Clio Barnard and Shane Meadows’ return to feature filmmaking and debuts from commercials director Theo Rhys, artist Louise Stern and theatre director Bijan Sheibani are among the major recipients of British Film Institute (BFI) Filmmaking Fund production support in 2025.
The BFI Filmmaking Fund has awarded production funding to nine films in 2025, but at time of writing had not published full information on all titles to receive support. All funding awards will be published on the BFI’s website once the project and how it is funded is in the public domain.
The BFI splits its production funding between Discovery, available for six directorial debuts per year, and Impact, available to five projects from filmmakers who have made at least one feature, or debuts budgeted over £3.5m.
BFI funding for filmmakers and talent development currently equates to £54m for 2023-26, and is set to increase to £61m for the following three years.
Screen has highlighted some of the notable films to receive substantial support in 2025 as well as a selection of projects that received considerable BFI awards in 2024 but were unannounced.
In addition to the funding awards outlined below, each film received step-up funding, to support development opportunities within the crew up to £20,000, and for a wellbeing coordinator, up to £15,000.
A Hand Rises (£1.13m)
A death ruptures a close-knit deaf community and power dynamics shift as people begin to question the woman they have looked up to, in the feature debut from California-born, London-based artist and filmmaker Louise Stern. Leading the predominantly deaf cast are Raffie Julien, Brian Duffy, Matty Gurney and Claire Wetherall. Helen Simmons and Manon Ardisson produce with Chloe Culpin as co-producer. BBC Film is also a funder. The project was funded by the BFI’s Discovery strand and also received £45,350 in step-up and wellbeing support.
Stuffed (£1.03m)
Jodie Comer and Harry Melling star in this musical horror, which marks the debut of commercials director Theo Rhys. The story follows a brooding taxidermist who is given the chance to fulfil a secret ambition: to stuff a human specimen. Cornerstone handles sales. Femme outfit Agile Films produces alongside Fresh Fish Films. Funders also include Calculus Media and Ffilm Cymru Wales, with Adam Knopf the Welsh co-producer. It was funded through the BFI’s Discovery strand with £67,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning (£1.02m)
Ali & Ava director Clio Barnard returns with the story of five childhood friends who have hit 30 and are faced with the realities of their lives. The cast is led by Anthony Boyle, Joe Cole, Jay Lycurgo, Daryl McCormack and Lola Petticrew. Ireland’s Enda Walsh, who co-wrote the screenplay for Die My Love, has written the script, which is based on the 2024 novel of the same name by Kerian Goddard. BBC Film funds with the BFI. Charades handles sales and Curzon Film will distribute in UK-Ireland. Tracy O’Riordan of Moonspun Films produces. The film was funded by the BFI’s Discovery strand and also received £35,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
Daughter Of Eden (£970,000)
Yasmin Al-Khudhairi, Hiam Abbass, Amir El-Masry and Lindsay Duncan star in Fateme Ahmadi’s directorial debut, which shot in Dublin, but is set in London in 2006. The psychological thriller unfurls around a British-Iraqi nurse whose need for answers draws her deep into another family’s life. UK producers are Jack Tarling for Shudder Films and Pietro Greppi of Lunapark Pictures, alongside co-producer Jackie Larkin of Ireland’s Newgrange Pictures. Further funders are BBC Film, Screen Ireland, Civic Studios and TPC. It was funded through the BFI’s Discovery strand, with £17,000 step-up and wellbeing support.
Chork (£950,000)
Shane Meadows directs his first feature in 12 years, which he has co-written with Adolescence scribe Jack Thorne. It follows two 15-year-old girls who leave their foster home and trek across England’s eastern coastline in hopes of a brighter future. Altitude is selling and will release the film in UK-Ireland cinemas. Ben Pugh and Cathy King produce for 42, with Lauren Dark and Amy Jackson for Unified Productions. Further financiers include BBC Film, Screen Yorkshire and Hoopsa Films. The film was funded through the BFI’s Impact strand, with £81,969 in step-up and wellbeing support.
The Incomer (£820,000)
Louis Paxton’s feature debut, set to world premiere at Sundance, stars Domhnall Gleeson and Gayle Rankin, and centres on two siblings living on a remote Scottish island whose lives are upended following the arrival of an awkward council worker. Michelle Gomez and John Hannah also star. Producers are Shirley O’Connor and Emily Gotto for Pilea Pictures. Further funders include Screen Scotland; musician Moby and actor Lindsay Hicks’ US production company Little Walnut; the joint US venture between Paramount Global and Trevor Noah, Day Zero Productions; the UK’s Head Gear Films; and Ireland’s Inevitable Pictures. The co-producer is Wendy Griffin. Funding came from the BFI’s Discovery strand, with £37,000 step-up and wellbeing support.
The Arrival (£775,000)
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Archie Madekwe, Joanna Scanlan and Alex Descas star in the directorial debut of Olivier award-winning UK theatre director Bijan Sheibani. The film is based on a play of the same name by Sheibani and charts the reunion of two long-lost brothers. Film4 co-finances with the BFI. Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell and Theo Barrowclough produce for House Productions, alongside Michael Fassbender, Daniel Emmerson and Conor McCaughan for DMC Film, and Nell Green. Cornerstone is selling. The feature was funded through the BFI’s Discovery strand, with £37,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
Funding awards from 2024
Rose Of Nevada (£1.24m)
Mark Jenkin’s Venice premiere stars George MacKay and Callum Turner. When a mysterious boat reappears in the harbour of a Cornish fishing village, two men join its crew hoping for a better future but find themselves transported back in time. Film4 co-financed. BFI Distribution will release in UK-Ireland in 2026, with Protagonist repping sales. It received support from the BFI Impact strand and £35,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
Out There (£1.12m)
Simon Ryninks’ feature debut stars Michael Sheen, Aneurin Barnard and Iwan Rheon. It follows a 16-year-old astronomy enthusiast who spots a UFO over her sleepy Welsh seaside town. Producers are Tibo Travers for Sweetdoh Films and Katie Dolan for Bad Cat, with Ffilm Cymru Wales and Calculus Media among funders. The feature took part in the BFI London Film Festival 2025 works-in-progress showcase. It was funded by the BFI’s Discovery strand, with £35,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
My Father’s Shadow (£975,000)
This semi-autobiographical tale by director Akinola Davies Jr is set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian capital of Lagos during the 1993 election crisis. The Bifa and Gotham winner world premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard, with Mubi set to release in UK-Ireland in February. Sope Dirisu stars, with Rachel Dargavel producing for Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo for Fatherland Productions, and BBC Film co-financing. It was the UK’s submission for the international feature Oscar but did not make the shortlist. The BFI funded through the Discovery strand with £35,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
Extra Geography (£975,000)
The feature debut of Molly Manners, director of Netflix series One Day, is set in an all-girls boarding school and is set to world premiere at Sundance, with HanWay Films selling. It is produced by Brock Media and also funded by Film4 and Screen Yorkshire. The cast is led by Marni Duggan, Galaxie Clear and Alice Englert. The film was supported through the Impact strand, with £15,000 in step-up and wellbeing support.
No comments yet