BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund 2026-2027 Now Open
The Film Exhibition Fund aims to support Hub members through National Lottery Funds to reach new and diverse audiences and offer the best independent film and broader screen experiences to their local communities.
The Fund ensures that audiences across Northern Ireland can access and enjoy a diverse range of films, regardless of geography or circumstance, as part of BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy. The next three years will see over £300,000 invested in film exhibition for Film Hub members across NI.
In a change to the funding stream in 2026 to 2029, members can apply for either a Tier 1 project (up to £15,000) or a Tier 2 project (up to £4,000).
Funding is open to all Film Hub NI members, learn more about FHNI membership here.
Overall, priority will be given to those Hub members with a demonstrable track record of work that meets FAN’s objectives. Please do contact the FHNI team to discuss your proposal before submission.
All proposals should respond to Film Hub NI’s key strategic objectives:
- Children and young people are empowered to develop their own relationships with a wider range of screen culture
- People across the UK can access a choice of film and the moving image, including stories that reflect their lives
- Funding helps tackle social, economic and geographic barriers for screen audiences in new, effective ways
- More people can engage with heritage collections that better reflect the diversity of the UK
All supported activity will need to address our cross-cutting principles of:
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Environmental Sustainability
FEF at a glance:
- Total amount available: Circa £105,000 per annum
- Applications open: Wed 25th March 2026
- Applications close: Friday 24th April 2026
- Tier 1: Multi-year proposals for activity taking place up to December '28
Tier 2: April 2026 – March 2027 (NB: A second funding window for Tier 2 will open in September 26)
To apply, please follow the steps below:
- Read the FHNI Film Exhibition Fund Guidelines
- Decide what tier is right for your organisation
- Contact Film Hub NI to discuss your proposal
- Tier 1 proposal form and budget template here
- Tier 2 proposal form and budget template here
Complete and email to [email protected]