WFTV Short Film Fund: £25,000 Production Funding Open Call

The Women in Film & TV (WFTV) Short Film Fund is now accepting applications from UK-based women and non-binary-led filmmaking teams. Run in partnership with Sunbelt Rentals, the fund will support two short films with a fully backed production package designed to take ambitious projects from development through to the screen.

Rather than focusing on a particular genre or subject, WFTV is looking for original live-action fiction films with strong creative ideas, experienced teams and realistic production plans.

What does the fund offer?

Two selected filmmaking teams will each receive a substantial production package comprising:

• £25,000 in cash funding

• £25,000 worth of kit rentals

• In-kind post-production support

• Industry mentoring and professional support

The fund is intended to give selected teams the resources needed to make their films, rather than simply providing development funding. WFTV will also work with the selected production companies as Executive Producer.

The completed film's intellectual property remains with the producers, although the producers will transfer the right, title and ownership of delivery materials to WFTV so that the organisation can retain a copy and use it for promotional or private purposes.

Who can apply?

The fund is open to UK-based women and/or non-binary-led filmmaking teams. The core creative team must include women and/or non-binary people in all of the following roles:

• Writer

• Director or Writer/Director

• Producer

• Cinematographer/Director of Photography

All four key team members must be current WFTV members when the application is submitted. WFTV membership starts from £10 per month. The wider crew does not have to be exclusively women and non-binary people, although WFTV encourages applicants to build diverse teams.

The core team must be aged 18 or over, not in full-time education and based in the UK. They do not need to be UK citizens.

There are also specific experience requirements. Writers, Directors and Writer/Directors must have at least two qualifying fiction credits in the role for which they are applying. Producers and Cinematographers/DOPs must have at least two qualifying credits, which can be in fiction or factual/documentary work.

Credits can come from professionally produced, independently produced, self-funded or student productions, provided the completed work has been made available to a public audience.

What kind of films are eligible?

The fund is specifically for live-action fiction short films.

Projects must:

• Be a maximum of 15 minutes including credits

• Be an original idea, rather than an adaptation

• Qualify as a British film

• Be shot in the UK, including Northern Ireland

• Not have started principal photography

• Not already be in post-production

• Be achievable within the available budget, or have confirmed additional funding

There is no restriction on genre, style or subject matter. WFTV says it is looking for original stories and filmmakers with something to say, rather than prescribing a particular type of film. Documentary and animation projects are not eligible.

What do you need to submit?

Applicants need to complete WFTV's online application form and provide:

• A short film script, maximum 15 pages

• A logline

• A synopsis or story outline, maximum 500 words

• A producer statement, maximum 500 words, explaining the project's feasibility and ambition

• A director's statement, maximum 500 words, explaining the creative vision

The producer must submit the application through their limited production company.

Applicants should also budget for festival submissions: WFTV requires a minimum of £500 to be included in the project budget for festival submissions. The UK film tax credit can be used to enhance the budget, although teams must account for the associated cashflow if selected.

The online application cannot be saved partway through, so WFTV recommends preparing all answers in a separate document before completing the form. Applicants who need to submit an audio application can contact WFTV directly.

How are applications assessed?

Applications are first assessed by a pool of experienced industry readers, who consider:

• Creative quality and originality

• The experience and strength of the filmmaking team

• Whether the proposed budget and schedule are achievable

The WFTV Short Film Fund team then creates a shortlist, considering creative ambition, feasibility and potential. Shortlisted projects are subsequently considered by an independent selection committee made up of WFTV Board members and the Short Film Fund team. Shortlisted applicants may also be invited to an online interview.

Deadline and application process

Applications opened on 7 September 2026 and close at 5pm on Monday 5 October 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

There is no application fee, although the four core team members must all hold current WFTV membership.

WFTV expects to contact shortlisted applicants in early December 2026, with final decisions expected by late December 2026.

Read the full WFTV Short Film Fund details and apply