How to Apply
Immersive Formats
Immersive
Formats
IMMERSIVE
BFI Doc Society Funds support and nurture independent non-fiction films and immersive projects by UK filmmakers: prioritising expansive, director-led storytelling. Our funding is intended to be transformative and representative of all UK society. We back ambitious, independent feature documentary films and immersive projects intended for theatrical release, from both emerging talent and more established directors.
The fund recognises the quality of difference in perspective, the importance of who is telling the story and strong collaborations. We invite local stories and encourage films that take creative leaps and bring fresh vision to the form.
‘Immersive' projects can be produced and experienced using a range of technologies - including but not limited to VR, AR, MR and 360-degree experiences. 'Immersive' work may qualify as British either by demonstrating that they are:
Film: intended for viewing by audiences who have purchased a ticket or pass to take part in that specific experience; or
Game: contain a high level of player agency and decision making.
Qualifying as a British film or game enables the company producing the project to submit a claim either for Audio-Visual Expenditure Credits or for Video Games Expenditure Credits. Please seek an accountant's advice on this topic.
The decision about whether a work will qualify as British or not is made on a case by case basis and rests with the Film and Video Game Certification Unit team at the BFI, who can advise further.
In all cases, to be eligible for the BFI Doc Society Funds the work should be concerned with and have some grounding in real events, locations, situations or narratives and be defined as non-fiction.
We are open to a supporting a wide range of immersive formats including, but not limited to -
- Virtual Reality
- Augmented Reality
- 360-Degree audio visual works
- Location based experiences
- Interactive or Web based non-fiction work
The funds can support:
- Non-fiction immersive work of any length and at any stage of production
- Early development, Development, Pre-production, Production, Post-production.
The funds cannot support:
- Completed projects seeking an award for distribution, lab or festival attendance or impact campaigns.
- Filmed live productions such as a theatre show, sporting or music event.
- Artist’s installations intended for art gallery exhibition.
- Video Games
- Touring or marketing costs
Co-Productions and Qualifying as a British Film:
In order to be eligible for BFI Doc Society Awards, co-productions need to qualify as a British film under one of the following ways:
- The cultural test for film
- The European Convention on cinematographic co-productions
- One of the UK’s official bi-lateral co-production agreements
As a co-production the British Certification through cultural test for film, or co-production agreement, must be confirmed prior to principal photography. More information about eligibility for expenditure credits through British Certification can be found here.
For full details about co-production and qualifying as a British film please download and read our guidance document here.
How to Apply with IMMERSIVE Projects
Which fund you apply to depends on the Award amount that you are applying for and the stage that your project is at. There is no minimum length limitation on Immersive projects wishing to apply to the RAD or Features Fund. Grantees of the Made of Truth fund are expected to deliver their project within one year, whereas the RAD and Features Fund can support multi-year projects at higher levels of support.
Award requests between £5,000 - £25,000 for any project stage.
Annual Fund:
Apply to the made of truth fund here
awards between £25,000 - £150,000 for any project stage.
Annual Fund:
Apply to the features fund here
