The BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund has reopened following a temporary pause in July 2020. The fund’s core objectives remain the same: it’s all about supporting exciting, ambitious filmmakers early in their careers; allowing them to create work that is different, risk-taking and culturally relevant. The maximum runtime of 15-minutes and maximum award amount of £15,000 also still apply, as does the requirement that all proposed films be based on an original story.

Some key changes have been made to the application process, however. While the fund was previously a rolling opportunity that was open for applications throughout the year, we are now accepting proposals during two fixed application windows in the Spring and Autumn of each year.

The Autumn 2020 application window is live now, and closes at 12pm on Monday, 30 November. We can’t wait to see what filmmakers in the North have come up with!

The Spring 2021 application window is currently scheduled to open in the week commencing 26 April. Going forward, we’ll publish the application dates 6 months in advance so filmmakers are able to develop their projects in good time.

Head over to our Short Film Fund page for more information on the fund and to download the latest guidelines and supporting documents.

If you’re planning to apply during the autumn window and want to learn more about the fund, we’re hosting Short Film Funding Roundtables at Leeds International Film Festival on Wednesday, 18 November. These roundtables will be hosted by a team of BFI NETWORK Talent Executives from across the UK who will provide advice on how to make your project stand out.