It includes a Travel Grant Fund that will support short film-makers from the UK in showing their work at international film festivals.

The British Council Film Department has launched the Short Support Scheme, designed to help emerging UK film talent travel with their work and reach new international audiences.

The scheme is in partnership with the BFI’s Film Export Fund and is being backed by Sheffield Doc/Fest and Encounters International Film Festival.

It includes a Travel Grant Fund that will support makers of short films from the UK in showing their work at international film festivals.

Awards will range from £100 to £1000 pounds and filmmakers can apply more than once to the scheme should their film be selected for multiple festivals. It can be used to cover travel and accommodation costs as well as marketing.

The latest fund will sit alongside the Artists’ International Development Fund, a joint three-year programme between the British Council and Arts Council England to support individual artists based in England to work internationally.

Briony Hanson, director film, British Council said the organisation had long championed emerging UK filmmakers. Its previous short film scheme has seen many filmmakers benefitting at the beginning of their careers including Andrea Arnold, Asif Kapadia and Carol Morley. After a hiatus it is fantastic to be able to relaunch our support for emerging talent now as a result of this new partnership with the BFI.”

To be eligible for the scheme and the Travel Grant Fund filmmakers must have had their work selected  to screen at an international Film Festival included on British Council’s Key Festivals List.

Applications will open June 2012. For more info click here