The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the BFI have launched the UK Global Screen Fund, a one year pilot fund designed to boost international development and distribution opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector.
The new £7 million fund will target support across the screen sector including film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative games (Interactive) content. Financed by DCMS and administered by the BFI, it will focus on accelerating export growth, boosting revenues to independent UK screen companies and deepening international relationships.
Following extensive consultation with industry from all four nations of the UK and drawing on expertise from across the screen sector, the UK Global Screen Fund has been established to directly address industry need. Aimed at boosting the international competitiveness of UK screen content whilst growing the revenue and sustainability of domestic independent businesses, the fund is designed to help develop and produce projects with international appeal, expand the worldwide distribution of UK content and encourage collaboration with international partners.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The United Kingdom has an independent screen industry to be proud of. World renowned, our film, TV, video game and animation industries create jobs and growth the length and breadth of the UK. PRESS RELEASE “The UK Global Screen Fund will export the extraordinary talent and creativity of the UK to audiences across the globe, supporting our talented filmmakers and screen businesses to compete and grow.”
David Parfitt, Oscar-winning producer of The Father and founder of Trademark Films, said: “We are delighted with the success of The Father, which has now sold in multiple territories around the world. However, this new fund brings a business development element alongside distribution support which is particularly attractive to a company like ours. It would allow us to engage and compete on more equal terms with other global independent production companies, allowing us to take further risks and giving a welcome boost for international success.”
Alongside financial support for UK screen businesses, the UK Global Screen Fund will drive and fund a new international promotional campaign. Informed by newly commissioned audience perception research focusing on key international territories, the campaign will engage global audiences and reflect the extraordinary quality and diversity of screen content coming from the UK. Recognising the vital role of film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive in shaping how the UK is viewed around the world, the activation of this major campaign, set to go live later in 2021, will showcase independent UK screen content through multi-territory promotion of talent, content, and companies.
