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Film Funding
Often the first stumbling block to making a film can be lack of money. New digital technology has widened access to filmmaking and there are many community based resource centres which run film clubs or hire equipment. Your local Regional Film Agency should be able to help you with locating such a centre near to you. Inevitably, filmmaking does cost money and this section suggests some sources of funding.
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Film Funding Sources
Many funding schemes DO NOT fund individuals – particularly young people – so the best way to access funding is to join a film club or encourage your school, youth club or sports group to consider working with a filmmaker and making an application for funding. The key is to PLAN your application Whoever your potential funder is, find out as much as you can about their funding criteria before you apply. Most funders will provide you with written details of the kinds of projects they fund, and what details they want in an application. They will rarely consider proposals outside their priority areas, no matter how good the project is. Most funders are willing to talk you through the application process and may (especially in the case of local arts officers or regional arts boards) help you to formulate your project. Find out when the deadline for applications is and a named person who will be dealing with your proposal. Think about what is unique or innovative about your project: this could be the idea for the film or the people making the film. Prepare a detailed outline, schedule and budget for your project, which you can adapt to fit the particular funders’ application form. Most funders will need this information, and the application will not be so rushed if you already have it to hand.
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Where to Apply
Funding for Individuals Aged 16-18
UnLtd - the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs - is a new charitableorganisation set up to promote and support social entrepreneurshipactivities in the UK.
The Awards are for people over the age of 16, resident in the UK, who areapplying as an individual or informal group.
Projects must:* benefit the public or a UK community* offer a learning opportunity to the applicant* be either a new initiative or a clear expansion of an existing project
Level One: Awards of between £500-£5000
This level of award can be used to pay for project start up or developmentcosts, including materials, equipment, renting meeting rooms etc.
There are effectively no deadlines for applying for these awards -applications will be considered 10 times a year.
Level Two: Awards of between £5000-£15000
This level of award can be used to support the applicant's living costswhilst they develop their project as well as for materials, equipment etc.You are advised to discuss your project with UnLtd prior to submitting anapplication for a Level Two award - a deadline for applications has yet tobe finalised.
Application packs can be ordered by calling the helpline number below, orcan be downloaded from the website.
Contact Info:UnLtd Millennium Awards helpline: 0845 850 1122
UnLtd - the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs Wales Office, 1st Floor,Suite D2, Alexandra Gate, Rover Way, Cardiff CF24 2SA
tel: 029 2089 4774
email: sian.thomason@unltd.org.uk
website: www.unltd.org.uk
No Deadline
Arts Funding
The Arts Councils and Regional Arts Boards
The Arts Councils of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland mainly fund projects with a national remit, which support established artists. In most cases they will refer you to your Regional Arts Board who are more likely to fund local and community-based projects.
Regional Arts Boards tend to work quite closely with Local Authorities and can be a good source of advice and contacts even if they cannot fund you themselves
A full list of the RAB’s can be found at www.arts.org.uk
Local Authority Funding
Many local authorities have arts officers with a remit for supporting local and community arts; some also have a budget for arts projects.
Some local authorities fund groups who use video as a means of consultation with service users or to provide better access to information. If there is a particular social agenda or issue as part of your film, a local authority may provide some funding from its social services, youth work, sports or planning departments. Find out what grants they provide and see if your project fits into the criteria.
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has a useful website:
NCVO website
The UK Film Council
Many film-specific funding sources are aimed at established filmmakers or at professional production companies. The UK Film Council distributes Lottery funding to support British filmmaking. The UK Film Council has been set up by government to be the lead organisation for the UK film industry.
Their website has further details about their support for the film industry: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Regional / National Film Agencies
Each region and nation of the UK has its own organisation responsible for the development, promotion and celebration of film in their area. Many run specific funding schemes and are a good source of advice on different aspects of film production and exhibition.
Click here to get a full list of these agencies and their contact details.
Health Authorities
Health authorities and particularly health promotion departments have begun to explore video as a means of learning and communicating information about health issues for people with learning disabilities. If your project is about health talk to the community health or health promotion section of your regional health authority.
Central Government
Some central government funding may be relevant to a video project: for example funding which aims to regenerate specific areas (e.g. the Single Regeneration Budget) or which aims to reduce crime (Home Office funding). Your Local Authority should be able to advise on whether your area receives Government funding.
Young Roots - Heritage Lottery Fund
For projects which increase the involvement of, or promote opportunitiesfor, young people to understand and learn about their heritage. Projects can last for up to 18 months. Funds are available for capital and activities. Grants of between £5000 - £25,000 where total project costs are less than £50,000. Potential applicants can complete an initial, short pre-application form first if they are unsure whether their project would be eligible. Deadline dates for applications twice a year - 1st April and 1st September. Decisions taken within 3 months of application.
FURTHER INFORMATION from Young Roots Co-ordinator, HLF, 28 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1EN(0131 225 9450)
HLF Helpline 020 7591 6042
www.hlf.org.uk
European Funding
The European Social Fund may be appropriate if you are planning a longer, more ambitious project, which aims to get young people into employment.
The following website details some of the European Grants: European Grants
Trusts and Charities
"A Guide To the Major Trusts" is published annually by the Directory of Social Change and lists numerous trusts who give to a wide variety of projects. Each trust has different criteria or priority areas: some give money only for capital expenses, some prefer to give to national organisations, others give locally. Most trusts will only give money to organisations with charitable status. If you are not a registered charity, you may be able to find a sympathetic organisation who would accept the money on your behalf? Read any guidelines they issue to applicants and ensure that your project satisfies their criteria (they rarely make exceptions). Make sure you know to whom the application should be addressed and find out how often their committee meets to decide on charitable donations. The monthly publication ‘Funding Digest’ is also a useful source of information.
The Directory of Social Change: Directory of Social Change
The Funding Digest: Funding Digest
Sponsorship
Businesses tend to sponsor arts activities to develop their corporate image in three ways: their relationship with their own employees, their relationship with other companies, and their relationship with their local community. Sponsorship is generally part if a wider marketing strategy and most companies won’t sponsor you simply because you are deserving. You should approach potential sponsors with a sense of what you may be able to offer them, of how your film project will help their profile in the community. Sponsorship can be a time-consuming process, often for relatively small amounts of money, which are ‘one-offs’, so it may be best to focus your energy on getting to understand public funding, rather than pinning all your hopes on private sources. If you do find a sponsor who has never sponsored the arts before, it may possible to get matching funds from Arts & Business – an organisation which aims to encourage links between the arts and business.
Their website is: www.artsandbusiness.co.uk
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| Many funding schemes, including First Light, DO NOT fund individuals – particularly young people – so the best way to access funding is to join a film club or encourage your school, youth club or sports group to consider working with a filmmaker and making an application for funding. |
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