Cinema Incentive Scheme 2024

Find out whether you qualify for this points-based scheme that rewards part-time and full-time cinemas for screening more British, independent and specialised films. New this year, the threshold for part-time cinemas has been reduced to a minimum of 70 screenings in light of the current operating context.

The scheme aims to encourage member venues to take more risks within their annual programme, to increase opportunities for diverse audiences to experience a broader range of cinema beyond the mainstream and to develop the UK market for a wider range of film.

Image c/o Plaza Cinema

It supports and encourages more risk taking in programming, particularly for smaller venues who are under enormous pressure to cut back on riskier titles to make way for more 'popular' films. It could really change the landscape of programming... Plymouth Arts Centre

What is it?

The scheme offers an incentive to encourage members to increase the proportion of British independent and international titles within their annual programme.

In response to the COVID-19 context, we have adapted this scheme in 2024 to provide an award upfront for venues that can demonstrate their eligibility for the scheme. We will base eligibility on assessment of screening figures from 2023.

We are offering a scaled upfront award between £250 – £2,000 towards programming and audience development costs for venues that can demonstrate a commitment to cultural film programming.

All venues that have previously participated in the scheme will be offered this upfront award automatically.

Venues that are new to the scheme are asked to submit screening figures for 2023 (1st January – 31st December)

Who is it for?

All venues within the Film Hub South West membership that present more than *100 public screenings a year are invited to apply for the Cinema Incentive Scheme. (*based on 2023 figures.)

Eligibility & Incentive for Full Time Venues

A sliding award is offered to support full-time venues (showing a minimum of 250 screenings per year*) that demonstrate a commitment to screening British independent or international (specialised) films as part of their annual programme, as follows:

Where  55% or more of the annual programme is specialised a fixed offer of £2,000 will be awarded
If  45% – 54% of the annual programme is specialised a fixed offer of  £1000 will be awarded
If  40% – 44% of the annual programme is specialised a fixed offer of  £750 will be awarded

Full-time venues screening less than 40% specialised films are not eligible for an award.

*based on 2023 figures.

Eligibility & Incentive for Part Time Venues

A sliding award is offered to support part-time venues (offering a minimum of 100 screenings per year*)  that demonstrate a commitment to screening British independent or international (specialised) films as part of their annual programme, as follows:

Where  55% or more of the annual programme is specialised a fixed offer of £1000 will be awarded
If  45% – 54% of the annual programme is specialised a fixed offer of  £500 will be awarded
If  40% – 44% of the annual programme is specialised a fixed offer of  £250 will be awarded

Part-time venues screening less than 40% specialised films are not eligible for an award.

*based on 2023 figures.

Parasite (2019)

Rocks (2020)

How does it work?

Eligibility for this scheme is assessed based on the previous year’s annual screening figures.

At the point of initial assessment, the number of screenings of British independent and international cinema for each applying venue will form that venue’s baseline.

In line with BFI Screen Culture 2033 priorities, bonus points will be awarded for:

Increasing the number of British independent and International cinema titles screened compared to the previous data set. Any increase in the number of British independent and international screenings for the same time period will earn 1 point.
Screening  titles beyond the mainstream that are targeted towards the 16 – 30 age group: 1 point for each screening
Accessible screenings of British independent and international (specialised) titles (such as Audio Described / Descriptive Subtitled or relaxed screenings) – 1 point for each screening

The level of bonus each participating venue will receive will be calculated based on 2022 screening figures, (1st January 2024, or date from which screenings commence in 2024 – 31st December 2024) to be submitted to the Film Hub by 7th  February 2025.

How Bonus Awards are calculated:

The size of the bonus pot depends on the number of participating venues. We anticipate that after fixed awards are paid out, the bonus pot will be circa. £20,000.

The total bonus pot available will be divided by the total number of points earned by participating venues to ascertain the value of each point
Funding will be allocated to each venue according to the total value of their earned points.

Please note there will be a cap of 20% of the available bonus pot for any one venue, therefore a maximum potential bonus award of £4,000.

How Do I Apply?

Please contact the Hub via our contact page.

Absolutely fantastic. Just what cinema in general needs. With cinemas being financially freer to show a more diverse variety of film there is more opportunity to encourage cinema audiences in general to broaden their viewing Gloucester Guildhall

Film Hub South West

Cinema Incentive Scheme 2024

What is it?

Who is it for?

Eligibility & Incentive for Full Time Venues

Eligibility & Incentive for Part Time Venues

How does it work?

How Do I Apply?

Please contact the Hub via our contact page.

More on Funding and Membership

Film Hub Members’ Top Films of 2020

Member Meet-Ups Online

Membership Criteria

Postcard from Le Giornate Del Cinema Muto 2024 – James Harrison, South West Silents