The Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF) supports the creation of distinctive, high-quality content for audiences up to the age of 18.
Production and development awards will contribute to the funding of programmes, shown on television and online platforms, that have public service broadcasting values in live-action and animation and across all genres.
We are looking for content that entertains, informs and reflects the experiences of children and young people growing up in the UK today.
If you have any queries contact the YACF team:
YACF@bfi.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7173 3246
Production funding
We can award up to 50% of the production budget for projects which have secured a broadcast commitment from a free-to-access, Ofcom regulated service with significant UK-wide audience reach. You will need to supply supporting evidence of this commitment, along with a budget and finance plan.
Please read the production funding guidelines before you complete the application form.
Development funding
Development funding is available for programmes that are intended for broadcast on a free-to-access, Ofcom regulated service with significant UK-wide audience reach. A broadcaster commitment is not necessary for development funding and we will prioritise new voices and emerging producers.
Please read the development funding guidelines before you complete the application form.
We can provide assistance to applicants who are D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, Disabled or neurodiverse people, and people with sight loss, where this support is needed in order for someone to make an application to the Young Audiences Content Fund. Visit Access support for BFI Film Fund and Film Audience Network applicants for information.
Diversity Standards
All applications are required to meet the BFI Diversity Standards.
About the Young Audiences Content Fund
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced a pilot Contestable Fund in 2017.
The Fund will commit up to £60 million to stimulate the provision and plurality of public service-original UK content. You can find details in the government’s policy paper on the Fund, which will be a positive injection of investment to open new avenues for creators of original content and bring new voices to the market.
Up to £57 million has been assigned to the Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which is administered by the BFI. Up to a further £3 million has been assigned to the Audio Content Fund which will fund audio programmes for all age groups and is administered by an organisation set up by Radiocentre and AudioUK.
The three-year pilot for the YACF will support original programming, in both live-action and animation, and across all genres including entertainment, education, fiction and drama, arts and culture, factual and religion. One of the priorities of the Fund is to support content that reflects UK cultural identity and the nations and regions – both on screen and off screen – and content in UK indigenous languages.
The Fund is intended for content that is exciting and engaging for the target audience with public service broadcast characteristics. Content that will:
Inform our understanding of the world — to inform ourselves and others and increase our understanding of the world through news, information and analysis of current events and ideas.
Stimulate knowledge and learning — to stimulate our interest in and knowledge of arts, science, history and other topics through content that is accessible and encourages informal learning.
Reflect UK cultural identity — to reflect and strengthen our cultural identity through original programming at UK, national and regional level and bring audiences together for shared experiences.
Represent diversity and alternative viewpoints — to make us aware of different cultures and alternative viewpoints through programmes that reflect the lives of other people and other communities, both within the UK and elsewhere.
For more information, please visit: https://www.bfi.org.uk/supporting-uk-film/production-development-funding/young-audiences-content-fund
