There are a wide range of national and regional funding incentives on offer to productions working in the UK.
For more information on the individual incentives please contact us, or follow the links below.
The BFI provides a range of funding for UK film and TV development and production, which includes international co-productions, completion, heritage and distribution funding.
Film4 is Channel 4’s film production arm, who develop and finance films for theatrical release in cinemas, working collaboratively with filmmakers and often in partnership with other funders. They prioritise stories with contemporary relevance based around British-led talent or content and only accept proposals via production companies or agents.
The UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF) is designed to boost international development, production, distribution, and promotional opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector.
The UKGSF targets support across the screen sector, including film, TV, documentary, animation and interactive narrative games content.
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.
The three key reliefs are:
The Liverpool City Region Production Fund
Open to qualifying local, national and international production companies, the Fund has been created to help drive the further growth of Liverpool’s film and television sector by investing in a diverse portfolio of high-quality content.
Managed by the Liverpool Film Office, the fund can support the production of feature films, TV drama, animation and scripted comedy series that are intending to film in the Liverpool region. It can invest up to 20% of production budget, with a cap of £500,000 per project. There are no specific match funding requirements so its equity investment can be easily combined with other private and public monies including the UK tax credit.
Potential applicants should complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) prior to completing a full application.
Full details of the Fund can be found here.
The Yorkshire Content Fund
The Yorkshire Content Fund is designed for producers based in Yorkshire & Humber or for national and international production companies wishing to film or establish a base in the region.
Open to TV, film, video games and digital sectors the fund typically invests up to £500,000 per project, providing this investment is matched on identical terms with private sector investment.
To receive investment from the YCF you and/or your business must:
The fund is open to applications but all applicants must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form prior to completing a full application.
Screen Yorkshire accepts EOIs on a rolling basis. They will then contact you to advise on whether they recommend progressing the application and what further information they will require to assist them in evaluating the project formally.
West Midlands Production Fund
The West Midlands Production Fund supports the development of the West Midlands as a dynamic, sustainable film and TV drama hub by providing access to finance for start-up SMEs that are active in moving image content production. Previous investments have included Small Axe, D.I. Ray and Benediction.
Productions looking for investment must still demonstrate a strong commercial proposition and a positive impact on the region – utilising local cast, crew and services wherever possible and spending a significant portion of the production investment in the area.
The Fund can invest up to £500,000 in any one feature film or TV drama project – with the preferred minimum investment being £100,000. The Fund is able to invest a mixture of both debt (by way of gap, pre-sales discounts, distributor advances and UK Tax Credit discounting) and equity.
The level of the Fund’s overall investment will be commensurate with the proposed project and higher-level awards will only be made to projects that carry a greater prospect of commercial return as well as a powerful regional impact.
Any investment by the Fund – either as debt or equity – must be matched £ for £ by an equivalent amount of private and/or public sector risk finance, on terms to be agreed. Coinvestment from public or quasi-public investors such as the BFI, BBC and Channel 4 (excluding broadcast licence fees) as well as in certain circumstances EIS/SEIS and the UK Tax Credit can be treated as eligible match, in addition to investment from independent private sector investors. Projects attracting significant levels of private investment will be given priority by the Fund.
Supported through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the WMPF accepts applications from producers already based in Birmingham and the West Midlands as well as from companies looking to bring productions to the region.
This is a rolling fund so there is no current deadline for applications.
All prospective applicants must consider the West Midlands Production Fund Guidelinesbefore expressing an EOI.
North East Screen Production Fund
The North East Production Fund is a discretionary funding scheme managed and delivered by North East Screen, supported by funding from the North East Screen Industries Partnership.
Available to both local and national companies, the fund aims to catalyse the sustainable growth of the North East’s film and TV production sector. It invests in a portfolio of high-quality, distinctive projects which contribute to the region’s on-screen visibility and actively contributes to the employment of local crew, spend in the region and equality, diversity and sustainability.
The fund supports the overall cost of production of:
All prospective applicants must read the North East Screen Production Fund guidelines before completing an expression of interest here.
Northern Ireland Screen (NIS) offers production funding in the form of a recoupable loan with profit participation or in limited circumstances, a grant.
The fund is intended to assist in completing budgets on productions which are almost fully financed. NIS will not consider a production with less than 65% of its funding already in place.
NIS is looking for productions which contribute to building a sustainable screen industry in Northern Ireland and which can show a direct economic benefit to the region. Projects must be commercially viable and able to demonstrate clear possibilities for commercial exploitation.
In the case of feature films, the attachment of an experienced sales agent would be an asset, as would UK or US domestic distribution. For television, an expression of interest from an international distributor or network broadcaster is preferable.
Funding is available towards the production of feature films, television drama, animation, factual and entertainment television and interactive content.
The Northern Ireland Screen Fund is open to all legally incorporated companies who can fulfil the British Cultural Criteria and the project Criteria.
For further information or enquiries please contact Andrew Reid, Chief Content Officer.
What is the purpose of the Production Growth Fund? The Production Growth Fund aims to draw large scale film and TV productions into Scotland. This is to create inclusive employment opportunities for crews in Scotland, encourage the use of production facilities in Scotland, support diversified skills development and progression, and deliver a direct and significant economic benefit to Scotland. Scotland’s Production Growth Fund is compatible with the UK Film, High End TV and Animation Tax Reliefs and can be applied for in addition to these tax reliefs.
What will we fund? We will fund live-action and animated features, and live-action and animated high-end television drama or factual returnable series that demonstrate the benefits to Scotland as outlined above.
How much can I apply for? You can apply for a grant of between £200,000 and £500,000 towards the production costs of a project that will be shot and/or post-produced wholly or partially in Scotland. The ratio of the estimated Scottish Spend to the Production Growth Fund award should be a minimum of 10:1 (‘the Scottish Spend Ratio’). Please note the award is non-recoupable, paid retrospectively and is compatible with the UK Film, High End TV and Animation Tax Reliefs.
Who can apply? The fund will support production companies who are registered in the UK. Applicants must have an eligible screen project which is in an advanced stage of development and financing; and should be aiming to commence budgeted prep within 12 weeks of a funding decision being made. Applicants of this fund must have a minimum Scottish Spend of £2,000,000 to meet the criteria.
When can I apply? There are no deadlines and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the fund has been fully allocated in each financial year. To give us the time needed to fully assess your application, you need to submit a full and complete application at least 12 weeks before your anticipated first day of principal photography in Scotland.
For full details see: https://www.screen.scot/funding-and-support/funding/production-growth-fund For further information and initial enquiries, please contact Screen Scotland’s Screen Commission that can guide you through the process and discuss any application queries in advance: locations@creativescotland.com
Creative Wales (an agency within Welsh Government) offers funding to Film, TV, Games and Animation projects in order to support the growth of Wales as a destination for the production of world class content.
Creative Wales can consider grant funding for productions that have a confirmed broadcaster/distributor attached as well as a confirmed finance plan in place. Our grants are based on the level of Welsh Spend and the minimum intervention we can consider for scripted production is 10:1 (Welsh spend to grant ratio), and we do look to achieve higher than this where possible. The minimum level of support available for scripted is £50k and the maximum is £750k.
Projects of Welsh cultural significance do strengthen the application and all projects supported through production funding are expected to have a strong skills element and be able to provide trainee placements across the production.
Further details about our production funding can be found on the Creative Wales website.
You can also find out about funding opportunities via Film Cymru on the Film Cymru Wales website.
For press enquiries please contact enquiries@britishfilmcommission.org.uk or +44 (0)20 7613 7675