BFI Film Academy - Micro Short Film Fund

A new film fund grant for emerging filmmakers aged 16-25 years old

The new BFI Film Academy: Micro Short Film Fund is designed for emerging filmmakers aged 16-25 years old to receive a grant of £1000 to make a short film, which will be developed with us at Film Hub North. 

What is the opportunity?

This grant can be used across any part of the project including pre-production, production and post-production. You can make the film on any device you may have, including mobile phones or any digital device that can help you capture and explore your creative process however you can use the grant towards equipment if you need it. We don’t want access to technology to be a barrier, we are most interested in your ideas and the creative process of presenting them on screen.

Alongside the financial support available you will receive ongoing support from Film Hub North, including one-to-one sessions with the Talent Executives and Talent Producer to develop the script and your creative vision for the project. 

At the end of the project, you will present your work at an event hosted by Film Hub North alongside regional filmmakers and the other awardees. As part of this, you will have the opportunity to meet other like-minded filmmakers and enhance your contacts. 

The deadline for applications is 17:00 Sunday 23 June.

For successful awardees, the deadline to complete and send us your short film is January 10 2025.

Who's it for?

• You are aged 16-25 years old and currently living within the Film Hub North Region. We work in: Cheshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumberland, North and North East Lincolnshire, Tyne and Wear, and Yorkshire.
• You will not have any professional credits.
• You are not represented by an agent.
• No filmmaking experience is required.

We strongly welcome and encourage applicants from under-represented groups: these include those who identify as working class, D/deaf and disabled, LGBTQIA+ and/or are black and global majority people.

What do you need to apply?

Micro Short Film Fund Grant applications can be made via our online form. 

The application form will ask for details on the following:

• Your story: A written summary, a recorded pitch or even a full screenplay up to five minutes in length. The story must be your original work, we are unable to support stories based on a book, adaptation, or existing Intellectual Property (IP).This can be across different formats including fiction, animation and documentary (5 pages maximum).
• Your plan: Give us an idea of what this will look and feel like, this could be a mood board, drawings, a trailer or whatever works for your project.
• How the grant will support you: Send us a small breakdown of how you would spend the £1000 to support your film and your professional development. Examples could include costume rental, art design materials, equipment costs etc.

NB: The runtime for your micro short must not exceed 5 minutes.

We don’t expect you to be working at a professional level or have expert knowledge of your craft and chosen discipline. We want to best understand your idea and how this opportunity will benefit you and your professional development.

Our Selection Process

All applications will be assessed by Film Hub North and BFI NETWORK Film Hub North teams. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an informal meeting on Zoom. 

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, it will not be possible to offer feedback to every applicant.

If you have any questions on the application process, or require access support, please get in touch with Talent Producer Sam at sam@filmhubnorth.org.uk 

Apply here

This Micro Short Film Fund grant is part of our BFI Film Academy programme for young filmmakers. BFI Film Academy offers opportunities for ambitious 16-25 year olds, anywhere in the UK, to get to know more about film and how to forge a career in the screen industries.