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 2025 - March 2026.
The primary objective of the Film Exhibition Fund is to support exhibitors to engage audiences with independent film programmes in a communal setting. 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 2025 applications will be assessed across three rounds:
Round 1
Call opens: Monday 17 February 2025
Call closes: Monday 17 March 2025 (noon)
Decisions notified w/c 7 April 2025
Round 2
Call opens: Monday 26 May 2025
Call closes: Monday 23 June 2025
Decisions notified w/c 7 July 2025
Round 3
Call opens: Monday 29 September 2025
Call closes: Monday 3 November 2025
Decisions notified w/c 24 November 2025
Please note that as it is the final year of the 23-26 funding cycle:
- All activities need to have been completed and reported on by mid March 2026
- Multi-year proposals will not be considered.
Read the guidelines and apply
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.
Drop-in sessions
We’re running a series of exhibitor drop-in sessions to connect with our team and answer any questions you have about the Film Exhibition Fund and your application. Drop-in sessions are open to anyone who screens film in the North, or who is planning to start screening films in their community.
Our next day of meetings takes place on Wednesday 28 May 2025.
Image credit: FACT Cinema in the City 2021
