As part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), Film Hub South East (FHSE) has been awarded funding from the BFI National Lottery to support the region’s film exhibitors in their efforts to deliver against the priorities set out in the BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy.
The Film Exhibition Fund supports FAN members’ cultural programming, and the engagement of a broad and diverse audience.
The key priorities of the fund are:
- To create opportunities for children and young people to experience a broader screen culture
- To support public access to a wider choice of film and moving image, including stories that reflect their lives
- To tackle social, economic and geographic barriers for audiences engaging in a broad and diverse screen culture.
Overall, priority will be given to those Hub members with a demonstrable track record of work that meets FAN’s objectives. Hub members must be able to set out how they will address the BFI Diversity Standards.
Please note that this fund will be oversubscribed, and even proposals meeting all assessment criteria may not be awarded the entirety of the support requested. With numerous eligible proposals we must take into consideration how closely projects align with the priorities of the fund, the geographic spread of support across the South East region, the types of projects being supported and the audiences they are trying to engage.
Funding streams
There are two streams for the Film Exhibition Fund, one for proposals for over £3k of funding and one, with reduced application requirements, for proposals for under £3k.
Activity supported by the Film Exhibition Fund: over £3k can vary in length, scale and format. Delivery of supported projects should take place between April 2024 and March 2025, unless a multi-year project has been discussed with the Film Hub South East team.
The Film Exhibition Fund: under £3k has reduced application requirements and reporting expectations. It is intended to support activity in any format that is relatively short in length and/or small in scale, with delivery taking place between April 2024 and March 2025.
The primary focus of the Film Exhibition Fund is in-person events that bring audiences together for a communal viewing experience. This includes, in addition to more standard programming, screen heritage projects and broader screen activity with an interactive focus, which is a new area of consideration. Projects involving online and hybrid events will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where this represents a valuable opportunity for audience development, to reach priority audiences that would not otherwise experience the film/s.
Members can apply for support for programming, marketing, audience development, accessibility and associated expenses.
Applying
Am I eligible?
You must be a Film Hub South East member to access our funding opportunities. Hub membership includes organisations of various shapes and sizes, from community cinemas to festivals to multi-arts centres. Become a hub member.
How much can I ask for?
We have two streams as part of this fund — one for proposals for under £3,000, and one for proposals over £3,000. For the Under £3k stream you can apply for support up to £3,000. For the Over £3k stream you can apply for support from £3,000 upwards. There is no maximum amount that you can apply for in the Over £3k stream, however we expect that the majority of approved proposals will be between £3,000 – £7,500. The total amount available in the South East Film Exhibition Fund for 2024-25 is £186,666.
How do I submit a proposal?
In the first instance, please read through the guidelines for either the Film Exhibition Fund: under £3k or the Film Exhibition Fund: over £3k. If you have any questions about your eligibility to apply, please email us.
After reading the guidelines, please download and fill out a proposal form and a budget form. Once completed, email these forms to filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.
The Film Exhibition Fund is a rolling fund so there is no set deadline. Please apply as early as you can, but at least four weeks before a Film Exhibition Fund: under £3k project/activity is planned to begin, and six weeks before a Film Exhibition Fund: over £3k project/activity. 94% of last year’s proposals were successfully awarded.
If you have particular access requirements (e.g. easy read documents) and would like to submit your application in another way, please email us and we’ll be happy to discuss options.
If you have access requirements that mean you need assistance when applying for funds, you may be able to request financial support through the BFI Access Support Scheme.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the guidelines or submitting a proposal, please get in touch with us. We’re happy to discuss your proposal before you submit it. Email us at: filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk