UK Global Screen Fund: International Distribution Festival Launch Support
UK Government, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), administered by the British Film Institute (BFI). (BFI) · United Kingdom / National
The UK Global Screen Fund International Distribution Festival Launch Support provides non-recoupable grants to support the international festival launch of UK films. Funding helps UK sales agents and UK producers with enhanced publicity and marketing activity, as well as technical and logistical costs associated with a high-profile festival launch, with the aim of increasing the film's international promotion, reach and value. (BFI)
Summary
Deadline
31 Mar 2029
Updated
16 Oct 2026
The UK Global Screen Fund International Distribution Festival Launch Support provides non-recoupable grants to support the international festival launch of UK films. Funding helps UK sales agents and UK producers with enhanced publicity and marketing activity, as well as technical and logistical costs associated with a high-profile festival launch, with the aim of increasing the film's international promotion, reach and value. (BFI)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Film and screen content, specifically UK independent feature films eligible for international festival launch support.
Match funding
Not specified
Eligible applicants
UK-based sales agents, or UK producers where there is no eligible sales agent appointed, representing a UK film invited to have its world, international, North American or European premiere in an official category or competition at an eligible festival. The lead applicant must meet the BFI's organisational eligibility requirements. (BFI)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Up to £15,000 per film across all supported festival launches. An individual Festival Launch award cannot exceed 50% of the overall festival launch costs. A film can receive a maximum of two separate Festival Launch awards if selected for official categories or competitions at two eligible festivals, but the cumulative funding cannot exceed £15,000. (BFI)
Total fund available
£1 million (Find a Grant)
Funding intensity
Up to £15,000 per film across all supported festival launches. An individual Festival Launch award cannot exceed 50% of the overall festival launch costs. A film can receive a maximum of two separate Festival Launch awards if selected for official categories or competitions at two eligible festivals, but the cumulative funding cannot exceed £15,000. (BFI)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible expenses
Not specified
Ineligible costs
- Per diems; events and entertaining; company overheads including staff costs, insurance and telecoms; company market expenses; costs relating to the sales agent's own attendance at the festival; general company promotional materials; and retrospective costs incurred before the application date. (BFI)
Application and risks
Application platform
BFI online grant application portal. Applicants must create an account or use an existing account on the BFI grant website and submit the completed online application. (BFI)
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Not specified
Assessment process
Not specified
Application sections
Not specified
Application components
- Applicant, film and festival details; total festival launch costs; anticipated subsidies, grants and other funding; marketing and promotion plan; documented international sales by territory; priority territories and buyers; response to UK-wide assessment priorities; screening link to the finished or near-finished film; Festival Launch Budget template; and, where applicable, a signed sales agency agreement or deal memo. (BFI)
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Applications are assessed against criteria including International Growth (20%) and Finance (20%), alongside the other criteria set out in the BFI guidelines. The assessment considers the quality of the international sales and marketing strategy, target territories and distributors, route to international audiences, innovation in the sales strategy, budget efficiency and value for public money. (BFI)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
1 Apr 2023
Project duration
Not specified
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-18.
Key Organisational Requirements
The applicant must generally be a limited company registered and centrally managed in the UK and in good standing, with its core business being either securing and selling distribution rights to new feature film titles or producing independent narrative content for cinema release, VOD or television broadcast. The applicant must be the appointed UK sales agent or, where there is no eligible sales agent, the lead UK producer. Partnership funding for the festival launch activity must also be demonstrated. (BFI)
Objectives
To grow the international reach and value of UK films by supporting their launch at international festivals, increasing international sales, audiences, promotion and commercial value. (BFI)
Important Notes
The scheme is currently OPEN and assessed on a rolling basis. Applications must normally be submitted at least 4 weeks, excluding public and bank holidays, before the festival starts. Eligible festivals include Annecy, Berlin, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes, CPH:DOX, Edinburgh, Fantastic Fest, IDFA, IFFR, Karlovy Vary, Sheffield DocFest, SXSW, Sundance, Telluride, Toronto, Tribeca and Venice. A film can receive a maximum of two Festival Launch awards, subject to the cumulative £15,000 maximum. (BFI)
Application deadline in source document
31 March 2029, 11:59pm. Applications are currently accepted on a rolling basis and must normally be submitted at least 4 weeks, excluding public and bank holidays, before the official start date of the festival. (BFI)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- 31 Mar 2029
- Funding amount
- Up to £15,000 per film across all supported festival launches. An individual Festival Launch award cannot exceed 50% of the overall festival launch costs. A film can receive a maximum of two separate Festival Launch awards if selected for official categories or competitions at two eligible festivals, but the cumulative funding cannot exceed £15,000. (BFI)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Non-recoupable grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Film and screen content, specifically UK independent feature films eligible for international festival launch support.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- Not specified