Grant News
The British Film Institute (BFI) has announced Challenge Call 6 of its BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund, offering up to £400,000 for a project that helps independent filmmakers and creatives access emerging technologies.
This latest call, titled In Our Hands, is aimed at UK-based, legally constituted not-for-profit organisations that are centrally managed in the UK, including charities, CICs, statutory bodies, and higher or further education institutions.
The Challenge focuses on reducing barriers to technologies such as generative AI and virtual production. The successful applicant will create a 24-month long supported programme for at least 10 independent creatives working in film, animation or immersive media, including freelancers and those in independent studios or production companies.
Partnerships can include for-profit organisations, but the lead applicant must be not-for-profit and UK-based.
Funding is primarily revenue-based and can cover staffing, technical expertise, partnership development, outreach, training, accessibility, participant payments and some project-related overheads, usually up to 10% of the budget.
BFI expects to make one award, though it may split funding among multiple proposals if no single application is strong enough.
Applications close 9 April 2026, with awards expected in August 2026.
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