First Light Movies: Grants for Young People

First Light Movies fund groups of young people aged between five and 19 through three funding schemes.

There are two main production funding strands available, the Pilot and Studio Awards, and support is also provided with generating those first film ideas through the What’s the Big Idea? Award.

First Light Movies funds filmmaking projects throughout the UK. You can see films from your area or find out about the people First Light work with near you on its map.

N.B. First Light doesn’t fund individuals so if you are a young person who wants to make a film you need to encourage your teacher or a leader of an after school club to apply. Click here for more information.

Making an Application

All applications to First Light Movies are made online. The information below will help you select the best pathway for your First Light Movies grant application. 

Be inspired

Get some inspiration for your film or script idea from other First Light Movies projects by visiting the Films page.  Why not get some inside knowledge by checking out First Light Movies’ filmmaker blogs on the Lightbox?   Interested and want to find out more about filmmaking? Then visit the Get Involved page for tips on how to get started.

What's the Big Idea? Award


- Funding for script development projects that team young people with script professionals
- Maximum grant - £3,000
- 10% match funding requirement

Please consult the funder's guidelines before proceeding with an application.

Ready to apply?

Click here if you are working exclusively with young people aged 12 years and under.

Click here if you are working with young people aged between five and 19 years.

The next deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 March and funding decisions will be announced on Tuesday 26 May 2009.

Pilot Award

- Funding for one short film of up to five minutes in duration
- Maximum grant - £5,000
- 20% in-kind match funding requirement

Please consult the funder's guidelines before proceeding with an application.

Ready to apply?

Click here if you are working exclusively with young people aged 12 years and under.

Click here if you are working with young people aged between five and 19 years.

The next deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 March and funding decisions will be announced on Tuesday 26 May 2009.

Studio Award

- Funding for between two and four films of up to 10 minutes in duration
- Maximum grant - £30,000
- 40% match funding requirement
- Track record of filmmaking with young people necessary

Please consult the funder's guidelines before proceeding with an application.

The Studio Award is currently closed. The next deadline will be announced in early 2009. You can sign up to the email list to receive updates!


Amount of funding available

First Light Movies allocates £700,000 of National Lottery funding per year to its funding schemes.

For the October 2008 Studio Award deadline, First Light Movies is able to spend approximately £297,500

For the September 2008 Pilot and What's the Big Idea? Award deadline, First Light Movies is able to spend approximately £35,000.

To date First Light have received 1290 applications, of which 438 (34%) have been funded.

For more information about First Light Movies, go to:  http://www.firstlightmovies.com/

last updated on 6th March 2009