The British Film Institute has opened the application window for two tracks run by its UK Global Screen Fund that can award companies between US$63,000 and US$255,000 in funding over a three-year period. 

Applications for the International Business Development strand are open until midday on June 19. UK-based companies that create, acquire or distribute/license feature films, TV series and/or interactive narrative video games are eligible to apply for funding support between US$63,000 and US$255,000 that will be paid out in grants over a three-year period. 

The program has two tracks—General and Film Transformation. General is designed to help companies with business strategies for creating, acquiring or capitalizing on IPs increase their international revenue and market presence. Applicants need to have a business plan that starts in early 2026 and lasts three years. Film Transformation supports businesses looking to adopt new strategies that support British indie films. These plans need to start in early 2026 and span three to five years.

In addition to submitting detailed business plans, companies must be prepared to provide a budget and details of their past IP track records (audience data, box-office receipts and social media analytics, for example). 

The UK Global Screen Fund received US$8.5 million in January to allocate towards animation projects looking for international co-pro partners, business development opportunities and distribution. 

That same month, Belfast-based Flickerpix (Zig & Zag (pictured) for CBBC and RTÉ) was awarded funding from the UK Global Screen Fund’s International Business Development strand to hire a development producer and a children’s media consultant so it could scale its international presence.

Full funding guidelines are available on the BFI website.