Introduction to UK Global Screen Fund Awards
The British Film Institute (BFI) has awarded 111 grants totaling over £3.1 million. The UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF) has also announced its latest round of awards, with 14 titles receiving a total of £448,330 from its international sales fund. The support for international sales offers assistance to sales agents and producers through two tracks: prints and advertising (P&A) and festival support.
UKGSF International Distribution Awards
The UKGSF financing is awarded in the form of a non-repayable grant and helps to enhance the profile and reach of UK feature films on the global market. It also increases their international sales potential through advertising and international partnerships.
Print and Advertising (P&A) Support
Several films have received P&A support, including:
- Hard Truths, directed by Mike Leigh, which received £52,943. The film premiered in Toronto and stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste as a woman suffering from depression.
- The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo, which received the largest award of £99,994. The film premiered in Toronto and is sold by Rocket Science, with Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Classics distributing it in the UK and US.
- The Salt Path, directed by Marianne Elliott, which received £97,714.
- To an Unknown Country, directed by Mahdi Fleifel, which received £15,000.
Festival Support
Several films have also received festival support, including:
- Brides, directed by Nadia Case, which received £11,964.
- Dreamer, directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, which received £13,474.
- Khartoum, directed by Phil Cox, Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy, and Timeea Ahmed, which received £12,811.
- Holloway (documentary), directed by Sophie Compton and Daisy-May Hudson, which received £4,865.
- Rabbit Trap, directed by Bryn Chainey, which received £10,829.
- Sukkwan Island, directed by Vladimir de Fontenay, which received £13,500.
- Surviving Earth, directed by Thea Gajic, which received £6,104.
- The Secret of Mine, directed by Grace Hughes-Hallett, which received £11,042.
- The Thing with Feathers, directed by Dylan Southern, which received £15,000 and stars Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Zodiac Killer Project (documentary), directed by Charlie Shackleton, which received £9,150.
Application Process
UKGSF applications are currently open for international distribution festival support, sales film support, and international distribution P&A support. Applications for international business development financing are also open until June 19, and applications for international co-production will reopen in September. The UKGSF aims to support the global reach of UK feature films and increase their international sales potential.
