BFI Invests Over £900K in 15 New Animation Projects

The BFI is investing £922,406 ($1.2 million) in new animation projects, as 15 recipients have been selected for the Short Form Animation Fund, which aims to support growth in the U.K. animation sector.

Nine projects received awards of up to £120,000 ($158,127) for production, and due to the quality of applicants to the new fund, an additional six projects were awarded up to £10,000 ($13,177) to support development. The Short Form Animation Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery, was launched in August 2019 to back projects that represent a significant advancement in the work of U.K. animators, enable progression and open up new opportunities.

The supported narrative short-form projects, of up to 15 minutes in length, span a range of animated techniques and genres intended for the cinema, digital platforms and VR. Each project benefits from the oversight of a BFI Film Fund executive and the support of a dedicated animation consultant. The Fund was developed with the support of Animation UK, Animation Alliance UK and Helen Brunsdon, director of the British Animation Awards.

Natascha Wharton, senior development and production executive for the BFI’s Film Fund, said: “Animation is such a unique and universal way of telling stories and communicating ideas. We were thrilled to see the breadth of creativity among our animators and reaching across the U.K. This vital National Lottery funding enables a number of them to explore new ideas, develop their practice and we think these projects will delight and move audiences in equal measure.”

Jez Stewart, curator of animation at the BFI, said: “It was such a privilege to be involved in the selection process for this vital new funding scheme, which marks an exciting new chapter in Britain’s long history of quality animation production. I’m thrilled that we can look forward to new films by some living legends in the world of animation, and that the BFI is not only supporting award-winning animators but also providing a vital next step for some new and emerging talents.”

The recipients of production funding from the Short Form Animation Fund include Beware of Trains (Pearly Oyster Productions, London), The Debutante (Animate Projects, Derby), Diseased & Disorderly (Tyke Films, Sheffield), Inner Polar Bear (Gritty Realism Productions Limited, Cardiff), No Ordinary Joe (Loose Moose Productions, Plaxtol), Red Shoes (GiF Production, London), Shackle (Amphibian Husbandry, Northumberland), Wild Summon (Sulkybunny, Bristol) and Your Mountain Is Waiting (Strange Beast, London).

Winners receiving development funding include Gardening (Hipster Films, London), The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil (Snafu Pictures, London), (Pemon) The Land of Many Waters (Apropos Productions, London), The Rumour Mill (Bridge Way Films, Hull), The Wall Dog (High Tide Studio, Edinburgh) and Wind and the Shadow (Out of Orbit in association with Enter Yes, Belfast).