Delivered in partnership with the BFI, FAN is proud to unveil the new UK-wide season – Too Much: Melodrama on Film - where audiences are invited to follow their emotions and get swept away by the big screen experience.
Too Much celebrates the visual excess and dramatic potency of a form of cinema which champions emotional intensity over propriety and ‘good taste’. With roots in the exaggerated performance and expressive staging of the silent era, the melodramatic mode evolved to incorporate a wealth of genres and stories. United by their emotion driven plots, vivid visual language and self-conscious audience manipulation, these films are designed to make you break down in tears, cause a scene, fall in love, feel something.
Defining melodrama is notoriously difficult - its trademarks (emotive music, dramatic plots and expressive performance) are the bread and butter of cinema. To be included in the season, films must meet the following criteria:
· Heightened emotions and pathos: on screen, and/or deliberately induced in the audience
· Some combination of amplified performance, visuals, score and plot used to achieve this
· Personal relationships at the heart of the emotional conflict portrayed.
Melodrama in film has long been associated with women – the rare storytelling mode concerned with their inner lives and everyday struggles. ‘Women’s pictures’ employed melodrama to express longing, rage and desire in characters facing motherhood, infidelity, sexual abuse and scandal. Too Much will celebrate the female stars of melodrama who have drawn audiences to the cinema in their millions, and films exploring women’s experiences are encouraged.
Backed by a UK-wide press and marketing campaign and a central listing platform, the season will have a broad audience appeal.
You must be a member of Film Hub North as part of BFI Film Audience Network to access support from this programme.
How do I become a Film Hub Member?
To be eligible for support, organisations must be registered members of Film Hub North and be legally constituted with a nominated UK Bank Account. Proposals from individuals or non-members will not be considered. You can read more about how to become a member
here.
Where do I start?
Look at the
Creative Brief for more information about the programme scope and to get some inspiration.
What funding is available?
There are three ways you can engage with the programme and access support:
- 2) BESPOKE: Up to £15,000 (average awards likely to be circa £5,000 based on previous activity) to develop bespoke projects to allow exhibitors to develop a more bespoke activity, within the parameters of the Creative Brief.
- 3) CROSS-FAN: Up to £15,000 to develop programme and/or marketing/outreach activity with the potential to scale or tour across the UK, and/or projects involving multiple site-specific events across the UK. Read the Funding Guidelines for more information and guidance.
Key dates
The bulk of the season takes place this Autumn (October-December 2025) across the FAN membership. Please note that for non-theatrical members, the menu will be available to book until the end of January 2026.
- Deadline for Bespoke and Cross FAN Proposals – Monday 14 July 2025, 17:00
- Deadline for Menu expressions of interest – Monday 29 September 2025, 17:00: but note that for your activity to be included in initial listings announcements you will need to submit your EOI and confirm your bookings by the end of July 2025.
- Period of activity: October – December 2025. Menu titles can be booked until January 2026 and some special regional preview events may be allowed before the start of October 2025.
Accessibility
If you require any access needs for completing the form, email us directly via
info@filmhubnorth.org and we can advise how we can accommodate your needs to complete a proposal. You can find further support for access via the BFI
here.
What are the guidelines for this fund?
Please read carefully the Creative Brief and Funding Guidelines below.
How do I apply?
All applications should be submitted through the link below:
Please bear in mind that the online application form cannot be saved mid-progress. We have provided Word versions of both forms to help plan your application:
Image credit © 'All That Heaven Allows' - image courtesy of Park Circus and Universal
