22/01/2013 - Remodelled version of the former P&A Fund has annual £4 million budget

The British Film Institute (BFI) has launched a new Distribution Fund modelled on the erstwhile P&A Fund. The Fund has a budget of £4 million per annum. The Fund is divided into four distinct strands.

The Big Audience strand will provide awards of around £250-300k, aimed at taking independent British films with commercial appeal and strong marketable elements to a wider audience. Distributors will contribute at least 50% of the total P&A costs and the BFI’s funding will ensure that the film is released on at least 100 screens.

The Breakout strand will award around £100-£150k to critically acclaimed films with audience appeal. The New Models strand will support the distribution of high quality new British and specialised films as part of a multiplatform release using original marketing strategies and creative audience-building opportunities offered through cross-media.

And finally, the Sleepers strand will support in-release films that have taken the market by surprise. The BFI will monitor and assess opening weekend performance and identify and invite distributors to apply for fast-track awards of around £20-40k to capitalise on the film’s unexpected success.

Ben Roberts (photo), Director of the BFI Film Fund, said,  “Distribution of independent and specialised films in the UK still carries a high degree of financial risk which can make ambitious release programmes challenging, especially for independent distributors. By sharing some of that risk and encouraging distributors to be bold and creative in their approach, the BFI Distribution Fund will be key to helping us increase choice and bring great films to audiences across the UK.”