The David Lean Foundation

Charity Number: 1067074

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £187,742 (2024 royalties received)
  • Total Grants Since Inception: £6,075,074
  • Grant Range: Varies - institutional grants to major film and arts organizations
  • Geographic Focus: England (principally national organizations)
  • Application Method: No public application process - trustee discretion
  • Registered Charity Number: 1067074

Contact Details

Address: 41A Eastgate Street, Stafford ST16 2LZ

Phone: 01785 503010

Email: dlf@sorbus.com

Website: No public website

Overview

The David Lean Foundation was established on 23 December 1997 to honor the legacy of legendary British film director Sir David Lean (director of classics including The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Doctor Zhivago). The Foundation derives its income from royalties of David Lean's films through its trading subsidiary, David Lean Films Limited, which received £187,742 in royalties in 2024. Since its establishment, the Foundation has made grants totaling over £6 million towards film education and the arts. The Foundation operates through a focused grant-making strategy, supporting major UK institutions whose aims align with promoting excellence in film production, including screenplay writing, film direction, and film editing. The Foundation does not make individual scholarships but instead partners with established institutions to create lasting impact in film education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates exclusively through institutional grants to established charitable organizations. There are no named grant programs or application cycles - grants are awarded at the trustees' discretion.

Primary Beneficiary Organizations:

  • National Film and Television School (NFTS): Major multi-year grants for student scholarships and infrastructure. The Foundation provided £1 million over 10 years to fund 48 student scholarships, support first-class teachers from the film industry (such as Stephen Frears), and maintain the library.
  • British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA): Support for excellence in filmmaking, including the BAFTA David Lean Lecture series
  • British Film Institute (BFI): Grants supporting film education and preservation
  • Royal Academy of Arts: Support for arts education and programming

Priority Areas

  • Film education and training at the highest level
  • Excellence in screenplay writing
  • Film direction and editing
  • Film production techniques and standards
  • Arts, culture, and heritage preservation
  • Support for emerging British filmmakers through institutional scholarships

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual scholarships or direct grants to individuals
  • Grants not related to the Foundation's objectives
  • Organizations whose aims do not align with promoting excellence in film production and the visual arts
  • Projects outside England (with limited exceptions for UK-wide national institutions)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Sophie Turner Laing (appointed 4 November 2025)

  • Most recently appointed trustee
  • Former BAFTA Vice President and CEO of Endemol Shine Group
  • Chair of the National Film & Television School

Jonathan Paul Moulton (appointed 11 October 2022)

Sally Ruth Beard (appointed 22 October 2014)

  • Director of David Lean Films Ltd
  • Director and principal shareholder of Peter Smith (Farms) Ltd
  • One of the longest-serving current trustees

Former Trustee:

  • Anthony Reeves (appointed 1997, resigned 11 July 2024) - Original trustee who served for 27 years. As former director of David Lean Films Ltd, Reeves articulated the Foundation's mission: "Almost all of the royalties from David Lean's films enable the Foundation to support excellence in screenplay writing, film direction and editing and the arts principally by providing grants to NFTS, BAFTA, BFI and Royal Academy of Arts."

No trustee receives remuneration or benefits from the charity. All governance is provided on a voluntary basis.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The David Lean Foundation operates through trustee discretion, making grants to a select group of established charitable institutions whose aims align with the Foundation's objectives. The Foundation's grant policy explicitly states it does not make individual scholarships or grants not related to its core objectives.

Grants are awarded to institutions rather than individuals, with the Foundation partnering with organizations like the National Film and Television School, BAFTA, BFI, and the Royal Academy of Arts to deliver scholarships and support to the film community.

Film students and individuals cannot apply directly to the Foundation. Instead, they should explore scholarship opportunities at the institutions the Foundation supports, particularly the NFTS, which administers David Lean Foundation scholarships as part of its broader scholarship program.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through ongoing trustee discussions rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, the following factors appear to determine which organizations receive support from the Foundation:

Institutional Alignment: Organizations must demonstrate a clear commitment to excellence in film education, particularly in screenplay writing, film direction, and film editing - the areas David Lean himself championed.

Established Track Record: The Foundation supports well-established institutions with proven track records in film education and arts programming (NFTS, BAFTA, BFI, Royal Academy of Arts).

National Significance: Beneficiary organizations tend to be nationally significant institutions that can create broad impact across the UK film industry.

Educational Focus: The Foundation prioritizes educational outcomes, supporting scholarships and training programs that develop the next generation of British filmmakers rather than funding production directly.

Long-term Partnerships: The Foundation appears to favor sustained, multi-year commitments (such as the £1 million over 10 years to NFTS) rather than one-off grants, enabling institutions to plan and deliver comprehensive programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not for Direct Applicants: This Foundation does not accept applications from organizations or individuals. It operates through trustee discretion with a small number of established partner institutions.
  • For Film Students: If you're a film student, don't contact the Foundation directly. Instead, apply for scholarships at the National Film and Television School, where David Lean Foundation scholarships are administered as part of the broader NFTS scholarship program.
  • Institutional Legacy Focus: The Foundation honors David Lean's legacy by supporting the same institutions he valued, particularly those advancing excellence in screenplay writing, direction, and editing.
  • Royalty-Funded: The Foundation's sustainability depends on ongoing royalties from David Lean's classic films, meaning funding levels can vary year to year based on film revenue.
  • No Online Presence: Unlike most modern foundations, this organization maintains no website or public-facing application materials, reflecting its focused institutional grant-making approach.
  • Educational Rather Than Production Focus: The Foundation supports the development of filmmakers through education and training rather than funding film production directly.
  • Total Impact: With over £6 million in grants since inception, this is a significant contributor to UK film education despite its low public profile.

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