The funding is available to support Devon writers in the early stages of development for debut long-form projects.

The first stage of the fund supports long-form live-action, immersive and animation fiction projects and you can apply for funding between £3,000 and £5,000 to develop a treatment.

It directly supports writers who do not yet have a script, or equivalent format for immersive work, to produce an initial treatment outlining the story, characters, themes and structure of their project along with related materials such as a mood board or other visual content.

The funds can go towards a writer’s allowance to cover your time invested in the early stages of project development. Funding can also contribute towards a producer’s allowance if you are working with a producer, as well as research and travel costs, and the creation of visual materials to support your project.

Projects that are supported at treatment stage and which are completed to schedule will then be able to apply for a second stage of funding to complete a first draft of the full feature-length screenplay, or equivalent format for immersive work.

Support from the fund will enable you and your team to progress to a sufficiently developed initial idea that you can successfully pitch to production companies or financiers.

The Early Development Fund has two stages:

Stage one (treatment funding): funding will enable you to develop and complete a full treatment that includes:

• story outline and structure
• characters
• themes
• related materials (like mood boards or other visual content)

Stage two (first draft funding): applications are only open to those that have received, and successfully delivered on, a stage one award. Funding will enable you to develop and complete a full first draft of the screenplay (or equivalent format to a screenplay for immersive projects).

Funding is provided as a grant. The rights, including copyright, in the project, at least during these funding stages, have to remain with you as the writer and applicant for the funding and as the originator of the copyright in the project.

Once the above stages have been completed, you are then potentially in a stronger position to pitch the project to prospective producers with a view to them (or, if applicable, the producer already attached to the project) acquiring the rights in the project on industry standard terms. They can then commission or engage you, as the writer, for further development or production.

Who can apply
Writers based in Devon who have not yet written a feature film or immersive work that has been produced and received a distribution deal in the UK.

You can apply with or without a producer.

When you can apply
The Early Development Fund opens on 7 October 2025 and closes at 11am on 18 November 2025.

If you have any questions relating to this funding or your application you can email: bfinetworkfunding@bfi.org.uk.

How to apply
If you’re interested in applying, head to the BFI Network England Early Development Fund website where you can also read the guidelines for applying.

Follow @filmdevonuk on Instagram for the latest from the Devon film and television industry.