The UK Global Screen Fund is offering independent UK producers non-recoupable grants of up to £300,000 for qualifying international co-productions. The current round closes at midday on November 24, 2026, with an earlier Fast Track deadline at midday on October 27.
The BFI-administered fund covers international feature-film co-productions and a narrower group of animation and documentary television projects.
Featured photo: A performer preparing on a movie set, photographed by Yemi Festus, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The image was resized for web use and is illustrative; it is not connected to the BFI or the UK Global Screen Fund.
Why it matters
International co-productions can unlock partners, audiences and financing that a single producer could not reach alone. This fund is meaningful because the award is non-recoupable, but it is designed for projects with substantial financing and partnership structures already in place—not projects at the first idea or script stage.
Who can apply
Applicants must be independent UK producers with demonstrable production experience. Eligible film projects may be live-action, animation or documentary features in any language, but the applying UK producer must be a minority co-producing partner. At least one other co-producer must make a larger financial and creative contribution than the UK applicant.
Television applications are limited to animation or documentary co-productions. The BFI requires contributions from at least two broadcasters for minority UK co-productions or at least three for majority UK co-productions.
The financing test comes first
General-track projects must already have at least 60% of their total finance secured. Fast Track projects need at least 80%. Those calculations exclude the amount requested from this fund, the UK's Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit and non-cash-flowed financing.
The project must also have at least one other source of UK funding. The fund can cover no more than 50% of the overall UK financial contribution. Requests above 25% of that UK contribution require a stronger case for international audience potential, financial need and the applicant's previous co-production record.
Which deadline applies
The October 27 Fast Track route is only for projects scheduled to begin principal photography or animation between November 24, 2026, and February 23, 2027. Applicants must show lead-cast availability, evidence of the production start and the required 80% financing. The project cannot financially close before November 24.
The General Track closes November 24. Fiction and animated film or television projects must plan to begin principal photography or animation between February 23 and July 24, 2027, and cannot financially close before February 23. Documentary film and television projects must not financially close before February 23 and must be delivered before May 24, 2028.
What filmmakers outside the UK should know
A non-UK producer cannot apply directly, but the program can matter to an international project seeking a qualified UK minority partner. Before restructuring a project around the fund, every producer should confirm treaty or cultural-test eligibility, the UK contribution, ownership and recoupment positions, and whether the timeline leaves enough room for a funding decision.
Review the official fund overview and deadlines →
Primary sources
Update note
Published October 16, 2026, from the BFI's current fund overview and application guidance. Applicants should confirm the live guidelines before changing a finance plan or submitting.