Awarding National Lottery funding to support the development and production of non-fiction immersive projects.
This Fund will open once a year
Opens at 1pm on May 7th 2026, | Closes at 1pm on June 22nd 2026
Fund aims and priorities
All projects funded through the BFI Doc Society Expanded Screen Fund must meet at least three of the following aims, which are also detailed in the stated principles and outcomes of the BFI National Lottery strategy:
- Equity, diversity and inclusion — people from under-represented groups across the UK access the support they need to develop their careers and skills
- Impact and audience — people across the UK access a wider choice of film and the moving image, including stories that reflect their lives
- Talent development and progression — creative talent is supported and nurtured, as they emerge and throughout their careers and more people understand how to express their creativity through stories on screen
- Creative Risk — people are better enabled to innovate and experiment creatively; a wider range of stories on screen are told that otherwise would not be
- UK-wide — everyone across the UK should be able to experience and create the widest range of screen culture. They should feel the benefits from the screen sector in terms of jobs and growth too.
- Environmental sustainability — screen organisations significantly reduce their carbon footprint
How to apply
You can apply online once you’ve read the funding guidelines in full.
There is an application link in the guidelines.
If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application, email helloBFI@docsociety.org
Application Form Preview [Word]
Guidelines [Word]
Cultural Test
Application Form Preview [PDF]
Guidelines [PDF]
BFI Diversity Standards
Introduction to our funds in alternative formats
Introduction to the BFI Doc Society Expanded Screen Fund in British Sign Language and audio.
Coming Soon
EASY Read Guidelines for BFI Doc Society Expanded Screen Fund
About BFI National Lottery funding
Since the very first National Lottery draw in 1994, more than £50 billion for good causes has been raised directly through National Lottery ticket sales, funding more than 700,000 projects. As a recipient of National Lottery funding, it is important to publicly acknowledge the source of this funding ensuring that those engaging with your work recognise the value and benefit of this unique Good Cause funding.
If your application is successful, you will be responsible for prominently crediting BFI National Lottery funding and thanking National Lottery players. To communicate this message, you should ensure that the elements of your project which have the potential to engage a broad public audience are capitalised on. More details will be supplied once an award has been made.
Contact hellobfi@docsociety.org Contact hellobfi@docsociety.org Contact hellobfi@docsociety.org Contact hellobfi@docsociety.org Contact hellobfi@docsociety.org Contact hellobfi@docsociety.org
