The British Film Institute is dedicating more than £1.1 million to assist the creation of 15 innovative and daring new animation projects, under the most recent cycle of the BFI Short Form Animation Fund. Collaborating with StoryFutures Academy, the UK’s leading institution for immersive storytelling, this round has earmarked special funds for two projects that leverage virtual or augmented reality technologies. Amongst the selected works, ten will receive a maximum of £120k for their production phase, while five are granted up to £10k each for development purposes.

With an annual endowment from the National Lottery of approximately £25 million, the BFI Film Fund is committed to nurturing filmmakers who bring originality and a diverse range of perspectives to their work, championing narratives that celebrate all facets of society.

Speaking on the new funding initiative, Natascha Wharton, the BFI Film Fund’s Head of Editorial, stated: “The BFI’s Short Form Animation Fund, generously supported by the National Lottery, was conceived as a way for our nation’s talented animators to enhance their craft. It’s therefore immensely gratifying to witness these films gain recognition at international festivals. The second round brought us a wealth of creative styles and concepts, and we are thrilled to present such an eclectic array of projects to the world today.”