Screen Funding and Support

In addition to Screen Scotland’s funding programmes, there are a range of other agencies, programmes and initiatives offering funding and investment for the screen sector.

In addition to Screen Scotland’s funding programmes, there are a range of other agencies, programmes and initiatives offering funding and investment for the screen sector. For development and production, these include:

British Film Institute (BFI) - The BFI supports film culture across the UK. This includes investing Lottery funds in film development and production.

Film4 - Film4 develops and co-finances feature length films for theatrical release in cinemas. They aim to fund 10-12 feature films a year with a mix of licence fee and equity and all almost the films are co-financed with other financing partners.

Doc Society Funds - The BFI/Doc Society Fund supports creative and hybrid feature documentaries and short films from all over the UK. The fund has three calls a year for feature documentaries.

Enterprise Investment Scheme - The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is a UK Government scheme designed to help smaller unquoted trading companies to raise finance by offering a range of tax reliefs to investors who purchase new shares in those companies. The model has become widely used in film development and production. Investment can be directly into the company, or through and EIS fund.

UK Film Tax Relief - The UK’s film tax relief is widely recognised as one of the most transparent, inclusive and reliable production incentives in the world.

UK High End TV Tax Relief - The UK’s high-end television tax reliefs is widely recognised as one of the most transparent, inclusive and reliable production incentives in the world.

Olffi - Olffi offers an international database on all public funding programs and production incentives for film, TV, new media and more, covering 90 countries, more than 750 funding programs and 150 production incentives.

Wellcome Trust – The Wellcome Trust fund drama, factual programmes and feature documentaries through their Public Engagement Fund.

Shooting People Film Funding – Shooting People is a subscription-based network supporting independent filmmakers. They provide a Funding Directory for members that covers all of the industry. These include funding opportunities from the BFI, government departments, educational institutions, production companies, broadcasters, digital companies, acting organisations, charities, grant-making NGO’s and brands.

Ifeatures – iFeatures is a low budget feature film initiative funded by Creative England, BFI, BBC Films and Creative Skillset. Up to 12 projects are selected and benefit from the development Lab for the full duration of the programme, in addition to receiving dedicated support for their route to market.

Independent Cinema Office - From sponsorship to running a successful crowdfunding campaign for your cinema, the IC provide guidance on how to get the funds to support your work.

British Council – The British Council work with international festivals in various ways, to support the wider selection and programming of high-quality UK films.

British Council – Short Support Scheme – The British Council Film's Short Support Scheme (which includes our Short Film Travel Grant Fund) exists to support UK-based filmmakers to show their work internationally.