Leonardo DiCaprio-Produced ‘2001’ Doc Among BFI Awards as U.K. Global Screen Fund Set to Expand

The British Film Institute has unveiled its latest round of U.K. Global Screen Fund awards, distributing over £1.6 million ($2.1 million) across three funding strands as the program prepares for a significant budget increase in 2026.

Financed through the U.K. government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the awards support international co-productions, distribution initiatives and business development strategies for independent screen sector companies. The fund’s budget is set to increase from £7 million ($9.3 million) to £18 million ($24.08 million) per year for 2026-29, with expansion plans to be revealed early next year.

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The International Co-production strand awarded over £763,000 ($1 million) to five U.K. independent companies for partnerships across seven territories: Sweden, Belgium, Iceland, the U.S., Canada, Switzerland and Ireland. The funded projects include four feature films — among them one documentary — and one TV documentary feature.

Object Studios’ Sean Richard received support for “Monolith,” a minority U.K.-U.S. co-production exploring Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and its themes of space exploration, artificial intelligence and metaphysics. Stevan Riley will direct the documentary, made with the blessing of the Stanley Kubrick Estate. Leonardo DiCaprio is producing, with Partners in Kind and Time Studios financing and executive producing. Jason Clark, Mike Medavoy and Michael Peterson of Phoenix Pictures are co-producing alongside Catchlight Studios.

Zephyr Films received funding for “Butterfly Stroke,” a minority U.K.-Switzerland co-production directed by Denis Rabaglia. Written by Nat Luurtsema, Jessica Townsend and Rabaglia based on a story by Townsend, the film follows Ruth, a 65-year-old woman determined to end her life on her own terms in Zurich, until her 22-year-old granddaughter Lori intervenes. Chris Curling and Anya Ryzhenkova are producing for Zephyr Films, with Michael Steiger and Michela Pini producing for Switzerland’s Turnus Films AG.

Quiddity’s Emily Morgan secured funding for “The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands,” a minority U.K. co-production with Sweden, Belgium and Iceland. The gothic horror, set in 19th century North America, marks the sophomore feature from writer-director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, who co-wrote the script with Icelandic novelist and screenwriter Sjón. Darla Contois and Alexander Skarsgård star. Co-producers include Sweden’s HOBAB, Belgium’s Need Production and Iceland’s Still Vivid.

Stigma Films’ Matthew James Wilkinson received support for “West The Road,” a minority U.K.-Ireland co-production. Written and directed by Ita Fitzgerald in her feature debut, the all-female road movie follows a group of women brought together by a friend’s death as they search for her child on Ireland’s west coast. Imelda Staunton, Philippa Dunne and Charlie Murphy star. John Wallace of Ireland’s Cowtown is co-producing, with support from Screen Ireland.

Snowstorm Productions’ Kat Mansoor secured funding for “Yuja,” a majority U.K.-Canada co-production. Directed by Lorna Tucker, the documentary follows classical pianist Yuja Wang as she navigates the pressures of fame and perfection while searching for happiness. Craig Thompson of Canada’s Ballinran Productions, along with David Piperni and Daniel Cantagallo of Cargo Film & Releasing, are co-producing.

To date, the International Co-production strand has awarded over £9.6 million ($12.8 million) to 62 co-productions across partnerships with 34 territories.

The International Business Development strand allocated £104,600 ($139,970) to two companies, bringing the strand’s total to over £9 million ($12 million) across 110 awards. Norfolk-based Blue Pigeon Productions received support to hire a marketing and social media specialist and channel assistant to drive international audiences via a YouTube platform. The natural history documentary specialist has produced work for Curiosity Stream and Sky Nature, including “The Beasts of Halloween.”

South West-based Slate Works secured funding to hire a bilingual development producer and researcher to enhance its development pipeline for international markets. The high-end factual production company, known for exclusive-access documentaries including “9/11: Inside The President’s War Room,” has been selected for the BBC Small Indie Fund and Channel 4 Emerging Indies Fund. A full round of International Business Development awards is scheduled for announcement in the new year.

The International Distribution strand made 36 awards totaling £776,772 ($ million), supporting festival launches and prints and advertising campaigns for U.K. independent features. Films receiving P&A support for releases across at least four international territories include “Bird,” “Tornado,” “Urchin,” “The Thing With Feathers,” “Bring Them Down” and “Hot Milk.”

“Chaplin | Spirit of The Tramp” became the first documentary to receive P&A funding through the new single-territory award for animation and documentary, with support for its theatrical release in Japan.

Festival Launch grants supported titles premiering at Cannes, including “Urchin,” “My Father’s Shadow” and “Pillion.” The latter sold extensively for Cornerstone following its Un Certain Regard premiere. Eleven Festival Launch Support grants aided premieres at Toronto International Film Festival, including “Good Boy” and “Saipan,” while five grants supported Venice International Film Festival premieres, including “Orphan” and “100 Nights of Hero.” The International Distribution strand has made 148 awards totaling over £3.5 million ($4.7 million) to date.

“This latest round of awards showcases the creativity and breadth of films, companies and strategies, all focused on international growth and success across co-production, distribution and business development,” said Denitsa Yordanova, head of U.K. Global Screen Fund and International Funds. “We look forward to continuing our work with government and consultation with industry to take forward plans for the future of the UK Global Screen Fund, supporting even more independent screen sector companies from across the UK to thrive and reach their full international potential.”

Following the U.K. government’s June announcement of the new Creative Industries Sector Plan, fund planning is underway, including industry consultation on its development and expansion.

Applications are currently open on a rolling basis for International Distribution Festival Launch Support and P&A Support. International Co-production funding applications reopen in February, with International Business Development funding reopening in April.