Independent feature films have to battle hard for attention in the global entertainment landscape. UK and European policy makers have long accepted that there is a strong case for public support to help films to cross national borders and find new audiences. Support may be directed to the exporting company to permit it to attend an international event or to the promotion of a film that has been invited to a prestigious festival. It may be directed to the company releasing a film within a country or towards a wider intervention that develops audience tastes or helps the commercial landscape to evolve.
TRADESHOW PROGRAMME
The Department for International Trade has established a Tradeshow Programme. See full details of the scheme here.
UK businesses that are currently exporting can apply for support to
exhibit at or attend approved overseas trade shows and conferences and
potentially receive grants to cover some costs.
Support to exhibit depends on eligibility criteria which include that the company must: be exhibiting for the first time or wishing to venture into new markets; be turning over annually between £250,000 to £5 million;
not having committed to attending the event before applying for support, being be actively investigating export opportunities for the business,
having not previously exported, or
having previously exported and wishing to grow exports in new markets.
GREAT
www.great.gov.uk is the government’s single destination for information on UK trade, investment, tourism and education and provides guidance and tools to help exporters:
- Acquire the skills and contacts to break into new markets
- Find export opportunities
- Get finance
- Find events and visits
FESTIVAL SELECTIONS
The British Council Film Department has an important role maintaining an advanced tracking list of new and imminent UK feature films and staging screening sessions of that work for Festival Selectors from over a dozen major international festivals.
BFI LOTTERY
INTERNATIONAL FUND
The current BFI 5-year plan entitled BFI2022 includes this initiative on export and inward investment:
"Increase the International Fund to lead a refreshed and strengthened International Strategy in partnership with the British Film Commission and the Department for International Trade, informed by research and business intelligence, to navigate the challenges and seize the global opportunities for UK film post EU referendum."
BFI LOTTERY
FILM EXPORT FUND
In addition to the support for umbrella stand presences from the British Film Institute Lottery International Fund, there is support available from their Film Export Fund to help a film selected for a high-profile festival by contributing to associated publicity and marketing, as well as technical and logistical costs.
UK GLOBAL SCREEN FUND
Financed by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and administered by the BFI, the new Global Screen Fund will focus on accelerating export growth, boosting revenues to independent UK screen companies and deepening international relationships. It will allocate funding to three open access strands:
- International Distribution
- Business Development
- Co-production
Email: info@filmexportuk.com Tel: +44 800 756 5616 Fax: +44 800 756 5608
Film Export UK, 2nd Floor, Windsor House, 40/41 Great Castle Street, London W1W 8LU © 2019 Film Export UK Ltd.& its members