UK Global Screen Fund announces latest international distribution awards to support the promotion of UK independent feature films

The BFI has made 14 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 £448,330 being allocated through the fund’s International Distribution strand. To date, this strand has now made 111 awards totalling over £3.1million.

The funding, awarded in the form of non-repayable grants, is focused on helping recipients enhance the profile and reach of UK feature films in the global marketplace, and on increasing their international sales potential through promotion and new international partnerships.

Financial support through the International Distribution strand provides sales agents and producers from across the UK with funding via two tracks, both open for application and assessed on a rolling basis:

• Prints and Advertising (P&A) Support
• Festival Launch Support

Recent changes to the International Distribution P&A strand, led by demand and in consultation with industry, see the introduction of a new, single-territory application option for animation and documentary features, along with expanded support which now includes the UK and Ireland within the international territory groupings. Further detail on these tracks, including eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply, will be featured at the upcoming BFI International town hall meeting, open to all industry and available to register in advance for here.

“This latest round of international distribution awards has helped increase the promotion of a fantastic range of UK feature films, already achieving significant international success on the film festival circuit,” said Denitsa Yordanova, BFI Head of UK Global Screen Fund and International Funds. “We are excited to see these titles reaching new audiences worldwide and so proud to support our exceptional independent screen sector to continue competing in the international marketplace.”

Applications for International Business Development funding are also currently open, with a deadline of 19 June. Applications for International Co-production will re-open in September 2025.

Written and directed by Mike Leigh, this film stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste in a breath-taking lead performance as a woman struggling with mental health difficulties, despite the best efforts of her sister. The P&A Support grant contributes towards the film’s enhanced theatrical release across a grouping of five territories, with the aim of increasing audiences across the grouping, box office and financial returns for UK rightsholders. The film is produced by Georgina Lowe and the award is granted to Cornerstone Films.

Written by Jeff Pope and Tom Michell, and directed by Peter Cattaneo, this poignant feel-good story stars Steve Coogan as a British teacher working in Argentina, who decides to adopt a penguin. The P&A Support grant contributes towards the film’s enhanced theatrical release across a grouping of ten international territories, with releases taking place from April onwards, with the aim of increasing audiences across the large territory grouping. The film, which had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, is produced by Rory Aitken, Ben Pugh, Andy Noble and Adrián Guerra and the award is granted to Rocket Science Industries.

Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and directed by Marianne Elliott, this feature directorial debut starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson, tells the moving story of a couple who lose their home and begin a year-long coastal trek along the South West Coast Path. The P&A Support grant contributes towards the film’s enhanced theatrical release across a grouping of four territories – Benelux, Australia, Greece and Germany – with releases taking place from May onwards. The film is produced by Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Lloyd Levin and Beatriz Levin and the award is granted to Rocket Science Industries.

Written by Mahdi Fleifel, Fyzal Boulifa and Jason McColgan and directed by Mahdi Fleifel, this UK/Greece/Netherlands/France/Germany/Qatar/Palestine co-production is a thriller in which a Palestinian refugee living in Athens is ripped off by a smuggler and sets out to seek revenge. The P&A Support grant contributes towards the film’s enhanced theatrical release across a grouping of four international territories – Middle East, France, US, Germany – between February and September, with the aim of increasing box office and financial returns, and boosting the profile of the UK talent involved. The film is produced by Geoff Arbourne (UK), alongside Maria Drandaki, Layla Meijman, Maarten van der Ven and Francois Morisset and the award is granted to Inside Out Films.

Written by Suhayla El-Bushra and directed by Nadia Fall, this feature debut follows two teenage girls in search of freedom, friendship and belonging who run away from their troubled lives with a misguided plan of traveling to Syria. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed towards activities connected to its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where it featured in the World Cinema, Dramatic Competition section. The film is produced by Nicky Bentham and Marica Stocchi and the award is granted to Bankside Films.

Written and directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, this directorial debut from the prolific producer follows Nigerian migrant, Isio, who having lived in the UK undocumented for two years is caught and sent to the Hatchworth Removal Centre, where she hopes for a fair asylum hearing, seeking freedom and love. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed towards activities connected to its World Premiere at Berlinale 2025, where it featured within the Panorama section, enhancing the presence of the film and its talent during the festival. The film is produced by Emily Morgan and the award is granted to Quiddity Films.

Written by Phil Cox and directed by Phil Cox, Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy and Timeea Ahmed, this Sudan/UK/Germany/Qatar co-production is a documentary feature telling the story of five citizens of Khartoum forced to leave Sudan for East Africa following the outbreak of war, re-enacting their stories of survival and freedom through dreams, revolution, and war. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed towards activities connected to its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where it featured in the World Cinema, Documentary Competition section before going on to win awards at Berlinale, Geneva Human Rights and Milan film festivals. The film is produced by Giovanna Stopponi with Talal Afifi, Frank Albers and Trevor Snapp and the award is granted to Native Voice Films.

Directed by Sophie Compton and Daisy-May Hudson, this documentary feature film, set and shot in London, follows the journeys of six women, all of whom were formerly incarcerated at Holloway prison, once the largest women’s prison in Europe. The P&A Support grant contributed towards activities relating to its International Premiere at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival where it screened in competition for Best International Feature, in the International Spectrum programme. The film is produced by Alice Hughes, Polly Creed and Sophie Compton and the award is granted to Power Play Productions.

Written and directed by Bryn Chainey, this British folk horror starring Dev Patel follows a musician and her husband who move to a remote house in Wales, where the music they make disturbs local ancient folk magic, bringing a nameless child to their door who is intent on infiltrating their lives. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed towards activities connected to its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where it featured in the Midnight section, helping to generate a buzz around the film with the aim of securing strong sales. The film is produced by Daniel Noah, Lawrence Inglee, Elijah Wood, Elisa Lleras, Adrian Politowski, Martin Metz, Alex Ashworth and Sean Marleyand the award is granted to Bankside Films.

Written and directed by Vladimir de Fontenay, this taut psychological thriller is set on the remote Sukkwan Island, where 13-year-old Roy agrees to spend a formative year of adventure with his father deep in the Norwegian fjords. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed towards activities connected to its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival, with the aim of increasing international sales. The film is produced by Carole Scotta, Eliott Khayat and Caroline Benjo and the award is granted to UK co-producer, Good Chaos.

Written and directed by Thea Gajić, and based on a true story, this feature follows Vlad, a talented harmonica player who arrived in the UK after fleeing the conflict in Yugoslavia. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed to activities connected to its World Premiere at SXSW, where it featured in the Narrative Spotlight section, increasing audience awareness of the film and driving buyers to attend or screen the title. The film is produced by Aleksandra Bilić and Sophie Reynolds and the award is granted to Bankside Films.

Directed by Grace Hughes-Hallet, this documentary feature follows college student, Kristi, who opens her textbook during a feminist studies class to discover something that turns her world upside down. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed to activities connected to its World Premiere at SXSW, where it featured in the Documentary Feature Competition section, enhancing the visibility of the film and its UK talent during the festival. The film is produced by James Rogan and Flora Stewart and the award is granted to Rogan Productions.

Written and directed by Dylan Southern, this psychological horror stars Benedict Cumberbatch and tells the story of Dad, left to raise two young sons after the unexpected death of his wife. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed towards activities connected to its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where it featured in the Premieres section, generating buzz around the title with the aim of securing strong international sales. The film is produced by Andrea Cornwell, Adam Ackland and Leah Clarke for SunnyMarch and Lobo Films, and the award is granted to Lobo Films.

Written and directed by Charlie Shackleton, this feature is a meta-textual exploration of the true crime genre following the filmmaker as he describes his abandoned Zodiac Killer documentary and probes the inner workings of a genre at saturation point. The Festival Launch Support grant contributed to its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where it won the NEXT Innovator Award, enhancing the presence of the film and its talent and leading to further festival screenings including SXSW. The film is produced by Catherine Bray, Anthony Ing and Charlie Shackleton and the award is granted to Loop Projects.