Screen Scotland continues to support the Scottish screen sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, we have announced the following new funds:

Screen Scotland Bridging Bursary programme
Film: Single Project Development Funding Route
Broadcast: Single Project Development Funding Route

The Single Project Development funding routes will provide £1million of ring-fenced funding for Scotland’s independent film and television production companies, supporting them to develop creative and ambitious projects across film and television in scripted and unscripted genres, for live-action and animation over the coming 3-6 months.

The aim of these funds is to provide a fresh focus for development activity and help producers and production companies focus their energies and plans for future production.

This page covers support for broadcast and TV development projects. If you are looking for funding for feature film development please look at the guidance for the Film: Single Project Development Funding Route.

Any applicants seeking support for slate development or television production funding, should apply through the existing Broadcast Content Fund.

What is the purpose of this fund?
The purpose of this fund is to encourage producers and creative writers to access funding enabling them to focus on broadcast and TV development projects, support their financial resilience over the next 3-6 months and lay the groundwork for future sustainable growth of Scotland’s film production sector.

It is based on our existing Broadcast Content Fund but we have ring-fenced £500k specifically to support Single Project Development by independent companies and producers so they can continue to develop creatively ambitious projects, across scripted and unscripted, and live-action and animation. We are also supporting enhanced fees for producers during this period.

The Broadcast: Single Project Development Funding Route will support projects that have the potential to be distinctive, high-quality and commercially and/or creatively-driven. Projects should have the potential to engage and entertain audiences in Scotland, the UK and internationally. We will support projects that enable production companies to take creative risks. Projects are not expected to reflect the current pandemic circumstances editorially.

We will prioritise UK Network and SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) focused projects with existing commissioner engagement and the potential to be multi-part and/or returning. We will also prioritise projects which:

have the potential to generate lasting benefits for the applicant’s company
build companies of scale
reflect or promote Scottish culture, creativity, diversity and languages
offer opportunities to people currently under-represented in the screen sector.

How to apply
If you are applying for this fund, please ensure you have read the guidelines and Funding Privacy Notice fully before you complete the application form.

For more information, please visit: https://www.screen.scot/funding-and-support/screen-scotland-funding/broadcast-single-project-development-funding-route