EXCLUSIVE: The British Film Institute (BFI) is investing £7.2m of National Lottery funding from 2026-29 for documentary filmmaking, an increase of 20% from the previous three-year period.
Doc Society continues as the UK’s delegate partner and will distribute the funding. BFI Doc Society-supported projects premiering at the Berlinale include Finlay Pretsell’s Panorama world premiere Douglas Gordon By Douglas Gordon, which is being sold Autlook Filmsales.
The increased investment allows for an expansion of feature production and development support, covering a new immersive fund, a dedicated development fund for feature length documentaries and an expansion of production support via two dedicated funding strands, one for emerging directors and one for mid-career to established filmmakers.
The funding allocation is spread across £5.8m for the funding awards and associated overheads and £1.4m to deliver a talent support programme.
Applications for funding open in early spring 2026.
“Documentary cinema and immersive forms invite us into worlds to reflect, refract, and reconcile with the reality we share,” said Luke W. Moody, head of BFI Doc Society Fund. ”The BFI Doc Society awards and talent development programme are here with an open door to expand the spectrum of support, creative risk, and talent across all the UK.”
“Documentary expands ow we see the world, our place in it and inspires audiences everywhere,” added Shanida Scotland, co-executive director and head of film at Doc Society. ”Alongside the BFI and National Lottery, we are proud supporters of work that continually pushes at the boundaries of form, artistic expression and creative risk taking.”
“Independent UK documentary is one of the most vital, truth telling forces in our cultural life,” said Mia Bays, director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund. “At a time when the world is noisy, fractured and fast moving, our filmmakers are creating work that cuts through, connects us and helps us understand who we are.”
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