The British Film Institute (BFI) will work with satellite organisations Creative England, Creative Scotland, Film Agency for Wales and Northern Ireland Screen to establish a joined-up network of experienced development teams across the UK. Titled Net.Work, the scheme has an annual budget of £3 million.

In addition, the BFI will work with Film London to deliver two shorts schemes in the capital, one producing up to 18 films at a lower budget level and one at a higher budget level for emerging Black and Asian Minority Ethnic filmmakers which will produce up to five films per year. The BFI will work with multi award-winning and animation studio, Aardman, to deliver a specialised animation development programme and also team up with 104 Films to offer training and development programmes for disabled filmmakers across the UK.

Ben Roberts (photo), Director of the BFI Film Fund said, “Many of us noted the sheer range and quality of UK films coming out of Toronto this year - and that there was no ‘house style’. Our hope with the Net.Work is that this family of organisations will pull together to unearth our standout filmmakers and help to develop them as distinctive, singular voices. This new approach dedicates more time, energy and resources to our next generation of feature filmmakers, and the Net.Work itself will continue to grow as we announce more partnerships in the coming months, this is just the start.”