficked in Belfast and Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang for BBC.

A female-founded production outfit at the intersection of Film, TV, and Immersive media, Tyke Films specializes in genre-focused projects sourced from underrepresented voices. By combining nuanced storytelling with international commercial appeal, the company is currently expanding its pipeline through strategic co-productions and dedicated development. Recent credits include the BAFTA-shortlisted Plunge and Christmas film Merry Christmas Aubrey Flint to be released in 2026.

Contribution towards the cost of hiring a Head of Production to allow Water & Power Productions to take leading roles in the production of projects with international appeal. The London-based Film & TV production company has successfully gained a foothold in genre projects, spanning comedy and drama. Recent credits include A Thousand Blows for Disney+/Hulu and Mr Bigstuff for Sky.