The BFI has made 24 new awards via its UK Global Screen Fund, financed through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), totalling more than £2m of the £7m allocation per year of the fund’s International Business Development strand.  

The awards, which add up to £2,148,688, have been made across film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative video games. At the same time, applications have been opened for business development and international distribution, with the international co-production strand set to re-open in August. 

The new funding will provide 24 UK-wide companies with funding via one of two channels:  

• Film Transformation, for internationally-focused transformational business strategies related to independent UK films, with strategies spanning three to five years. 

• General, for business strategies to create, acquire and/or exploit intellectual property (IP) across film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative video games, with strategies spanning three years.     

The funding is awarded in the form of non-repayable grants and ranges between £50,000 and £144,000 in total over the three-to-five-year period. It is focused on helping companies achieve new international business partnerships, enhance their profile and reach in the global marketplace, and increase revenue generation through export and international expansion.  

Creative industries minister John Whittingdale said: “Our immensely talented independent film, TV and video game companies have made a huge contribution towards British screen industries’ success on the global stage. Through this funding we are helping them grow their businesses, create jobs and export their creativity around the world – for the enjoyment of audiences and the benefit of the UK economy.”   

Denitsa Yordanova, BFI head of the UK Global Screen Fund, added: “This latest round of awards demonstrates the quality and diversity of our incredible independent screen sector, spanning film, TV, animation and games, across the UK. The ambition of these companies in developing truly global growth strategies, and in striving to reach new international audiences, is so exciting to see, demonstrating opportunities for further growth. It is so important that we continue to build on the UK’s strength in the global content marketplace, investing to support the screen sector in reaching its full potential.”  

UK Global Screen Fund applications are now open for: 

• International Business Development, closing on 6 July  

• International Distribution Festival Launch Support, assessed on a rolling basis 

• International Distribution Film Sales Support, assessed on a rolling basis  

The next round of UK Global Screen Fund international co-production funding will open on 3 August.  

Companies to receive UK Global Screen Fund International Business Development awards, via the Film Transformation track, are: 

• Barry Crerar Ltd (barry crerar ) 

• Cornerstone Films  

• It’s A Lot Limited  

• Together Films  

• We Are Parable 

Companies to receive UK Global Screen Fund International Business Development awards, via the General track, are:  

• ALT Animation  

• Brightrock Games  

• Caledonia TV Productions 

• Candour Productions 

• Coffee Box Games, trading as Bellular Studios 

• Firecrest Films   

• Huey Games  

• Kaizen Game Works  

• Good Gate Media 

• Italic Pig 

• Last Conker  

• Paradox House    

• Plug-In Media  

• Singer Interactive  

• Slug Disco Studios  

• Snafu Pictures 

• The Bureau  

• Vertigo Releasing  

• Wild Child Animation   

Full details of all awards made by the UK Global Screen Fund are available here.