DirectorsUKcallsforincreasedNationalLotterysupportforfilm

Responding to the Call for Evidence, Directors UK has called for the continuation, and expansion, of this funding for film through the British Film Institute (BFI). 

Although film receives only a small share of Good Cause Lottery funding, its impact is transformative. It has supported some of the UK’s most celebrated films, launched new directing talent, and brought film to new audiences and communities across the UK. £150 million is set to be invested in film projects through the BFI’s National Lottery Funding Plan over the next three years; the Government’s review is therefore a huge opportunity to ensure this support continues to deliver outsized benefits across the UK.

This investment has helped launch the careers of many of the UK’s most exciting directing talents. Harry Lighton’s Pillion, Raine Allen-Miller’s Rye Lane, and Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, are all recent debut features that received lottery grants, helping a new generation of directors break through to critical acclaim.

Yet the value extends beyond just emerging talent. Lottery funding has been behind some of the most successful and culturally significant British films made by established directors. Gurinder Chadha’s Bend it Like Beckham and Stephen Daldry’s Billy Elliot were international box-office hits, while The King’s Speech directed by Tom Hooper went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. These successes show how modest public investment can help create films that resonate with audiences around the world and showcase the very best of British filmmaking.

It also underpins the wider infrastructure that makes a thriving film sector possible. The BFI’s ESCAPES programme hosts free cinema screenings across the UK each month, bringing new audiences into cinemas, with many saying they would likely return for a paid visit. Through the BFI Film Audience Network’s SPOTLIGHT programme, local organisations receive support to improve access to film in otherwise underserved communities including Sunderland, Moray Firth, Peterborough and Rural Conwy.

As reflected in our response to the Government’s review, Directors UK believes that Good Cause Funding for film delivers exceptional public value and return on investment.  Despite receiving less than 3% of total National Lottery income, it generates cultural, social and economic benefits that are felt far beyond the screen sector, supporting activity that commercial finance often will not.

Whether it’s helping develop talented filmmakers, sustain local cinemas, or broaden participation in film,  even a 1% increase in funding could generate additional impact, driving the Government's Creative Industries growth agenda. We believe that the Government now has an opportunity to build on this success, ensuring even more people can benefit from this investment.