Thinking of applying to the Early Development Fund (EDF)? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you can’t find the answers you need here, or require help with your application, please email bfinetworkfunding@bfi.org.uk.

Does each region in England have its own BFI NETWORK Early Development Fund? 

No, the EDF covers the whole of England. When you apply you do so through the BFI NETWORK website. At this point, all applications go to independent readers for assessment before reaching their allocated region. Applications are split based on the postcode of the writer, and will by assessed by the BFI NETWORK Talent Executives in that region. 

How many co-writers can a project have?  

It would be very unusual to see more than two writers on an EDF award. The writers would need to decide who the lead writer is. The lead writer is the lead applicant – the one who will submit the application, sign the funding agreement and receive the payments. 

If the project has co-writers in different locations is it up to the writers to decide which region to apply to for funding?   

Yes, the decision of where to apply is left to the writers: it’s based on the location of the Lead Writer/applicant (see note above). They may also consider applying to a region that best resonates with their project. Co-writers and producers (if attached) can be based anywhere in the UK.  

What type of projects do you fund? 

The EDF supports fiction projects only – not documentary, biographies, TV projects or artists’ moving image work. It supports live action, animation or immersive narratives. See here what type of feature projects we’ve supported in the past.  

Can I apply multiple times the same round?  

No, you can only apply once, with one idea per funding round.  

Can I re-submit an idea?
 
 
We only allow resubmission of applications that have been declined if we have directly recommended that you develop the application further, prior to resubmitting, or where you formally withdrew your application before we took a funding decision. 

Can I see treatments and pitch decks created by previous awardees? 
 
Unfortunately not. If writers are now looking to attach producers and/or financiers these documents will be subject to negotiations over intellectual property and rights ownership.  

What do you mean by a writer having a ‘strong creative track record’? 
 
For the EDF we expect to receive applications from writers who have some traction within the film/TV/creative industries and are at the right stage in their career to embark on writing a feature. You should be able to demonstrate your track record in the application and would probably want to include mention of any published work, plays, short films, novels, audio dramas/radio plays, writing for video games or similar.

What do I need to deliver for the EDF?
 
 
All successful applicants must submit: 

• A treatment of up to 10 pages  

• A final cost report for all expenditure  

• You may also choose to submit visual materials such as a mood board or pitch deck. 

Can I see treatments and pitch decks created by previous awardees? 
 
Unfortunately not. If writers are now looking to attach producers and/or financiers these documents will be subject to negotiations over intellectual property and rights ownership.  

How much contact do you get with the BFI NETWORK Talent Executive if your project is funded? 

You’ll meet with the Talent Executive periodically over the duration of your development process and they will give feedback on both the treatment and visual/pitch deck document. They will also sign off on the final project when you deliver it. 

Can the EDF help with the production of my feature film? 

No, the EDF can take a feature project to treatment stage only. If you are successful in receiving an EDF award and you deliver what’s required on time, you would then be eligible to apply for extra EDF award (‘stage 2’, see below), which supports the creation of a first-draft script. Please refer to the EDF guidelines for more info on this. If you’re looking for BFI funding to develop a feature script you already have, or for feature production funding please check out the BFI Development Fund or BFI Production Fund. You can read more about all of BFI’s funds here. 

What is the EDF ‘Stage 2’ funding? 
 
Writers we support at treatment stage who deliver their project to schedule (within three months of signing the funding agreement or by the agreed stage 2 application deadline) can then go on to apply for an additional award of between £8,000 to £12,500 to help them develop a first draft of the feature-length screenplay. Please note that in our region we support an average of four EDF projects per year, and would expect to take just one of those through to stage 2 funding. 

What happens with the rights to the idea?  

The lead writer retains the rights to the work. The writer still retains the copyright if the project is selected for ‘stage 2’ (first-draft funding). Where a producer is working with the writer on a project that is granted a stage 2 EDF award the duo can enter into a more formal agreement amongst themselves regarding rights.