BFI UK Focus Fund

No deadline listed

Funding

Contact funder

Deadline

Check with the funder

Location

England

Applications

Rolling applications

Overview

The BFI UK Focus Fund uses National Lottery money to support UK-focused activity at international film and screen industry events. It helps UK screen professionals connect with international buyers, partners, and co-producers. You can apply if your organisation is legally registered and your event covers feature films, documentaries, animation, or interactive media. Applications are accepted all year round but must be submitted at least 12 weeks before your activity starts.

Requirements to check

Who can apply:

limited companycharitysocial enterprisecicpartnership

Key requirements:

  • Organisation must be a legally constituted entity registered in its country of operation
  • Activity must take place at an established international festival, market, co-production forum, or screen industry event
  • Event must be dedicated to screen content: feature films, documentary, animation, or narrative-led interactive/immersive media
  • Application must be submitted at least 12 weeks before the activity start date

Your organisation must be a legally constituted entity according to the laws of the country in which it is based and registered. Your international event must be dedicated to screen content within at least one of the following categories: feature films – fiction, documentary, animation — for theatrical or online release programmes – documentary or animation only — for broadcast television, video-on-demand services or other forms of online release narrative-led interactive or immersive media for commercial distribution on digital platforms

This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.

Who is this for?

This fund is for legally registered organisations that want to promote UK screen content, talent, or co-production opportunities at international events. Your event must focus on film, documentary, animation, or interactive media. It is not for domestic events or activity unrelated to the screen sector.

Regions

No published award history for British Film Institute. Some funders do not publish their grants data.

Full details from British Film Institute

UK Focus Fund Awarding National Lottery funds to support UK-focused activities at international industry events. UK Focus Fund Overview The BFI National Lottery UK Focus Fund aims to increase the international visibility of UK screen talent and content, and to connect UK screen professionals with their international counterparts to increase the impact and success of the UK screen sector’s creativity and entrepreneurship. The fund will support UK-focused activity at established international festivals, markets, co-production forums, or other industry events or platforms, with international reach and dedicated to screen content. Activity should be designed to increase the awareness and demand for UK content, talent, expertise and co-production opportunities from international partners and buyers, and should stimulate cultural exchange activity, which in turn will result in increased collaboration. Who can apply Your organisation must be a legally constituted entity according to the laws of the country in which it is based and registered. Your international event must be dedicated to screen content within at least one of the following categories: feature films – fiction, documentary, animation — for theatrical or online release programmes – documentary or animation only — for broadcast television, video-on-demand services or other forms of online release narrative-led interactive or immersive media for commercial distribution on digital platforms How to apply Applications are accepted all year round and must be submitted at least 12 weeks before the start of the proposed UK Focus activity start date. You can only apply online after you’ve read the funding guidelines in full. There is an application link in the guidelines. If you have any questions about this fund or your application, email [email protected] Get help with your application We are committed to making our funding accessible to all. You can get help if you need support to apply for funding. About BFI National Lottery funding

How to apply

You must read the full funding guidelines first. The application link is inside those guidelines. Submit your application online at least 12 weeks before your planned activity starts.

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Last updated: 4 October 2026