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Available funding

Find out about current funding available to filmmakers in the South East.

Home Film Hub South East Available funding

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Early Development Fund

There are two strands of funding available to filmmakers in the South East (as defined by the BFI – see map) via BFI NETWORK:

If you have any questions about either fund, please contact our Talent Executives, Tom Wightman and Sammy Wong: bfinetwork@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.

Short Film Fund

Run in partnership with BFI NETWORK, the Short Film Fund is for fiction shorts made by filmmakers in the South East region.

BFI NETWORK Short Film funding is intended to support early career filmmakers and stimulate new ideas and stories by supporting original and entirely fictional shortform projects of up to 15 minutes in length in live action, animation and immersive/virtual reality. The Fund grants awards of between £5,000 to £25,000 and can only accept applications for projects that are scheduled to start production between 1 November 2026 and 31 October 2027.

We want to support short films that:

  • bring exciting new voices and bold narratives to the screen
  • provide space for experimentation and idea-testing
  • advance the careers of the filmmakers involved through showcasing their abilities to the industry and the public

Each funding award is accompanied by creative oversight of the short film by our Talent Executives. As well as working with filmmakers prior to and during production, they may also be able to advise you on:

  • finding screening opportunities regionally and further afield
  • ways to meet potential collaborators for your project
  • festival strategy for your project
  • other means to gain industry exposure for your work

Applications are currently open until 11am on 18 March 2026.

For details including full guidelines, visit the BFI NETWORK website.

If you have any questions about the fund, please contact:
bfinetwork@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

Past events we held to support applicants to the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund

 

A Filmmakers’ Guide to the Short Film Fund: Inside the Application Process

Join this Q&A session to hear from writer-director Nicholas Finegan and producer Darren Sinnott, who have both been successful in their application for short film funding. Get their honest take on what it was like finding a filmmaking team to apply with, what the application process really entails, and what they wish they’d known before they applied.

Location: Online (Zoom)
Date: Friday 27 February, 1 to 2pm

Watch recording

Dos and Don’ts for Your Application: Guidelines Information Session

Funding applications can be daunting and extensive – join this session to hear our Talent Executives delve into what to look out for in the guidelines. You’ll have a chance to ask any questions, and you can come away with an increased understanding of the BFI Short Film Fund, advice on developing your story idea​, and tips and resources to support you in your application.

Location: Online (Zoom)
Date: Tuesday 3 March, 1 to 2pm

Watch recording

Early Development Fund

The Early Development funding programme supports projects by writers based in the South East region. Please see here to see which regions we cover at Film Hub South East. 

 If you’re a new writer with an exciting, bold idea, with or without a producer, this is the fund for you. 

‘New writers’ are people who have not yet written a feature film script that has been produced and distributed. This fund is also for producers and directors working with new writers. 

This fund is the first step in the BFI’s development support for live-action and animated fiction projects from new writers. It supports people at the very beginning of their development process to produce an initial treatment and related materials. 

For details including full guidelines, visit the BFI NETWORK website. 

A series of online support sessions has been launched to provide support and guidance before you make your application. See the full programme details  and register to attend.

Applications are currently closed.

If you have any questions about the fund, please contact:
bfinetwork@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

Subscribe to the Available funding mailing list

Please note, this list is primarily for people working or volunteering in cinema and film exhibition in the South East region.

If you are a filmmaker in the South East, join the BFI NETWORK South East Newsletter.

If you are a young person aged 16-25, join the Young Film Network South East Newsletter.

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