Fund · BFI NETWORK
BFI NETWORK England Short Film Funding
Next call not out yet. Usually closes in March
Main short film fund for early career filmmakers in England, covering live action, animation and immersive work. The last round closed 18 March 2026 and the next round is scheduled for spring 2027.
- Who can apply
- Early career teams of at least two across director and producer roles; the producer is lead applicant and the director must be based in England. Director-producers cannot apply alone. Fully fictional shorts up to 15 minutes.
- What you get
- 5,000 to 25,000 pounds per short.
- Formats
- Short, Animation
- You hear back
- About three months after closing (30 June in 2026)
- Apply through
- Own site
- Languages
- English
What to send
- Application per the BFI 'Making an application' guidelines
How to apply
- Form a team with a separate producer and an England-based director.
- Read the Making an application guidelines on bfi.org.uk.
- Apply when the spring 2027 round opens.
Worth knowing
- BFI expected up to 1,000 applications and about 30 awards in 2026.
- Productions must start between 1 November 2026 and 31 October 2027 for the current window.
Checked against BFI NETWORK's own page on October 24, 2026. Dates and fees can change, so read their call before you apply.