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WITH THANKS TO
OUR PARTNER

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Introducing the WFTV Short Film Fund 

Two teams. Two films. Fully backed. ​​

 

The WFTV Short Film Fund is a new funding programme supporting women and non-binary led filmmaking.  

The fund will award two filmmaking teams with a fully backed production package including: 

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  • £25,000 in cash funding 

  • £25,000 in kit rentals 

  • In-kind post-production  

  • Support and mentoring from industry professionals ​

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The WFTV Short Film Fund is more than just a grant. It’s an opportunity for WFTV members to secure everything they need to take their short films from an idea to the big screen.  

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The WFTV Short Film Fund is realised in partnership with Sunbelt Rentals.

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Applications open on Monday 7th September 2026.

Assemble your team now. ​

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If you are looking to fill roles within your filmmaking team, we'll be hosting a series of WFTV Short Film Fund networking events online and across the country. Keep an eye on our event page to book your spot.

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Led by women and non-binary filmmakers

 Who tells the story matters. To qualify and apply for the fund, your filmmaking team must have women and/or non-binary people assigned to the following key creative roles of your production:

 

  • Director or Writer/Director

  • Writer 

  • Producer 

  • Cinematographer/Director of Photography ​

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This year’s Diamond Report reveals that women and non-binary people remain underrepresented across all lead creative roles in filmmaking - but we know the talent is there. The WFTV Short Film Fund exists to help redress this imbalance by putting women and non-binary filmmakers at the creative heart of the projects it supports. 

Backed, not directed 

​We believe the best stories come from filmmakers with something to say. The WFTV Short Film Fund is independently financed, giving us the freedom to back bold, original fiction filmmaking without prescribing the stories that we want to see.  ​We’re not looking for a particular genre, style, or subject matter. Our role is simple: to help you make the film you want to make. 

Who can apply? 

Applications are open to UK based women and/or non-binary led filmmaking teams. 

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To be eligible, the Writer, Director, Producer or Writer/Director and Cinematographer/Director of Photography of your project must all be WFTV members at the point of application.

 

WFTV membership starts from just £10 per month and gives you access to a community of people working across the industry, alongside exclusive events, screenings, workshops, professional development opportunities, and access to initiatives like the WFTV Short Film Fund.  

How to apply 

 

Applications for the WFTV Short Film Fund will open on Monday 7th September 2026.  

 

Sign up here to get an email reminder when applications are open. 

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The Selection Process

 

Reader Assessments 

Every application will be read by a pool of experienced industry readers, who will assess projects using a points-based scoring system. Assessments will be made based on the creative quality and originality of the idea, the experience of the team, and the achievability of the project budget and schedule. 

 

Internal Shortlisting 
The WFTV Short Film Fund team will review all the assessments to create a shortlist of projects. At this stage, we consider the creative ambition, feasibility, and potential of each project. 

 

Selection Committee 
Shortlisted applications will then be considered by an independent selection committee made up of WFTV Board members and the Short Film Fund team, who will make the final awarding decisions.  

FAQs


 

Is there a fee to apply?
There is no fee to submit an application to the fund but the Producer, Writer, Director or Writer/Director and DOP/Cinematographer must all be current WFTV members. You can sign up for membership here. 

 

Can I apply with more than one project?

Writers, Director and Writer/directors may apply with a maximum of 2 projects. This can be with the same core team or different team members. 

There is no limit on the number of applications that Producers or DOP/Cinematographers can be attached to. 

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Does the Producer need to have a production company to apply?
The producer must submit the application through their production company.

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We are not all WFTV members, can we still apply?

Key creative team members (Producer, Writer, Director or Writer/Director and DOP/Cinematographer) must all be a current WFTV member at the time of application. You will be asked to provide the WFTV membership numbers for the core team at the time of application, so please have these details ready. 

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We don’t have a full team. Can we still apply?

You need to have a full core team in place to apply. WFTV will be hosting networking sessions in August for those looking to connect with potential collaborators. Sign up to our newsletter or check the events page on our website for more details. 

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Can we apply for the UK tax credit?

You can apply for the UK tax credit to enhance your budget however you will need to factor the tax credit cashflow into your financial plan if you are selected. 

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Do we need to factor festival submissions into the budget?
Yes. You should include a minimum of £500 in your budget for festival submissions.

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Who will own the rights to the completed film?
All intellectual property rights for the films will sit with the producers but they will transfer right, title and ownership of delivery material to WFTV to hold a copy of the film and use for promotional or private use. 

 

What kind of short film are you looking for?

There is no restriction on genre or theme to apply to this fund. We are looking for original stories by great talent that will connect with audiences.

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Can we apply with a documentary or animation idea?
This fund is for live action fiction only.

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I have no filmmaking experience, am I eligible to apply?

Writers, Directors and Writer/Directors must have a minimum of TWO fiction credits in the role they are applying as.
Producers and DOPs/Cinematographers must have a minimum of TWO credits (in either fiction or factual/documentary) in the role they are applying as.

 

Can I use AI to write my application?
Applicants may use AI tools for proofreading, editing, grammar checking, or other writing support, particularly where this helps make the application process more accessible. However, we ask that AI not be used to generate or develop the creative idea, story, concept, or substantive content of the film proposal. Applicants must be transparent about any use of AI in their application and disclose which tools were used and for what purpose.  

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Can WFTV accommodate access requirements? 

At WFTV we want to ensure that all our programmes are accessible for everyone. If you have any access requirements, please let us know within the application. Please contact admin@wftv.org.uk if you’d like to discuss in more detail. 

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Does the entire crew have to be women and non-binary people? 

No, the crew can be mixed gender but the core filmmaking team must have women and/or non-binary people in the following roles:  

  • Director or Writer/Director 

  • Writer  

  • Producer  

  • Cinematographer/Director of Photography  

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Is it possible to save my answers on the application form? 

Unfortunately it isn’t. Please note that we strongly recommend that you write and save your responses to the application questions on a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Pages or a Google Document first before copying and pasting them into the application form. 

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Will WFTV promote the selected projects? 

Both WFTV and Sunbelt Rentals will promote the selected projects and teams.

 

Are there marketing and communications commitments required from the selected teams? 
Core team members will be expected to engage in promotional marketing and communications activity relating to both their projects and The WFTV Short Film Fund.

Full Terms and Conditions

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Who Can Apply​

To qualify and apply for the fund, you must meet the following criteria. 

The core filmmaking team must have women and/or non-binary people in the following roles:  

  • Director or Writer/Director 

  • Writer  

  • Producer  

  • Cinematographer/Director of Photography  

 

  • The Producer, Writer, Director, Writer/Director, and Cinematographer/Director of Photography must all be current WFTV members. 

  • The core team must be 18 or over and not in full-time education. 

  • The core team must all be based in the UK, but do not need to have been born in the UK or have UK citizenship. 

  • Writers, Directors and Writer/Directors must have at least TWO fiction credits* in the role they’re applying as. 

  • Producers and DOPs/Cinematographers must have at least TWO credits* (in either fiction or factual/documentary) in the role they’re applying as. 

 

* On this occasion WFTV is defining a writing credit as:  

  • Any funded short film 

  • Any feature-length film or TV project 

  • Any production that has had professional distribution in cinemas or on a streaming platform

  • Any production that has been broadcast on TV or online in the English language 

  • A writing credit for a factual or non-scripted project for writing significant dramatic reconstruction sequences 

  • International writing credits do count if they are in the English language 

 

Writers, Directors and Writer/Directors can submit up to two separate applications to the fund. They can be with the same team or different team members. 

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There is no limit on the number of applications that a Producer or DOP/Cinematographer can be attached to. 

 

What Kind of Projects Are Eligible?​

  • The WFTV Short Film Fund is open to live action fiction projects. 

  • They should have an anticipated length of a maximum of 15 minutes including credits. 

  • It must be an original idea, not an adaptation. 

  • It must be able to qualify as a British film. 

  • Teams must not have commenced any principal photography or be in post-production. 

  • The film must be deliverable on the available budget or have proof of additional funding (Producers may also supplement with the UK tax credit). 

 

What you will need to apply​

You will need to complete the online application form and submit the following documents: 

 

  • Short film script – maximum 15 pages 

  • Logline 

  • Synopsis or story outline (maximum 500 words)

  •  Producer statement including the feasibility and ambition of the project (maximum 500 words) 

  • Directors statement regarding the creative vision for the film (maximum 500 words) 

  • CV/biog for each of the core team and including DOP/Cinematographer 

  • Links to previous screen work by the core team and including DOP/Cinematographer 

  • Moodboard 

  • Estimated Production Schedule 

  • Budget – There is £25,000 production funding available plus £25,000 in-kind equipment rental available from our partners Sunbelt Rentals*. Additional third-party finance can be included, up to a maximum of £25,000. The UK tax credit should be included in the finance plan. 

  • A note of any team access or communication needs 

  • Environmental sustainability confirmation  

  • Confirmation of completion of an equalities monitoring form by the core team 

 

* Equipment hire under this partnership will only be available from Sunbelt Rental bases in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Belfast. Any transportation, operators, insurance etc must be budgeted for separately. 

 

Equality Monitoring

Producers, Writers, Writer/Directors and DOPs/Cinematographers will need to complete an anonymous equality monitoring form as part of the application. Any data submitted in this form will be confidential and will not be seen by the team assessing your project.

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Submission Deadline
The call for applications will open on Monday 07 September 2026

 

The deadline for submissions is Monday 05 October 2026

 

Late submissions will not be considered

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Selection  

Applications will be reviewed by an experienced pool of industry readers with the final selection being made by the WFTV Short Film Fund team and selection committee. 

 

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an online interview. 

 

Applications will be assessed based on: 

  • Originality of the project idea 

  • Strength of the core team 

  • Feasibility of the project within budget available 

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Selection Confirmation

The successful project teams will hear back in December 2026.

 

WFTV Input

Selected production companies will enter into an agreement with WFTV who will act as Executive Producer on the selected projects. This agreement will set out the terms and conditions for this award and will include confirmation of credit requirements, payment schedules, right of approvals, deliverables and distribution/exhibition plans.

 

Feedback
Unfortunately due to the anticipated number of applications, feedback on individual submissions will not be possible.
 

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