BFI Doc Society
Features Fund
BFI Doc Society Fund opening again in early 2020
The BFI Doc Society Fund aims to develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing feature projects with bold cultural and social ambitions.
The Fund will encourage talent to take risks on form and content, where the more commercial sector cannot. We heart the cinema, but we are also platform agnostic and open to projects that reach audiences in new ways.
We can support:
- Any stage - Development, Production, Completion
- First time filmmakers
- Hybrid forms
- Multi-platform
What we don’t fund:
- Filmed productions such as a theatre show, filmed sporting or music event
- Artist installation work
- Journalism
- Films intended primarily for broadcast television
To bear in mind:
- All films have to pass the cultural test to be eligible
Fund Guidelines (PDF)
Preview the Application Form questions (PDF)
Cultural Test
BFI Diversity Standards Form - required for all applications (PDF)
Sign up to the Doc Society newsletter to get news of opening and closing dates on the film funds as well as dates for our regional events, connecting and building the docs community in the UK.
Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund
BFI Doc Society Made of Truth Fund opening again summer 2020
Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund. In our second year, we invite passionate filmmakers to take the temperature of our world and create electrifying films for the UK and beyond. Part of BFI Network the Fund supports all forms of docs - personal stories, hybrids, artist films, essays, observational and social issue projects. This is an urgent opportunity to tell stormy stories which reflect our turbulent times.
Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Fund is committed to building a diverse community of filmmakers and working with people from underserved backgrounds including BAME, LGBTQ+, mixed ability and non-filmmaking talent. We’re reaching out to new storytellers from around the country and all communities and are especially keen to increase the number of projects originated outside London.
DETAILS, DETAILS
We’ve got the cold hard cash and can fund ten short films with budget contributions of up to £15,000 and are happy to look at ideas of any length up to 40 minutes. Applications will be accepted until noon on Tuesday 9th of July 2019 and once selected, films will need to be delivered by the end of January 2020. Documentary filmmakers and those with related experience over the age of 18 are welcome to apply.
Projects will receive creative and mentorship support from the BFI Doc Society team, and relevant industry partners. Filmmakers do not need to have a producer or production company to apply. We can facilitate partnerships with producers.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE ME, SO HOW DO I SUBMIT?
The only way we can assess projects and offer advice is for applicants to submit their proposal and materials via our online application system.
We will then be in touch with all applicants within 5 weeks of the fund closing to let you know if you’ve been shortlisted for the second application stage.
If you have a stratospheric short film idea, we darn well want to know about it.
I’VE GOT A QUESTION
Please check out our comprehensive guidelines which should help with any burning questions. If you can’t find what you need, please contact our BFI Doc Society Production Manager Hannah Bush Bailey at hello@docsociety.org
To make sure you’re in the loop, please ensure you’re signed up to our newsletter here
To bear in mind - All films have to pass the cultural test in order to be eligible.
BFI DOC SOCIETY LOCAL
In a handful of immersive regional events (‘locals’) exploring the new national BFI Doc Society fund and current landscape for non-fiction film, we hear from the filmmakers and decision makers serving the docs community. After inspiring events in Newcastle, Birmingham, Wales and Northern Ireland, we’re heading to the South East joining our colleagues at Screen South for a day of Doc appreciation at Depot, Lewes on Tuesday 17th September 2019.