Independent Cinema Office

Charity Number: 1109053

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £358,884 (2023-24, Film Hub South East region only)
  • Success Rate: 94% (Film Exhibition Fund)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 weeks
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £25,000
  • Geographic Focus: South East England (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex)

Contact Details

Website: www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

Email:

  • General: info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
  • BFI NETWORK funding: bfinetwork@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
  • Film Hub South East: filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

Phone: 020 7636 7120

Pre-application support: Available through Talent Executives Tom Wightman and Sammy Wong for BFI NETWORK funding queries

Overview

The Independent Cinema Office (ICO) was founded in 2003 by Catharine Des Forges and is the UK's leading cultural agency for film exhibition and support organisation for independent cinema. Registered as a charity (1109053), the ICO started with three staff members and has grown to 19 employees based in London. The organization acts as the Film Hub Lead Organisation for the South East and administers BFI NETWORK funding for the region, distributing National Lottery funds to filmmakers and cinema exhibitors. In 2023-24, the ICO distributed £358,884 through its Film Hub South East programmes, supporting 43 projects via the Film Exhibition Fund, Short Film Fund, and Early Development Fund. The organization's work is supported by major partners including the BFI, Arts Council England, Creative Europe MEDIA programme, and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The ICO received recognition as a national strategic partner of BFI FAN (Film Audience Network) and continues to champion cultural cinema that "nourishes the soul and changes people's lives."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund (£5,000 - £25,000)

Supports production costs of standalone fiction shorts (live action, animation, immersive/VR) up to 15 minutes in length by filmmakers in the South East. Does not support adaptations of existing material. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis with decision timeframes of several weeks. In 2023-24, eight teams received £156,000.

Early Development Fund (amounts not specified, typically smaller grants)

For new writers based in the South East with bold ideas, with or without a producer. 'New writers' defined as those who have not yet written a feature film script that has been produced and distributed. In 2023-24, four teams received £13,800.

Film Exhibition Fund (under £3,000 and over £3,000 streams)

Rolling fund with no set deadline for independent cinemas and film exhibitors. Under £3k stream requires 4 weeks notice before project start; over £3k stream requires 6 weeks notice and typically awards £3,000-£7,500. In 2023-24, 31 projects received £189,084. Applications submitted via email with proposal and budget forms.

Short Cut Film Fund (£1,000)

For young filmmakers aged 18-23, includes grant plus personalized mentorship. Three awards made in 2023-24.

Training and Professional Development Bursaries (typically under £500)

For Film Hub South East members to attend training events and professional development opportunities. 17 bursaries totaling £2,951 awarded in 2023-24.

Priority Areas

  • Fiction short films that take creative risks across all genres
  • New and emerging filmmakers in the South East region
  • Independent cinema exhibition and cultural programming beyond the mainstream
  • Diversity and underrepresented voices (58% of 2023-24 talent awards went to people from underrepresented ethnic groups)
  • Community cinema initiatives and film festivals
  • Projects that prioritize what matters to local audiences
  • Bold, innovative ideas from the margins rather than mainstream commercial work

What They Don't Fund

  • Adaptations of existing material (except writer's own previous work) for Short Film Fund
  • Solo director-producers (teams must have at least two separate people across writer, producer, director roles)
  • Filmmakers or projects outside the South East region for BFI NETWORK funding
  • Feature films that have already been produced and distributed (for Early Development Fund)
  • Commercial cinema chains or mainstream exhibition

Governance and Leadership

Director: Catharine Des Forges (Founder, since 2003)

Previously worked at BBC, BFI, Arts Council England, National Film Theatre as Senior Programmer, and as a freelance film programmer. Des Forges leads overall strategy and development.

Chair of Trustees: Dorothy Wilson MBE FRSA (since July 2016)

Former Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Midlands Arts Centre Birmingham (1990-2016).

Board: 13 trustees guiding the organization's strategic direction. The ICO is currently seeking new board members with skills in finance, HR, fundraising and organisational development.

Talent Executives: Tom Wightman and Sammy Wong (BFI NETWORK South East)

Key Leadership Quotes

Catharine Des Forges on independent cinema: “We think often the most interesting things that happen in culture are not part of the mainstream, or not what is deemed commercially successful. The most innovative and interesting ideas and movements usually come from the margins.”

On film festivals: "The explosion of film festivals is one of the biggest things to have happened during my 20 years of working in exhibition... It's an incredibly passionate and creative sector, it has become crucial for the circulation of cultural and European cinema, and audiences love festivals."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Film Exhibition Fund:

  • Read guidelines for under £3k or over £3k stream
  • Download and complete proposal form and budget form
  • Email to filmhubse@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk
  • Apply at least 4 weeks (under £3k) or 6 weeks (over £3k) before project start

BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund & Early Development Fund:

  • Applications reviewed on rolling basis
  • Information sessions provided with guidance on budgeting, story development, and finding producers
  • Contact bfinetwork@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk for queries
  • Apply through BFI online portal

Decision Timeline

  • Film Exhibition Fund: 4-6 weeks (depending on grant amount)
  • BFI NETWORK funds: Several weeks from submission
  • Projects funded must deliver between April and February of the funding year

Success Rates

Film Exhibition Fund: 94% success rate reported for recent funding rounds

BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund: Specific success rate not published; 8 teams funded from applications received in 2023-24

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in subsequent rounds. To reapply with the same project, it must undergo a significant change, defined as “a change of director or a significant rewrite of the material with a different writer.” ICO encourages unsuccessful applicants to redraft applications to be “more thorough, specific, tailored and juicy” and provides toolkits, interviews and resources to help digest disappointment and map out future plans.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

“Submit the project that you are passionate about, not the project you think the fund wants to see. There is a misconception that BFI NETWORK predominantly support dramas however they are looking for ideas that take creative risks and support work across all genres.”

Finding Producers

  • Research the British Council's UK Shorts Catalogue to identify current short film producers
  • Watch as many short films as possible to see which producers' work resonates
  • Remember that for BFI NETWORK South East funding, only the director needs to reside in eligible counties, so consider producers based elsewhere

Budget Development

  • Attend information sessions for case studies on budgeting
  • Be specific and realistic in budget breakdowns
  • Demonstrate understanding of production logistics

Application Quality

  • Be thorough, specific, and tailored to the fund's priorities
  • Make applications “juicy” - passionate and compelling
  • Don't try to second-guess what assessors want; submit your authentic vision
  • Show how your project takes creative risks

Recent Funded Projects

58% of talent receiving BFI NETWORK awards in 2023-24 were from underrepresented ethnic groups, indicating strong commitment to diversity. The ICO supports work across all genres, not predominantly dramas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity matters: All BFI NETWORK funding requires South East residency for key creatives (though producers can be based elsewhere)
  • High success rates: The Film Exhibition Fund has a 94% success rate, suggesting a collaborative, supportive approach to applicants
  • Embrace creative risk: ICO explicitly seeks projects that challenge conventions rather than play it safe
  • Don't adapt your vision: Submit the project you're passionate about, not what you think funders want to see
  • Diversity is valued: Over half of recent awards went to underrepresented ethnic groups
  • Reapplication is welcomed: Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply with developed projects
  • Rolling applications offer flexibility: Most funds operate on rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines, reducing competitive pressure
  • Regional focus, national reach: While geographically focused on South East, ICO has national influence as UK's leading independent cinema support organization

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References