Last month, the British Film Institute (BFI) announced strategic plans to expand its flagship UK Global Screen Fund, with its overall budget increased from £7 million (approximately €8.03 million) to over £18 million (€20.64 million) per year for 2026-2029. The enhanced investment was confirmed in June last year as part of the Screen Growth Package, devised by the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and will help the fund’s mission to develop international business capabilities, enable co-productions and showcase independent UK screen content worldwide.

The International Distribution strand will be one of the largest areas targeted by the fund’s expanded capabilities. A new element is its Film Sales Minimum Guarantee, which supports British sales agents in securing international sales rights for UK movies, with the aim of improving the UK sales sector’s competitiveness, and bolstering relationships between British producers and sellers. Some of the most notable UK independent films of recent years – such as My Father’s Shadow, Urchin and Kneecap – had sales representation from top European companies, and the UK sales sector will welcome this attempt to redress the balance. UK video-game developers will also be supported under the Video Game Release strand, supporting release campaigns in international territories, through marketing, promotion and localisation, with the aim of increasing circulation and sales potential.

Starting in September, the fund’s International Co-production strand will now incorporate Majority UK Co-productions; animation and documentary features across film and TV will thus be supported, and tailored intervention will be provided for majority funding. Minority Co-production, supporting all genres of feature film, plus animation and documentary TV, will continue as before, taking advantage of the overall funding increase.

The fund’s expansion will also support International Business Development, allowing UK screen-content businesses to enhance their international activities, backing “radically transformative” business strategies, IP acquisition and mentoring opportunities for earlier-stage companies. There is also new funding for Development: the Slate Fund for UK independent production companies will support slates of three to five projects with later-stage costs following initial development.

Denitsa Yordanova, head of UK Global Screen Fund and International Funds, said: “I am delighted that the government’s decision to expand the UK Global Screen Fund with such a significant increase in investment allows us to further boost opportunities for the UK's extraordinary independent screen sector, with enhanced and vital support for international growth and collaboration.”

Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray also said: “The UK Global Screen Fund has already had a hugely positive impact, propelling distinctive British stories like I Swear and Pillion onto the world stage and showcasing the strength of our independent filmmaking.”