Development Fund

The BFI Development Fund is now closed for applications in readiness for the roll out of our new 10-year National Lottery Funding Strategy. Further details of our new BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund will be published in early 2023, with applications opening in February. The new Fund will include development and production funding for features and XR/VR projects, as well as support for project development.

Whilst our funds are closed, we will continue to consider supplementary funding awards for projects which are currently in development or production with us at the BFI Film Fund.

We aim to help develop viable projects by teams across the UK who can demonstrate previous experience in writing, directing and producing to a point where they are ready to seek production funding from the BFI or other sources.

National Lottery funding for documentaries is provided by our partner, Doc Society and funding for short films is provided through BFI NETWORK.

Applications must be made by the lead producer who is a different person to the  writer and, if there is one, director.

We are unable to provide development funding to teams without a producer.

Projects without a producer should consider BFI NETWORK’s Early Development Fund.

We prioritise work that:

• is made by filmmakers in the early stages of their careers
• has cultural relevance or progressive ideas
• takes risks in form and content
• recognises the quality of differences in perspective, talent and recruitment
• originated by filmmakers outside London and South East England

The application form will ask you to supply:

• synopsis, story and themes
• previous work of the writer, producer and, if applicable, the director
• motivations behind the project, ideally provided by the writer or director
• details of the audience you are aiming to appeal to
• ideas for casting (if applicable) and how you plan to approach that cast
• approximate dates and locations you are hoping to film
• details of potential or actual financial partners on the project and any expenditure to date
• budget you anticipate needing in order to develop the project and get it made, including the amount you are requesting from the BFI
• an estimate of the total production budget
• any unusual or challenging technical or budgetary requirements that you foresee

Applications are now closed. Further details of our new BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund will be published in early 2023, with applications opening in February.

If you have any questions, please email developmentcoordinator@bfi.org.uk.

 

The extremely competitive nature of our funding means that we have to make very difficult decisions and often have to turn down projects even when they meet some or all of our stated criteria. On average, we have to turn down over 7 in every 10 projects seeking Development funding, and 8 in every 10 projects seeking Production funding.

We aim to make the application process as fair and transparent as possible. As a result of the volume of applications we receive, we do not have the resources to provide feedback on projects that have been declined.