The National Lottery Film Festival and Screening Programme Fund supports organisations who are looking to produce film festivals and screening programmes in Scotland for a public audience.

Activities supported by the fund should increase the reach, impact and diversity of film screenings and events for communities throughout Scotland and meet Screen Scotland’s Audience Development priorities:

• Scotland has a diverse screen culture, showcasing the best contemporary and heritage films from Scotland and around the world, raising up new or unheard voices.
• Communities across Scotland have access to shared spaces with meaningful, relevant, and enjoyable opportunities to engage in screen culture.
• Scotland’s venues, festivals and platforms are sustainable – financially and environmentally – and are positive places to visit and to work within.

This fund is project funding, not core organisational funding. However, they encourage using the fund to cover core costs that directly relate to the delivery of your project and development of your team and organisation during the project dates. They encourage you to secure additional funding from other sources, such as sponsors, partners, charities, private or other public funding, to help deliver and expand your programme. Applicants may apply for personal access costs for the project team in line with Creative Scotland’s guidelines.

This fund will support activity happening between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026, and for up to 31 August for applications for Development Funding.

Fund award sizes

Minimum:

£15,000

Maximum:

£45,000

Notes on award amounts:

Applicants can apply for £15,000 to £45,000 (if applying for Development Funding, this amount is per year). If you are looking for less than £15,000, please consider the funding opportunities offered by Film Hub Scotland.

Who can apply

This fund is open to organisations based in Scotland that will produce film festivals and/or curated screening programmes for public audiences in Scotland and meet the aims and eligibility criteria of this fund.  Priority will be given to projects that support workforce and audience development priorities related to their focus areas.

When to apply

Applications are open. The next deadline for 2026 is:

-Thursday 12 November 2026

Next deadline: 12 Nov 2026

How to apply

Application forms are available via the Screen Scotland website.

Exclusions

• Venues
• Non-constituted groups and individuals
• Organisations not based in Scotland
• Organisations in receipt of Creative Scotland Regular Funding (RFOs) are not eligible to apply as a lead applicant but can be included as partners in other projects
• Organisations which do not have a UK bank account
• Organisations/businesses in administration, bankruptcy, or insolvency