BFI to invest £2m in international opportunities for UK's indie screen sector

The BFI has made 24 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 £2,148,688 being allocated through the £7m per year fund’s International Business Development strand. 

Financial support will provide 24 companies from all over the UK with funding via one of two tracks:  

• Film Transformation, for internationally-focused transformational business strategies related to independent UK films, with strategies spanning three to five years 
• General, for business strategies to create, acquire and/or exploit intellectual property (IP) across film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative video games, with strategies spanning three years    

The funding, awarded in the form of non-repayable grants and ranging between £50,000 and £144,000 in total over the three to five year period, is focused on helping companies achieve new international business partnerships, enhance their profile and reach in the global marketplace, and increase revenue generation through export and international expansion.  

Denitsa Yordanova, BFI head of the UK Global Screen Fund, said: "This latest round of awards demonstrates the quality and diversity of our incredible independent screen sector, spanning film, TV, animation and games, across the UK. The ambition of these companies in developing truly global growth strategies, and in striving to reach new international audiences, is so exciting to see, demonstrating opportunities for further growth. It is so important that we continue to build on the UK’s strength in the global content marketplace, investing to support the screen sector in reaching its full potential.”  

UK Global Screen Fund applications are now open for: 

• International Business Development, closing on 6 July  
• International Distribution Festival Launch Support, assessed on a rolling basis 
• International Distribution Film Sales Support, assessed on a rolling basis  

The next round of UK Global Screen Fund international co-production funding will open on 3 August.