BFI FAN launches Film Exhibition Fund (FEF) to award funding from the BFI National Lottery to support a wide range of audience-facing activity, as part of the BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy.
The fund will run for the next three years and is open to BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) member organisations including cinemas, mixed arts centre, community cinemas, film societies, film festivals, touring operators and other film exhibition organisations.
Public engagement (FAN)
The BFI Film Audience Network (FAN) reaches out across the UK to ensure people have the maximum possible opportunity to watch and enjoy a diverse range of films and moving image, regardless of geography or circumstance.
FEF creates opportunities for people to engage with UK independent and international film and the wider moving image. Organisations will be able to apply for a maximum of £10,000 (note that this varies across FAN regions) to cover costs such as wraparound activity, marketing/outreach campaigns, access costs and/or any other initiative that has the potential to help them connect with new and diverse audiences.
Big screen experiences are the priority for FEF, but in-person projects involving some online and hybrid events will be considered where this represents a valuable opportunity for audience development.
The focus of FEF is on UK independent and international films and wider moving image including documentaries, TV and archive materials. In line with BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy, immersive and interactive technologies such as gaming, VR/AR/XR and wider screen-based technologies that interact with cinema experiences will also be considered.
Focus areas
Priority will be given to projects that effectively respond to the following focus areas responding to the ambition of the BFI Screen Culture 2033 strategy.
Creating opportunities for young audiences:
The fund can support public activity aimed at children and families as well as young people (aged 25 and under) with an ambition to develop future generations’ relationship with screen culture.
Tackling barriers to inclusion:
BFI and FAN are working to tackle under-representation in the exhibition industry: be that on our screens, in the workforce or among audiences in line with the updated BFI diversity standards. Particular attention will be paid to projects that address social, economic and geographical barriers for audiences in new and meaningful ways such as outreach to communities that prioritise and represent lived experiences.
Showcasing Screen Heritage:
The fund can support activity that showcases archive materials that reflect the diversity of the UK and the region; tapping into national and regional archive collections and other moving image collections.
Other cross-cutting principles that all supported organisations will need to address include environmental sustainability, safeguarding, and the prevention of bullying, harassment and racism.
How to apply for FEF funding
To find out more about the launch date, deadlines and detail of your regional FEF, see below.
Note that there are slight regional variations to ensure that the FEF fund is responsive to various regional/national contexts. For exhibitors based in Scotland, note that FEF is called the Screen Exhibition fund.
The majority of the fund will support activity taking place from July 2023 – March 2024. Some regions are also introducing multi-year award (during the period of July 2023 until 31 March 2026.)
Film Hub London: BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: £58,000 (annually)
Funding range: Up to £5000
Applications open: 22 March 2023
Fund closes: 1 September 2023 or when funds have been exhausted (whichever comes first). Proposals will be assessed on a monthly basis from April 2023. To be considered in the next upcoming monthly assessment, your proposal should be submitted on or before the cut-off dates listed below. The Film Hub will aim to notify you of the outcome of your application within 4 weeks of the cut-off dates listed below: 3 April 2023; 2 May 2023; 5 June 2023; 3 July 2023; 7 August 2023; 4 September 2023
Annual projects – May 2023 – March 2024
Multi-year projects: July 2023 – March 2026; If you are interested in developing a project that will run over more than one year, please get in touch with the team before applying at filmhublondon@filmlondon.org.uk
Film Hub North – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: £80,000 (annually)
Funding range: up to £10,000 (for multi-year projects, up to £10,000 per year)
Applications open: 01 April 2023
Fund closes: 01 December 2025 or when funds have been committed (whichever comes first). Proposals will be assessed on a monthly basis from April 2023 until 01 December 2025. Applicants should submit their proposals at least 6 weeks in advance of their project start date.
Activity window: April 2023 – March 2026
Multi-year projects: April 2023 – March 2026; subject to available resources, we may support activity that runs over multiple years where this is in the best interests of the project and where it strongly addresses our outcomes. If you think this might apply to your project, please get in touch with us at info@filmhubnorth.org.uk
Film Hub Midlands – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: £60,000 (a further £30,000 will be available in Round 2 in July)
Funding range: £2,000 to £10,000
Applications open: 22 March 2023
First round Deadline: Applications close: 28 April 2023: Decisions will be confirmed by May 2023
Second round Deadline: Applications close: TBC 2023: Decisions will be confirmed by beginning of October 2023
Annual projects – June 2023 – March 2024
Multi-year projects: June 2023 – March 2026; If you have a multi-year project in mind that could run beyond this date (June –31st March), this may be considered, subject to organisational capability and demonstrable need. Applications must closely fit the criteria and have a strategic plan in place. If you think this applies to your project, please contact the team at hello@filmhubmidlands.org ahead of any submission.
Film Hub Scotland – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: £93,000
Funding range: £1,000 to £10,000
Applications open: 22 March 2023
First round Deadline: Applications close: 24 April 2023: Decisions will be confirmed by the end of June 2023
Second round Deadline: Applications close: 14 August 2023: Decisions will be confirmed by beginning of October 2023
Annual projects – July 2023 – March 2024; if your plans include activity during April – June 2023, please get in touch with the team before applying.
Multi-year projects: July 2023 – March 2026; If you are interested in developing a project that will run over more than one year, please get in touch with the team before applying: info@filmhubscotland.com.
Film Hub South East – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: £169,000
Funding range: on average £3,000 – £10,000
Applications open: 31 March 2023
If you would like to apply for more than £10,000 or are developing a project that will run over more than one year, please get in touch with the team before applying: filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
Film Hub South West – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: £73,000 (annually)
Funding range: £2,000 to £10,000
Applications open: Wed 29 March 2023
First round Deadline: Applications close: 5pm Mon 29 May 2023: Decisions will be confirmed by the end of June 2023
Second round Deadline: Applications close: 5pm Mon 4 Sept 2023: Decisions will be confirmed by beginning of October 2023
Annual projects – July 2023 – March 2024; if your plans include activity during April – June 2023, please get in touch with the team before applying.
Multi-year projects: If you are interested in developing a project that will run over more than one year, see below for more information, and please get in touch with the team before applying: filmhub@watershed.co.uk
Film Hub Wales – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: Circa £100,000
Funding: up to £10k
Applications open: w/c 27th March 2023
Applications close: 9am Monday 1st May 2023 (round one) and Monday 3rd July 2023 (round two)
Activity window: May 2023 – March 2024. Multi-year funding may be available, subject to funds and demonstrable need.
Aim: To develop audiences for UK independent (including Welsh) and international film and the wider moving image.
Note: Your activity start date should be May onwards to allow for funding decisions.
Film Hub NI – Film Exhibition Fund
Total amount available: Circa £20,000
Funding: up to £4000k
Applications open: w/c 27th March 2023
Applications close: 1st December 2024
Activity window: 1st April 2023 to 1st March 2024. NB: Multi-year funding may be available, subject to funding and demonstrable need.
