Registration is now open for BFI FAN CON! Join cinemas, film festivals and exhibitors from across the UK in Newcastle, 7-9 September 2026. Early Bird passes available now: bit.ly/4tMMfG8 #BFIFANCON #UKFilm

New date added: our short film showcase is heading to Sunderland Shorts in May, bringing a line-up of standout new work from Northern filmmakers! 📍 Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 🗓 Monday 11 May | 20:00 Book your ticket: bit.ly/4pZY0qp 🎟

We’re partnering with Baltic Cinema @balticgateshead.bsky.social on Screen & Tell, a new work-in-progress short film night for Northeast filmmakers. Our first screening is on 6 May with guest filmmaker Harry Lawson. Submit your project for consideration by Monday 20 April: bit.ly/4edD64W 🎞️✨

Ready to grow your film exhibition skills? Our Bursary Fund is here to help you take the next step – whether that means learning something new, strengthening your organisation, or building confidence in your role. Learn more and apply: bit.ly/43AIA15 💪 #FilmExhibition #ProfessionalDevelopment

Three short films – supported by our BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund – are now available to watch on our website. • The Last Cowboy in Salford (dir. Jakob Lancaster) • Void Days (dir. Jude Christian) • The Witch’s Daughter (dir. Emma Swinton) Watch the films: bit.ly/4t1gdX7 🍿

Historic England's new webinar series begin this month, walking through the main steps in developing a Decarbonisation Plan for heritage buildings. All sessions are free and aimed at cultural organisations that manage historic buildings. rb.gy/exrei8 🏛️

Script Lab is officially open for applications! We’re looking for bold new writers ready to shape an idea into a ready-to-shoot script. You’ll learn the fundamentals of screenwriting and develop your story in sessions with our BFI NETWORK Talent Executives and expert mentors. bit.ly/script-lab

Big ideas are welcome, but the clock is ticking! ⏱️ 💥 Submit your cross-FAN proposal for Rip It Up – BFI FAN’s ambitious UK-wide season celebrating youth culture on screen – by Monday 13 April. bit.ly/4uqLy6M

Four BFI NETWORK Hubs have teamed up with ScreenSkills Animation Fund to create a new Lab for early-career writers to develop, experiment and expand their skills and understanding of storytelling in animation. Applications are now open and will close on Monday 11 May: bit.ly/4sQrFok

“There’s not a word yet for old friends who’ve just met.” – Gonzo ✨ Come meet your next pal or future collaborator at our mixer for animators and puppet filmmakers! We’ll be gathering at Tyneside Cinema next Tuesday for an informal meet-up as part of Moving Parts Puppet Film Fest. bit.ly/4c5MANc

Last places available!! 🚨 Jump into tomorrow’s online member session for your quick guide on what’s ahead for UK film exhibitors this year. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes preview of BFI FAN CON and Rip It Up, a major new UK-wide celebration of youth culture in cinema. Sign up: bit.ly/4uJynOs🔥

Our short film showcase lands at Kendal’s Brewery Arts TONIGHT! 🎬🍿 We’ve uncovered the best short films from across the North and are bringing them to the lakes – expect a bold mix of fact and fiction, animation and live action, and everything in between. Book your ticket: bit.ly/4pZY0qp

Curious about what’s coming up for UK film exhibitors this year? Join our online session to get the inside track on BFI FAN CON, plus a look at Rip It Up, BFI FAN’s bold new UK-wide season celebrating youth culture on screen. 💥 Tuesday 31 March, online 🔗 Sign up: bit.ly/4uJynOs

Yorkshire folk – Northern Exposure is coming to Leeds! Join us at Hyde Park Picture House on Wednesday for a curated night of short films from Northern filmmakers. Book your ticket: bit.ly/4pZY0qp 🎟

BAFTA-winning director Mark Jenkin is coming to Newcastle! ⚓ Pull up a seat at our filmmaker roundtable on 20 April to learn more about Mark’s storytelling and creative practice. Book your spot here (places are limited!): bit.ly/3PwO1MG 🎟

This is Rip It Up: BFI FAN’s bold new UK-wide season! 🧷🔥 Film Hub North members can now apply for funding to programme screenings, develop touring projects, and bring key titles to their audiences as part of this nationwide celebration of youth culture on screen. bit.ly/fhn-rip

Welcome our Animation Development Lab 2026 cohort! 🥳 Over the past six weeks, a brilliant group of writers and animators came together to share ideas and shape original animated projects. We’re excited to now introduce the cohort and follow where their projects go next: bit.ly/4cLYCNw ✍️

Applications for Round 1 of our Film Exhibition Fund are closing soon – don’t miss your chance to apply. We’re looking to support ambitious, audience-focused film activity across the North, with awards of up to £10k available. Deadline: 20 March Apply now: bit.ly/fhn-fef

The next stop of Northern Exposure is Chester! ✨ Head to Storyhouse next Tuesday for a night of bold Northern short films, hand-picked by our Young Programmers. Discover exciting new voices in filmmaking and stick around afterwards for a lively Q&A with the filmmakers and curators. bit.ly/4pZY0qp

The BFI NETWORK England's Short Film Fund closes next week! This is your final chance to secure funding for your Northern short film. Applications close Wednesday 18 March 2026 (11am). bit.ly/fhn-sff 🎬

The first stop of our Northern Exposure is Manchester! Come along to Cultplex for a night of bold, brilliant short films from the North, curated by our Young Programmers. 📍 Cultplex, Manchester 🗓 Thursday 12 March | 19:30 Spots are limited – grab your tickets: bit.ly/4pZY0qp

Can your cinema generate more than great screenings? ⚡ In this free BFI FAN Green Hour we'll hear from community energy experts on how cinemas can be catalysts for renewable investment. It's your last chance to join us on Wednesday 11 March - sign up here: bit.ly/4aGVTmZ 🌱

Heading to Manchester Film Festival this month? Don’t miss our special in-person roundtable with Misper director Harry Sherriff and writer Laurence Tratalos, a chance to talk craft, careers and the festival circuit with emerging filmmakers. Places are limited: bit.ly/40cfkhK 🎬🤝

Test new ideas! Reach new audiences! Our Film Exhibition Fund: Pitch Pot supports organisations to experiment with their film programming through micro-grants of up to £3,000. Proposals are now open and you can submit on a rolling basis: bit.ly/pitchpot 🚀

Audience development doesn’t happen in one department – it takes a whole organisation. 💪 Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how Hyde Park Picture House adapted their community strategy, building, and more to grow their audiences since reopening.

Join us on Wednesday 11 March for an informal session where we’ll break down what the BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund is and what we’re looking for in the projects we support. Places are limited, RSVP here: http://bit.ly/fhn-round🎟️ #ShortFilm #Filmmakers #FilmFunding #Roundtable

The BFI NETWORK England's Short Film Fund closes next month! The fund supports the production costs of standalone fiction shorts in live action, animation and immersive/virtual reality, from Northern filmmaking teams. Deadline Wednesday 18 March 2026 (11am). bit.ly/fhn-sff 💥 💰

Northern Exposure is back! 🔥 Join us in Chester, Kendal, Leeds and Manchester as we celebrate the best of Northern short film, hand-picked by our brilliant Young Film Programmers. bit.ly/4pZY0qp

It’s your final call. That Northern Directors application won’t send itself, and we really want to see it! 🚀 We’re teaming up with the BBC and Clerkenwell Films to give two emerging short-form directors a paid shadowing and mentoring placement on a TV production. https://bit.ly/fhn-nd

Final call for producers looking to develop their next animation story! 🔔 We're on the hunt for producers to meet our Animation Development Lab writers as they work on exciting short-form projects. Register your interest by Monday 23 February: bit.ly/4qjFLfW

Got questions about the marketing or budget sections of your Film Exhibition Fund proposal? Join our member drop-in session on Tuesday 24 February to chat directly with our team and gain practical insights to improve your proposal. Sign up: bit.ly/fhn-fef 🎬

What if your cinema could power itself and its community? 🔋 With venues facing rising bills, this timely BFI FAN Green Hour explores how partnering with community energy can reduce costs, lower carbon and build a resilient local future. Wednesday 11 March: sign up here bit.ly/4aGVTmZ 💡

The Film Exhibition Fund is back to champion independent film experiences in the North! 💰 Deadline: 20 March – https://bit.ly/fhn-fef

The BFI NETWORK England's Short Film Fund is now open! The fund supports the production costs of standalone fiction shorts in live action, animation and immersive/virtual reality, from Northern filmmaking teams. Deadline Wednesday 18 March 2026 (11am). bit.ly/fhn-sff 💥 💰

Short-form directors, this is your sign! 🔮 For our next Northern Directors opportunity, we’ve teamed up with the BBC and Clerkenwell Films to offer a paid shadowing and mentoring placement on a real TV production. Apply by Friday 27 February: bit.ly/fhn-nd

Looking to develop your next animated short? 👀 We’re inviting producers to meet our Animation Development Lab writers as they shape ambitious short-form projects for future funding. bit.ly/4qjFLfW

Our York mixer is now fully booked – but don’t worry, we’re heading your way 👋 We’ll be in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle in the coming weeks to chat all things BFI NETWORK Short Film Fund (re-opening February 2026). bit.ly/fhn-mixer

Our next Northern Directors opportunity has landed! We’ve teamed up with the BBC and Clerkenwell Films to give two emerging short-form directors a paid shadowing and mentoring placement on a TV production. Apply by Friday 27 February: bit.ly/fhn-nd 🤩📣 #NorthernDirectors #DirectorsWanted

With Vestige now streaming on Disney+, the FHN-supported short has leapt from the festival circuit to a global audience. We sat down with director/co-writer Joseph Simmons and producer Lewis Coates to talk about the film’s journey and how their collaboration began. Read it here: bit.ly/4a2DI9R 🪨 🎬

The BFI Film Audience Network conference is coming to Newcastle in September 2026! Join us to connect with colleagues, learn from peers behind some of the most innovative BFI FAN projects, and discover fresh ideas for reaching and engaging audiences. Registration coming soon rb.gy/dnw3bu ⏳

Next mixer alert: join us at City Screen Picturehouse York on 18 February with pals York Filmmakers! This is your chance to meet potential collaborators and share ideas. Attendance is free, but you’ll need to sign up in advance: bit.ly/fhn-mixer #Filmmaking #YorkEvents #FilmNetworking

Cinema For All are in need of early pledges for their Big Give: Arts for Impact matched-funding campaign, which could raise up to £30k to support volunteer-led cinemas across the UK! Learn more and donate: rb.gy/81p9qy #CommunityCinema 🤲

Ready to make your cinema greener? 🌳 We’ve partnered with Historic England to deliver online Carbon Literacy training for BFI FAN exhibitors operating in heritage buildings.We'll explore the climate emergency and how cinemas can take meaningful action. bit.ly/48COuEg

Final call for Northern filmmakers! Submit your brilliant short to Northern Exposure – our curated film tour – for the chance to see it on screen at your local cinema. Submissions are free but close this Saturday, 10 January 2026: bit.ly/north-exp 🌟

Our brand-new Animation Development Lab is open for applications! Bring us a character, world, visual style, or the start of a story, and over six weeks we’ll help you shape it into a project ready for the next step… production and funding! bit.ly/animation-lab 🎄✨

As the credits roll on 2025, we’re looking back at some of our favourite moments. 🥂 It was standout year for film exhibition across the North, and we’re delighted to have supported members with £90k of BFI National Lottery funds 🌟 (learn more about the recipients here: bit.ly/4j0YBq6).

Emerging or established UK producers – take your socially resonant, commercially ambitious scripted project to market with support from TogetherFilms. Apply to The Business of Impact Lab by 2 January: www.TogetherFilms.or... Supported by @BFI / #NationalLottery #BusinessOfImpactLab

Sheffield, ready for the finale? 🎉 We’re wrapping up Northern Exposure at Showroom this Friday 12 December with a knockout programme of short films from across the region, all chosen by our brilliant Young Programmers. Get your ticket: bit.ly/4nWDneE #ShortFilms #YorkshireFilm

Introducing… Animation Development Lab, our brand new programme for animators and storytellers in the North!‍ Over six-weeks, five creatives will supercharge their original idea for a short-form animation, preparing it for future production and funding. Apply here: bit.ly/animation-lab 🔥

Sheffield, ready for the finale? 🎉 We’re wrapping up Northern Exposure at Showroom next Friday, 12 December with a knockout programme of short films from across the region, all chosen by our brilliant Young Programmers. Get your ticket: bit.ly/4nWDneE #ShortFilms #YorkshireFilm