The second round of our Film Exhibition Fund 2025 is now open for applications

As part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), Film Hub Midlands (FHM) has been awarded funding from the BFI National Lottery to support the region’s film exhibitors in delivering against the priorities set out in the BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy.

Film Exhibition Fund supports BFI FAN members to engage a broad and diverse audience with cultural film.

The Film Exhibition Fund is intended to support FHM Members to reach new and diverse audiences for British, independent and international films and broader screen experiences in their local communities in line with one or more of the BFI and FAN priority outcomes.

Activity supported by The Film Exhibition Fund can vary in length, scale and format. The fund is open to the entire range of members of Film Hub Midlands.

We want to create opportunities for audiences across the Midlands to engage with the widest range of film, in as many places as possible.

We would love to see fresh new ideas in areas with little to no film exhibition activity, and encourage new members to apply.

The key priorities of the fund are:

  • To create opportunities for children and young people to experience a broader screen culture
  • To support public access to a wider choice of film and moving image, including stories that reflect their lives
  • To tackle social, economic and geographic barriers for audiences engaging in a broad and diverse screen culture

What types of projects can we support?

We will prioritise projects based on screening independent British and international films that are outside the mainstream, and which help audiences experience a rich diversity of stories on screen. If you're not sure if your programming ideas fit with our aims, please get in touch, and we can offer further guidance.

Priority will be given to those Hub members with a demonstrable track record of work that meets BFI FAN’s objectives. Hub members must be able to set out how they will address the BFI Diversity Standards.

If we receive more proposals that meet the assessment criteria than we are able to fund, we will consider how closely projects align with the fund, the geographic areas covered and the types of audiences that will be engaged.

Key information at a glance

  • Total amount in the fund for this round: £40,000
  • You can apply for: between £2,000 and £10,000.
  • Open for proposals: 30 June 2025
  • Deadline for proposals: 28 July 2025, 5 pm
  • Confirmation of awards: Week beginning 1 September 2025
  • Activity window: September 2025 to February 2026

The Film Hub team is available for one-to-one general support and advice with your proposal form. Please get in touch at hello@filmhubmidlands.org to book a meeting with a member of the team.

How To Apply

Take a look through the guidelines and budget templates provided on our Film Exhibition Fund page before filling out the individual proposal form. There are some previous examples of funded projects that we have supported through our Film Exhibition Fund on this page.

How much can I ask for?

Members can request up to £10,000 per proposal.

Please note that we are not able to fund 100% of activity costs. While we do not have a set percentage requirement for match funding, we expect to see box office income and other partnership support - whether in cash, volunteer time or other in-kind contributions - included in the budget.

If your project requires less financial support (up to £2,000), you might consider applying to our Pitch Pot Awards.

Not yet a Film Hub Member? Click here to find out how to join the Hub and the eligibility criteria.