Ind-E-Focus

Important information for screenwriters and producers in the UK, the UK Film Council has changed the way that its development fund works;

Tanya Seghatchian, Head of the Development Fund at UK Film Council, has announced changes to the way the Fund will work. Writers will now be entitled to apply as individuals, without needing to have a producer or director attached to a project.

The new funding channels are as follows:

(i) First Film Development Programme: For screenwriters and writer/directors who have yet to have a feature length film broadcast or released theatrically.

• Level of award will be mostly up to £25K 
• Writers can apply as individuals or with producers and/or directors already attached, but it is up to applicants to agree between themselves how awards and title are to be shared
• Applications can be made by individual writers directly
• Personalised development programmes may be devised with ‘mentors’
• No need for match funding. 
• No premium or interest on award
• Awards made quarterly and only made subject to material of sufficient merit being submitted.

(ii) Feature Film Development Programme: For feature length films from producers, writers, directors and companies with a demonstrable track record.

• Films creatively driven by the applicant with a view to them being ‘set-up’ and achieving their commercial potential
• Financial awards generally granted on a project by project basis
• Writers, writer/directors with their own companies and a plan for the development process may also apply directly if they can drive development themselves
• Partnership funding on projects, especially match funding from reliable end users actively encouraged - but partners not essential in every case.
• Requests for pre-pre-production funding come through this stream. 
• No premium or interest on award.

One-off "Signature Awards" will also be made to "world-class writers and directors"


Full details are available on the Film Council website. "(Source: Writer Guild Great Britain - Changes to UK Film Council Development Fund)