Creative England’s Film Culture Fund has opened for applications, with a total of £490,000 delegated Lottery funds from the BFI to distribute in the first round.

Creative England’s new Film Culture Fund aims to boost access for audiences to a wide range of film content in the English regions outside of London, to enrich audiences’ experience through education opportunities, and to bring the unique resources of regional screen heritage into wider film provision. The first round of funding has a total of £490,000 from the BFI to distribute.

It is looking to support the provision and interpretation of both specialised and mainstream film in England, by investing in:
- Audience development within the film exhibition sector
- Film education activities which are linked to and support film exhibition infrastructure (e.g.
cinemas, film festivals, film societies and other platforms)
- The acquisition, preservation and conservation of and access to regional screen heritage.

Applications are now invited from cinemas, film archives, film festivals, mobile cinemas, film societies and other eligible organisations working in the English regions outside of London. Awards will range from £2,000 – £50,000 depending on the project. Funded activity can include programming, education, reaching under-served audiences and regional screen heritage.

Creative England’s Head of Film Culture Jay Arnold, said: “We’re looking for strong project ideas that we can get behind to help nurture film culture in all its variety, to the benefit of local audiences around the country, and we’re interested in hearing from organisations from all parts of the English regions.”

Eddie Berg, the BFI’s Director of Partnerships, said: “Creative England will be crucial delivery partners for the BFI’s Forward Plan and we welcome this clear commitment of support for the exhibition, archive and film education sectors, whose work is so important to audiences across England.”

The deadline for applications is midday on 28 November 2011.

Download the Film Culture Fund guidelines and access the online application form at www.creativeengland.co.uk/film-support/film-culture.

For more information about Creative England film funding, call 0844 824 6041 or email lottery.admin@creativeengland.co.uk.