The Film Exhibition Fund is here to support the independent film exhibition sector in the North.
Through our Film Exhibition Fund, funding of up to £10,000 per project, per year is available for screening activity taking place between April 2026 – March 2029.
The primary focus of the Film Exhibition Fund is in-person events that bring audiences together for a communal viewing experience. All activity supported through the fund should aim to increase in-person audiences for British, independent and international film in the North. This fund has been made available thanks to BFI National Lottery as part of the
BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy.
We can support a range of project specific costs including programming, marketing, staffing and accessibility. The entire range of organisations in our exhibitor network are eligible to apply – including full-time cinemas, mixed arts centres, community cinemas and film societies, film festivals and touring programmes.
Assessment rounds
In 2026 proposals will be assessed across three rounds:
Round 1
Call opens: Monday 16 February 2026
Call closes: Friday 20 March 2026 (noon)
Decisions notified w/c 30 March 2026
Round 2
Call opens: Monday 18 May 2026
Call closes: Friday 19 June 2026 (noon)
Decisions notified w/c 29 June 2026
Round 3
Call opens: Monday 21 September 2026
Call closes: Friday 23 October 2026 (noon)
Decisions notified w/c 2 November 2026
Please note:
- All activities need to have been completed and reported on by 31 March 2027 (for single-year awards) and 15 March 2029 (for multi-year awards)
- All activity should take place no sooner than 8 weeks after the call deadline
- Activity that runs over multiple years will be considered
- FEF awards vary based on scale of activity, with smaller FEF around £4,000-£5,000 and larger FEF around £7,000- £8,000.
Guidelines
Take a look at the
funding guidelines for more information on the fund, its aims and eligibility criteria.
If you have access requirements that mean you need assistance when applying for funds, you can request help through the
BFI Access Support Scheme.
A plain text version of these guidelines is also
available to download [.docx].
If you have any questions about the fund, application process, or would like to discuss submitting a proposal in a different way, please get in touch at info@filmhubnorth.org.uk.
Further support
We’re holding a series of free events to help Film Hub North members with their Film Exhibition Fund proposals.
Exhibitor Drop-in Sessions
We've added additional online drop-in sessions for you to discuss your proposals with our team. In this meeting, we can help with any queries about your proposal and discuss how we can help you grow audiences for great film in your area.
Tuesday 24 February 2026, 13:30 - 16:00
*fully booked*
Wednesday 25 February 2026, 10:30- 16:00
Members Session: Marketing and Budgeting
We’re running an online drop-in members session focused on strengthening the marketing and budgeting sections of your Film Exhibition Fund proposal. Got questions? This is your chance to speak to our team, get clarity on the criteria, and gain practical insights to improve your proposal.
Tuesday 24 February 2026, 10:00 - 11:00
Sign up
Main image credit: FACT Cinema in the City
Other image credit: Imagine Futures
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