Film Exhibition Fund & Pitch Pots now open

We are excited to launch two funds to support Film Hub Scotland members with audience-development activity over the next three years.

The Film Exhibition Fund and Pitch Pots aim to ensure that audiences across Scotland can access and enjoy a diverse range of films, regardless of geography or circumstance, as part of BFI’s Screen Culture 2033 strategy.

The funds are open to all Film Hub Scotland members, including cinemas, mixed arts centre, community cinemas, film societies, film festivals, touring operators and other film exhibition organisations.  

As part of the BFI Film Audience Network, Film Hub Scotland has been awarded funding from Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery to reach a broad range of audiences with independent UK and international film.

The funds will support exhibitors to deliver audience development activity in line with one or more of the BFI and FAN priority outcomes as follows:

• 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 wider choice of film and 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

Underpinning our work are the following cross-cutting principles that all supported activity will need to address:

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Environmental Sustainability 

All proposals should respond to Film Hub Scotland’s key strategic objectives, and must be able to set out how they will address the BFI Diversity Standards.

Film Exhibition Fund

The Film Exhibition Fund aims to help Hub members reach new and diverse audiences, and offer the best in independent film and broader screen experiences to their local communities, in line with the outcomes above.

The fund will support activity taking place from April 2023 – March 2026.

Members can apply for between £1,000-£10,000 to support audience-facing screening projects.

Proposals can be made at any time from 22 March, with a first assessment deadline on 23 April 2023 and a second assessment deadline on 14 August 2023. If you anticipate delivering activity in April or May 2023, please get in touch.

Apply for the Film Exhibition Fund here.

Pitch Pots

Pitch Pots are a simple way for Hub members to access additional support to enhance new or existing one-off projects and screenings.

The ambition for the fund is that members will be able to create innovative, impactful, one-off events to enhance their programme, or to deliver special initiatives for as wide an audience as possible.

Support is available for projects taking place from April 2023 – March 2026.

Projects must be completed by 2 March 2026.

Members can submit proposals for grants from £200 up to £1,000, from a total pot of £20,000, for audience development activity that corresponds to the BFI 2033 priority areas as outlined above.

Apply for Pitch Pots here.

How to apply

For more information on each fund and how to apply, please visit our Funding and Support webpage.

If you have any questions about funding and support, please contact the Film Hub Scotland team.

If you have access requirements that mean you need assistance when applying for funds, you may be able to request financial support through the BFI Access Support Scheme.