Access and Support
Screen Scotland is committed to offering clear and accessible application processes that are open to everyone. We have several ways of supporting you in making an application.
Alternative Formats and Languages
Our published materials, including funding guidance and application forms, can be made available in other formats as required.
We can accept applications and supporting materials which are written in English, Gaelic or Scots.
Access Support
Access support contributes to costs for services to help applicants overcome barriers to applying for our funds.
We offer access support to individuals or the lead applicant of a group who self-identify as d/Deaf, hard of hearing, disabled or living with chronic illness, mental illness or neurodivergence, such as dyslexia, autism or ADHD.
For information on the types of support available, how to request assistance and how to include access costs in your funding application please visit our website .
If you are a d/Deaf BSL user, you can access our services with the Contact Scotland-BSL programme. Visit www.contactscotland-bsl.org for more information.
Contacting our Enquiries Service
If you require technical support, further information or have any other queries, contact our Enquiries Service by emailing: [email protected]
What is the National Lottery Film Festival & Screening Programme Fund?
This fund supports organisations based in Scotland who produce and deliver film festivals and public screening programmes. It prioritises activity that addresses underserved and underrepresented audiences , and projects that align with our Focus Areas .
Key details about this fund
Events must take place between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027 (and between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2028 for applicants for Development Funding).
Awards will be between £15,000 and £45,000 (per year for Development Funding).
There are two deadlines for this fund (please see the ‘When Can I Apply? ’ section for more details):
Funded projects should:
What’s new for 2026/2027?
Screen Scotland’s Audience Development Goals
We support film festivals and screening programmes that:
Learn more about the Screen Scotland strategy on the Screen Scotland website .
Our work aligns with Creative Scotland’s Funding Criteria, including Quality and Ambition, Engagement, Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Environmental Sustainability, Fair Work and International. Learn more about the Funding Criteria on the Funding Criteria page of Creative Scotland's website.
Who can apply?
This fund is open to organisations based in Scotland that will produce film festivals and/or curated screening programmes for public audiences in Scotland and meet the fund’s aims and eligibility criteria.
Key eligibility requirements:
Audiences in Scotland are the primary focus of your funding activity
All in-person events must take place in Scotland
Digital events can be included when they support engagement for priority audiences who couldn’t otherwise attend in person but audiences in Scotland should remain the primary focus of your festival or screening programme.
Applicants must demonstrate experience in producing events and film screenings.
If you have questions regarding eligibility, please contact [email protected]
If you’re applying for the first time , we highly recommend meeting with the Audience Development Team to discuss your project before beginning your application. This is not part of the assessment but offers a chance to ask questions, get advice, and clarify the application process.
To arrange a meeting, email [email protected]
Who cannot apply?
Unincorporated Associations or Organisations: We cannot accept applications from, or enter into agreements with, organisations or associations that are “unincorporated”. Those applying to this fund require to be incorporated (i.e. Company Limited by Guarantee, Community Interest Company, Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Limited Liability Partnership, Partnership or Trust).
Organisations receiving Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding (MYF) as a lead applicant, but they can be a partner in applications
Applicants whose proposal is primarily focussed on:
filmmaking or where filmmakers are the main audience
film industry talent development
education or school programmes.
If any of the above is the primary focus of your activity, please contact the Enquiries Service who will advise further or connect you with the relevant Screen Scotland department (e.g. Screen Education or Screen Skills) by emailing [email protected]
Important Note for New Festivals and Screening Programmes If you are a new festival or screening programme without a track record, or if your team lacks festival management experience, you are encouraged to explore other funding options to build experience before turning to this fund.
Support offered through Film Hub Scotland, including their Film Exhibition Fund, Cinema for All and The National Lottery Awards for All Fund are available.
For more information on funding for film festivals, cinemas and film clubs, please visit the Funding for Film Exhibition page on our website .
When can I apply?
This fund supports activity happening between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027 (and up to 31 August 2028 for applicants for Development Funding .)
Application Deadline:
Decision by:
Thursday 30 April 2026
Monday 6 July 2026
Thursday 12 November 2026
Monday 1 February 2027
Key information If you are unsure which deadline to apply to please contact us in advance at [email protected]
How much can I apply for?
Applicants can apply for £15,000 to £45,000 (if applying for Development Funding, this amount is per year).
You may apply for personal access costs for the team delivering the project. If this raises your funding request above £45,000 and is in line with Creative Scotland guidelines those costs will still be eligible for funding. You can read more about what qualifies as personal access costs on the Access Costs page on Creative Scotland's website.
Looking for under £15,000?
Consider Film Hub Scotland’s Film Exhibition Fund which has a simpler, faster application process and find information on other funding sources on the Funding for Film Exhibition page on our website .
Co-Funding Requirements
At least 30% of your budget should be from other sources (e.g. public funders, sponsorship, box office, private foundations, partnerships). This can be cash or in-kind support. Established festivals are expected to secure a higher percentage.
If securing co-funding is a challenge, contact us before applying. While co-funding does not need to be confirmed before you apply, we may ask for confirmation later.
For additional information and help with budgets, please visit the Help with your Budget page on Creative Scotland's website .
Due to demand, it is possible that not all eligible applications will be funded.
What activity and costs can the fund support?
The fund supports film festival and screening programmes that are open to the public.
This fund is project funding, not core organisational funding. However, we encourage using the fund to cover core costs that directly relate to the delivery of your project and development of your team and organisation during the project dates. We encourage you to secure additional funding from other sources, such as sponsors, partners, charities, private or other public funding, to help deliver and expand your programme.
Please consider how our funding will also enable your organisation’s development – including having a strong team, developing good working practices, and working towards sustainable development.
The fund can support project costs including:
Research: For your programme, audience or organisational development. Staff costs: Linked to the project, with Fair Work principles in your HR and staffing policies. Staff training: E.g. digital marketing, accessible events, anti-bias training, HR training. Consultation and outreach: Particularly for engaging underserved or under-attending communities. Programme costs: Film hire, guest speakers, workshops and masterclasses. Project access costs: Such as closed captioning and/or remote captioning, BSL interpretation, audio description, accessibility audit and consultants etc. Tickets and travel: For programme research. Equipment/venue hire. Online platform costs. Marketing and publicity: Including print, digital marketing costs, PR. Engagement and education activities related to your programme. Industry activity related to your programme. Community engagement: Dedicated staff, partnerships with charities or community groups, addressing barriers to attendance and participation. Organisational development: Strategic planning, partnership building, board recruitment, and policy development. Fundraising: Developing other income streams. Monitoring and evaluation costs. Safeguarding costs. Environmental impact auditing.
Important note: costs incurred before funding confirmation are not eligible for support.
Development Funding – two-year funding support
Screen Scotland is offering an opportunity for applicants to request additional funding for activity taking place before 31 August 2028 .
This should cover two editions of a festival and/or up to two years screening programme activity. This will be considered in addition to your application for activity up to 31 August 2027. You may be awarded funding for only one year’s activity.
Who can apply?
Established festivals or screening programmes may apply for Development Funding if they meet the following criteria:
Proven Track Record: You have successfully run at least two editions of your festival or screening programme within the last three years, demonstrating successful audience engagement. You must be a previous recipient of Screen Scotland Film Festival & Screening Programme Funding within the last three years.
Accessibility: There should be a clear, measurable, and growing, commitment to accessibility within your programme. At a minimum, 20% of your activity must offer Closed Captions/Subtitles for the Hard of Hearing, Audio Description, physical accessibility and clear plans to reach an audience who will benefit from this provision. If applicants are operating at or near this minimum, they should demonstrate how they will use the project time to grow their accessibility over the two years.
Co-Financing Plan: You must plan to secure at least 30% of your budget from other sources (e.g. sponsorships, partnerships, ticket sales). If operating at or near this minimum, applicants should demonstrate how they will use the project time to increase their ability to secure further co-financing.
How will we assess applications for Development Funding?
We will assess and prioritise applicants based on:
You do not need to submit a programme or detailed budget for the second year. However, if your event will significantly change in scale, location, or funding needs, you must outline this in your application
Important notes
If you’re approved for Development Funding , you must:
Submit a budget for the second year
Submit an evaluation of your activity and a financial report halfway through the project
Attend a development meeting with Screen Scotland halfway through the project.
Development Funding recipients cannot apply to the Film Festival & Screening Programme Fund in 2027 for the same project.
This is developmental support for ongoing projects. It is not suitable for one-off activity that is not planned to repeat after the project end date. There must be significant public facing activity in both years.
How to apply
Applications to Film Festival & Screening Programme Fund should be made through the Application Form available on the Screen Scotland website and submitted to: [email protected]
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted for that round. If still eligible, they will be considered in the next round.
Before applying, make sure you read these fund guidelines and the application form in full and ensure you and your project meet the eligibility criteria before starting an application. Please pay particular attention to the ‘Who Can Apply’ section of this guidance.
If you have any questions about the guidance or application form, or need additional support, contact our Enquiries Service by emailing: [email protected]
First time applicants
If you’re applying for the first time, we highly recommend meeting with the Audience Development Team to discuss your project before beginning your application. This is not part of the assessment but offers a chance to ask questions, get advice, and clarify the process.
To arrange a meeting, email [email protected] ,
Supporting Material
You should submit the following information with your application:
The above should be sent to [email protected]
In the application form you will be asked for details on:
What criteria will we use to assess your application?
We assess applications based on how well they align with Screen Scotland’s Audience Development Priorities and if they relate to one of our current Focus Areas . They will be assessed against the following Creative Scotland Funding Criteria . The application form has sections on each of these criteria, so we advise reading the below notes alongside those application form sections:
Quality and Ambition
We fund high-quality, distinctive cultural events that provide unique experiences for audiences in Scotland. Projects should be well-planned, audience-focused, and avoid duplicating existing events and services.
We will assess if your project demonstrates:
Engagement
Projects should actively reach audiences who are underrepresented in cinema audiences in Scotland and remove barriers to participation.
We will assess if your project:
Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
We expect EDI principles to be embedded both in the public activity and working practices.
This fund, and the work of the Audience Development Team prioritises activity that addresses underserved and underrepresented audiences. More information on what this fund considers to be underrepresented groups is available in the Who are Underrepresented Groups? section of this fund guidance.
Inclusion is about creating opportunities for people to work in, engage with, participate in, and experience arts and creativity throughout the country.
We will assess how projects:
Demonstrate commitment to and consideration of EDI principles throughout development, planning and delivery of activity, including within the creative programme, key staff and delivery team, and accessibility of activities
All applicants must apply to the BFI Diversity Standards before applying. Please note you do not need to have an application result back at this stage. For more information read the BFI Diversity Standards section of this document.
Learn more about Creative Scotland’s approach to EDI on the Creative Scotland website.
Environmental Sustainability
Film exhibitors can play an important role in Scotland’s transition to net zero.
We will assess how your project:
Learn more about Creative Scotland’s approach to Environmental Sustainability on the Creative Scotland website .
Fair Work
We expect fair pay, respect, and opportunity for all workers in your project. Fair Work is defined in line with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy .
Your application should show:
Fair Work applied to everyone you work with, including all staff, freelancers, volunteers, consultants, and speakers/performers. Fair Work principles can also be extended to partners and participants, depending on the scope of your project.
How Effective Voice operates in your organisation and this project, including how you provide channels for workers to speak individually and collectively, the right to be heard for the purpose of open, constructive dialogue and routes such as trade union recognition. This can include things like: regular weekly meetings, a way to share programming suggestions, monthly/weekly one to ones, clear point of contact for and regular meetings with freelancers, etc.
All salaries and fees must include hourly or daily rate in the budget. This includes speakers and freelancers. You will be asked to confirm that you pay at least the Real Living Wage to employees and that your team have Effective Voice.
Learn more about Creative Scotland’s approach to Fair Work on the Creative Scotland website .
International (optional)
While International working is not funded through this fund, we are keen to hear about activities that:
If including international work, explain how it aligns with EDI, Fair Work, and sustainability goals.
Learn more about Creative Scotland’s approach to International on the Creative Scotland website .
Budget
The Film Festival & Screening Programme Fund is for project funding, not core organisational funding.
However, you can use the funding for core costs that directly relate to your project, such as office rental, overheads, staff training related to the project, staffing, etc. if they happen during the project dates.
For more information, read the What activity and costs can the fund support? section.
The budget should cover the entire project period which can include:
Please note that Screen Scotland funds cannot be used for costs accrued before the funding is agreed . This is the ‘decision by’ date for your chosen deadline. If you have included costs from before this date, you must explain how they are financed.
As well as all relevant expenditure and income, the application budget and finance plan should include:
Income details including the requested award from Screen Scotland and the (minimum 30%) co-financing. Please note in the finance plan whether income is cash or in kind, and whether it is secured or expected
Projected ticket (or other sales) income and how this is generated (e.g. 2,000 tickets at £5 = £10,000; 100 passes at £20 = £2,000).
Profit, surplus or underspend
The finance plan and budget included in your application should balance. We cannot fund projects expecting to make a profit.
If you earn more income than expected, or if there’s money left over after the project, show this in the final budget submitted within the End of Project Monitoring Form . If the project has made a profit, we may reduce any remaining payments from Creative Scotland/Screen Scotland accordingly, or you might need to repay part of the funding. If profits are not disclosed, we may ask for a financial audit.
The same process applies if you have underspent on your planned activity and have more income (including all sources of funding/income) than costs.
If you find during the project that you will have an unexpected profit or an underspend, please ensure that all expenses are accounted for, and that all staff or freelancers have been paid appropriately. If there is still surplus, contact us to discuss the best way to manage this.
Reporting
The project finances are reported using our End of Project Monitoring Form. Screen Scotland holds a percentage of the award until the project reporting has been submitted and approved.
When you budget for and report your project, make sure to include all relevant costs for the project period, including the full award amount and any pending payments you plan to make after the last part of our funding is received.
BFI Diversity Standards
The BFI Diversity Standards are a framework designed to improve representation and equality in the screen industry. Screen Scotland has adopted these standards, ensuring more diversity and inclusion in Scotland’s screen sector.
Working together, the BFI and Screen Scotland have incorporated some Scotland-specific criteria to help make projects more representative of the Scottish population.
If you’re applying to the Film Festival & Screening Programme Fund, you must first apply for the BFI Diversity Standards and provide proof of application. You don’t need to pass the standards before applying to our fund but passing is required to receive funding. However, meeting the standards does not guarantee funding—it’s just one part of the assessment.
Find out more information on the Screen Scotland website .
Who are Underrepresented Groups?
All applications to the Film Festival & Screening Programme fund must include activity for at least one underrepresented group, although this does not have to be your whole audience.
The term underrepresented groups relate to those that are discriminated against due to one or more protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010.
Protected Characteristics (Equalities Act 2010):
People Facing Additional Barriers in Scotland’s Screen Sector
Screen Scotland also recognises challenges faced by other groups, including:
Regional Representation
We define underrepresented areas as locations with:
Focus Areas in 2026/2027
We will support activity that is by and for the above-mentioned underrepresented groups. In addition, in 2026/2027 we have particular focus areas which we are prioritising that are outlined on the following page. This is partly in recognition that these groups are not well represented in activity currently/previously supported by this fund.
We will still accept applications that meet the fund criteria in other ways, however, we will prioritise projects that help to address these gaps in talent and/or audiences either as the core purpose, or as part, of their activity.
We do not expect applicants to address all priority areas. Strongly addressing one area is more valuable than weakly addressing multiple areas.
When addressing a focus area, it’s important to demonstrate how you are working with those with lived experience and who have insight into the needs and interests of underrepresented communities.
Please carefully consider relevant staffing, partnerships, pre-application research, opportunities for co-creation and tell us about any experience you have with these groups, that will help this work to be successful. Additionally, our funding can also be used to support training, staff or consultant costs, or other measures that will help you to work successfully in these areas.
Key Priority Groups
Global Majority and Minority Ethnic Groups in Scotland
People of the global majority and minority ethnic people/groups in Scotland and the UK continue to experience racism and barriers in our cultural industries. Screen Scotland wants to increase support for activities designed by or for these groups. Therefore, these continue to be priority groups in 2026/2027.
We are particularly interested in activity by and for two of the largest minority groups in Scotland, those with South Asian and Polish heritage, as despite their prominence in the Scottish population the fund does not currently support many projects directly by or for these groups.
d/Deaf and Disabled people
20% of the Scottish population are disabled, and nearly one million people are Deaf or have hearing loss.
These groups are underrepresented in both film audiences and the workforce.
People from low-income socio-economic backgrounds
Access and progressing in the screen sector is harder for people from low-income backgrounds.
How we define this:
Living in a deprived area (as per SIMD) .
Parents' or guardians' occupation at age 14 (e.g., manual labour, service jobs, long-term unemployed).
Underrepresented Geographic Areas
Most of the cultural funding in Scotland goes to the central belt (Glasgow/Edinburgh). We want to support projects in other regions which will create cultural employment and/or engage audiences in their local area.
Children and Young People
Although children and young people make up a large proportion of cinema going audiences overall, there are increasing demands for their attention from other media platforms. The challenge of attracting them to the cinemas is particularly felt in relation to independent film and independent cinemas. Therefore they are also considered a focus area for the fund.
If you have the relevant expertise or partners, you may wish to consider how you can include care experienced children or children that are also represented in other Focus Area groups.
Please mention in your application how you will ensure child protection and safeguarding is in place. For further guidance, refer to Creating Safety on our website, the NSPCC website and Appendix 1: Safeguarding.
Decision Making Process
Stage 1 – Submission and Initial Checks
If incomplete, you’ll be notified and given a short period to provide the missing information. If you do not do this, or if you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the fund, your application will not be assessed. You will be notified of this, and of the reasons why, by email.
Stage 2 – Assessment
Stage 3 – Recommendation
Stage 4 – Decision
If successful, you’ll receive:
An award letter with grant conditions (if applicable) and a funding agreement
Details of any conditions that must be met before funding is released (e.g., proof of additional funding, insurance, or project milestones).
Recommendations to help achieve your project goals (these are optional).
If unsuccessful, you will receive feedback and can request the full assessment.
Payment & Conditions:
First payment (85%) is made once:
The Funding Agreement is signed
All funding conditions are met
Your bank details are verified.
A Fair Work declaration has been completed (this will be sent to successful applicants)
(For larger or multi-year awards, payment terms may vary.)
Final payment (15%) is made after:
Your project is completed
You submit an End of Project Monitoring Report within 30 days of completion
The report is reviewed and approved by your assessing officer.
For Development Funding payments will be made as follows
50% - conditions as per First Payment above
40% - on receipt and approval of the following:
Interim of Project Monitoring Report for Year 1 Activity, available on Screen Scotland’s website.
Year 2 Budget
Attendance at a development meeting with the Screen Scotland Audience Development team.
10% - conditions as per Final Payment above
Stage 5 – End of Project
If you have any questions about your funding agreement, conditions, or recommendations, contact your assessing officer.
Appendix 1: Safeguarding
While you may not know yet whether your project will include engagement with children, young people, or protected adults, we expect all applicants to take a robust and best practice approach to keeping all people and communities safe, especially the most vulnerable, as specific groups are likely to be undefined at the point of application.
'Engagement' includes any face-to-face contact - whether in person or online - even if it’s occasional or limited to a small part of your project, and whether it involves individuals or small groups.
You should aim to develop project specific Safeguarding plans during the lifetime of your project, responding to the needs of the people and communities you are engaging with.
Safeguarding overview:
Safeguarding encompasses the measures implemented to protect individuals from harm, abuse, and exploitation. Specific safeguarding obligations and legal requirements apply to those working with children, young people, or protected adults.
Definitions:
Protected adult: An individual who:
Cannot safeguard their own well-being, property, rights, or other interests.
Is at risk of harm.
Is more vulnerable to harm than other adults due to disability, mental disorder, illness, or physical or mental infirmity.
Although Creative Scotland primarily functions as a funder and does not hold a regulatory role, we expect grant recipients to take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously. Therefore, if your funded activity engages children, young people, or protected adults, you must demonstrate your understanding of steps needed to ensure their safety. You must also have a safeguarding policy.
Your safeguarding policy should be tailored to your activities and outline the principles of your safeguarding approach in a way that is proportionate to the needs of the groups you will be engaging with, the level of engagement you plan to have with them, and the level of risk involved.
Demonstrate that appropriate policies are followed when appointing staff or volunteers, and that regular training is offered to reduce the risk of harm or abuse. This should include appropriate background checks, such as PVG scheme membership for regulated roles.
If you need to create a safeguarding policy, we advise that you seek expert advice and use resources such as our Creating Safety guidance as well as the NSPCC .
Appendix 3: Legal and Compliance Requirements
Terms and Conditions
For the full Terms and Conditions of Creative Scotland funding, please visit our website .
Subsidy Control
Screen Scotland, as part of Creative Scotland, must comply with Subsidy Control legislation. Learn more on the Subsidy Control webpage .
Freedom of Information
Creative Scotland is committed to being as open as possible. We believe that the public has a right to know how we spend public funds and how we make our funding decisions. For more information, visit the Freedom of Information section of our website .
We are listed as a public authority under the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002. By law, we may have to provide your application documents and information about our assessment to any member of the public who asks to see them under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We may not release those parts of the documents which are covered by one or more of the exemptions under the Act.
Please see the Freedom of Information website at www.foi.scot for information about the Act generally and the exemptions. We will not release any information about applications during the assessment period, as this may interfere with the decision-making process.
Complaints
As an organisation, we will always listen to and respond to any concerns that you may have. If you would like to make a complaint about either the service you have received from Creative Scotland or the way we have handled your application, we have a process that you can use.
Please note that Creative Scotland does not have an appeals process and for this reason, we are unable to accept complaints that relate solely to the decision we have made rather than how we have made it. For more information, please visit the Complaints section of our website .
Data Protection
Creative Scotland requires some personal information about you/your organisation to consider your application for funding. Without this information we will be unable to process your application.
If you would like to see a breakdown of the personal information we require, why it is required, what we do with that information and how long we keep it, please refer to our Privacy Notice on our website .
Creative Scotland may share your personal information with third parties to comply with the law and/or for our legitimate interests and/or the third parties concerned.
Where the personal information you have provided to Creative Scotland belongs to other individual(s), please refer to our Privacy Notice. Please ensure you share this Privacy Statement and Creative Scotland’s Privacy Notice with the respective individual(s).
You have some rights in relation to the personal information that Creative Scotland holds about you under data protection law. Our Privacy Notice contains information on how to exercise these rights, or you can contact our Data Protection Officer by emailing: [email protected]
If you have any concerns with how we have processed your personal information, you should contact our Data Protection Officer in the first instance, as we would welcome the opportunity to work with you to resolve any complaint. If you are still dissatisfied, you can submit a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office .
