BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund

The BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund supports UK-based organisations to design and deliver creative development programmes that nurture talent and progress feature film, narrative immersive and other innovative storytelling projects. The fund aims to broaden access to the screen industries, diversify the range of stories in development, and strengthen the UK’s creative ecosystem through structured labs, workshops and training initiatives for writers, directors, producers and immersive creators. Funding priorities focus on addressing specific challenges within the sector, such as supporting early-career producers, encouraging genre innovation, and developing animation and immersive storytelling.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered organisations such as companies, charities, community interest companies, trusts, partnerships and statutory bodies. Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience in delivering creative development programmes and show how their proposed activity will benefit participants, audiences and the wider UK screen sector.

Grants typically range from £12,000 to £150,000 per programme edition, with activity usually delivered over a period of up to 12 months. In limited cases, support for multiple programme editions may be considered.

Applications are submitted through a competitive funding round process, with opening and closing dates announced by the BFI. Proposals are assessed on creative ambition, delivery capability, inclusivity, audience benefit and alignment with fund priorities. Decisions are communicated following assessment, after which successful projects can begin delivery.

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