The new fund aims to help bring original short film projects closer to production and includes mentorship and development support from Underscore Studios.
Based in London and the South West of England, and as a Creative UK Screen Launchpad organisation, Underscore Studios is dedicated to supporting emerging talent through accessible training, script development and industry opportunities.
They have now launched the Underscore Studios Film Fund, a new annual opportunity supporting working-class filmmakers across the UK through funding, mentorship and practical support.
Each year, the Fund will support a selected filmmaker with:
🎬 £1,000 towards production
🎟️ Up to £300 in festival & distribution support
🌱 Mentorship & development support from Underscore Studios
The Fund is open to UK-based working-class filmmakers with an original short film project of 15 minutes or under and has been designed to help early-stage filmmakers take the next step – developing their project, moving towards production and building a stronger route for their work beyond the film itself.
In addition to £1,000 production funding, the winning filmmaker will receive up to £300 of dedicated festival and distribution support to help their completed film reach audiences. This support may contribute towards:
- Festival submission fees
- Distribution opportunities
- Digital Cinema Package (DCP) creation
- Subtitles and accessibility requirements
- Promotional materials
The filmmaker remains the creative owner of their work. Underscore’s role is to provide encouragement, guidance and practical support while helping them navigate the next stage of their journey.
“We’d love to see applications from filmmakers across Devon.”
Jordan John, founder of Underscore Studios told Film Devon “As a proudly working-class person, it was important for me that Underscore Studios worked towards being an ecosystem of support for working-class filmmakers. As a non-profit, affordable training, accessible script coverage and events like Underscore Cinema was part of the puzzle that led to the Underscore Film Fund. Each plays a different role in helping filmmakers develop their skills, connect with others and bring their projects closer to production. The Underscore Film fund is built for the long term, and we’d love to see applications from filmmakers across Devon.”
Eligibility
The Underscore Studios Film Fund is open to UK-based working-class filmmakers aged 18 and over.
Applicants must:
• Be based in the United Kingdom.
• Identify as working-class.
• Be aged 18 or over at the time of application.
• Submit only one project per funding round.
Projects must:
• Be short films of 15 minutes or under.
• Be original creative work.
• Be ready for production at the time of application.
• Have a producer attached to the project at the application stage.
All genres are welcome.
If you’re developing a short film and looking for support to take it forward, this could be worth a look – applications are open now.
Find out more and apply here on the Underscore Studios website.
