Development Fund to support British Cinema (United Kingdom)

Seeking to address the challenges filmmakers face creating sustainable careers, the development fund supports filmmakers who have previously made at least one feature and have the vision for many more.

Since launching the fund in 2021, they have funded nine features, including a magical realist interracial romance, a lyrical meditation on time, a post-apocalyptic adventure, a deeply personal portrait of a very famous woman, a rediscovery of a lost rock band, and a nightmare twist on a hunting weekend. Though the stories and styles vary wildly, all of them thrilled then with their originality, ambition and vision.

Funding Information

• They fund a maximum of £60,000 per round, divided between two to four projects.
• They fund a range of development costs including, but not limited to, writer and producer fees, early scouting, research, workshops, budgeting/scheduling and directors’ look books. They do not fund option fees.

What kind of films are they looking for?

• The Uncertain Kingdom supports British cinema by funding filmmakers whose stories tell them about themselves. The fund is commercial and looks for projects with a route to market. They’re looking for stories – not issues – and are excited by nuance and specificity.

Who can apply?

• The fund supports filmmakers who have previously made at least one feature and have the vision for many more. They look for filmmakers who are committed to a filmmaking career who will best utilise the support at this point in their career.

Eligibility Criteria

• For all projects:
  • The producer, writer and director (as applicable) of the project must all be entitled to work in the UK but need not be British citizens.
  • The producer, writer and director (as applicable) must be eighteen or over.
  • Directors (or one person in the directing team) of all projects must have directed a feature film.
  • Producers (or one person in the producing team) of all projects must have produced a feature film.
  • Writers must have demonstrable relevant writing experience. They don’t ask for a writing sample at application stage, but will do if the application progresses. The less developed the project, the more important it is to have a relevant writing sample to share.
• For non-fiction projects:
  • An individual producer and a director must be attached to the project at the time of application.
  • The project can have separate producer(s) and director(s) or a single individual may fulfil both roles.
  • Having a writer attached at the time of application is not essential.
• For fiction projects:
  • An individual producer and a writer must be attached to the project at the time of application.
  • A writer of the project may also act as an individual producer of the project provided that there is another individual producer attached who is not also a writer of the project.
  • Having a director attached at the time of application is not essential.
  • A director of the project may also act as an individual producer of the project provided that there is another individual producer attached who is not also a director of the project.
• Your project:
  • Must be an audio-visual production suitable for theatrical release.
  • Must be 70+ minutes long.
  • Can be any form or genre, including fiction, animation, documentary and dance projects.
  • Should be set primarily in the UK (or tell them why it’s still relevant to the UK despite being set elsewhere).
  • Can be at treatment through to script stage. It is not necessary to have a script to apply, but applicants will need to be able to provide detail about the project.
  • Can be based on existing IP (but please note funding won’t be provided for payment of option fees).
  • Must have a route to market.

For more information, visit The Uncertain Kingdom.