Our Short Film Fund initiative supports the production of a short film screenplay (20 pages max) or the completion of a short film (under 20 minutes) with a grant of up to £7,000 (approx $9,500), in-kind post-production services, festival strategy, production insurance, tax credit support, and career advice. Filmmakers can apply without a producer – we can help you find one if your project is selected.
Our goal is to create a funding opportunity where story is king. There are no boxes to tick apart from writing a great story that is viable for production. We are not afraid of being the first entity to provide funding for your project and become the first stepping stone for you to be able to raise further financing, if required.
HOW IT WORKS
Unsolicited Scripts will review all the submissions and select 6 finalists based exclusively on their creative merit.
A jury composed of all the organisations involved in the initiative will assign the awards. They may decide to assign all the awards to a single project or split them among multiple projects.
At the finalist stage, apart from creative merit, we will also evaluate the project’s viability in terms of budget and timeline (a budget and a rough timeline will be requested for the finalists only; if no producer is attached, we will help the writer compile a suitable budget / timeline). We may also ask the director to complete a written assessment (if a director is attached to the project).
TIMELINE
Submissions open: 15th February 2026
Early deadline: 15th March 2026
Regular deadline: 15th April 2026
Final deadline: 15th May 2026 – (midnight GMT)
Longlist announced: 15th June 2026
Finalists announced: 15th July 2026
Winner(s) announced: 30th July 2026
ANY QUESTIONS?
You can read more at https://unsolicitedscripts.com/sff26/
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out at support@unsolicitedscripts.com
WHAT THE WINNER(S) GET
-A cash grant of up to £7,000 (approx. $9,500*) offered by Unsolicited Scripts.
-Insurance: a production insurance package by Tysers Live.
-Colour grading by colourist Giulia Cavina from Goldcrest.
-Sound post by Daniel Bodsworth from Lipsync.
-A Festival Strategy package by world-leading festival strategist Film Festival Doctor.
-DCP creation: offered by Unsolicited Scripts.
-One-to-one Career Advice Meeting for the writer and director of the screenplay with Libby Gervais, Agent Assistant at Casarotto & Ramsay Associates.
-UK Film Tax Credit Support: the finalist will be briefed on how to make the most out of the Uk Film Tax Credit scheme, which allows you to get up to 42% of your production budget back.
-If the winning project is submitted by a writer based in the UK, Unsolicited Scripts can help find a producer, director, and crew.
*figures in USD ($) are estimated based on the exchange rate on 20th January 2026. The exact amount may vary depending on the exchange rate applied by your card provider. You can check the latest mid-market rates for GBP/USD here.
ABOUT GIULIA CAVINA - COLOURIST
Giulia is a freelance Colourist and in-house Assistant Colourist at Goldcrest London with three years of experience across large-budget features, premium dramas, as well as a range of short-form content. She works alongside top creatives, developing a visual approach that blends technical precision with a rich, photographic sensibility. Her caring and adaptable nature helps her build lasting relationships with collaborators, while continuing to develop her voice as an emerging Colourist in the UK scene.
Portfolio on Instagram @giuliacavinacolour
ABOUT DANIEL BODSWORTH - POST SOUND
Born and bred in the midlands, Daniel is a sound designer, editor, and re-recording mixer currently based in London. With over a decade of experience in audio post-production, his passion for crafting immersive soundscapes makes him a valuable asset to any production. Daniel has previously worked at some of the leading post houses in Soho, including Molinare, Lipsync and WB De Lane Lea where he honed his skills and collaborated a diverse range of films and television programmes in various capacities, from dialogue editing to ADR supervision, sound effect editing to re-recording mixing. His extensive background in the industry and dedication to his craft have established him as a trusted professional in the field.
Website: https://dbodsworth.wixsite.com/danielbodsworth
Imdb: https://www.imdb.com/it/name/nm6083560/
ABOUT REBEKAH LOUISA SMITH - FESTIVAL STRATEGY
Dr. Rebekah Louisa Smith, The Film Festival Doctor, is a change agent. Her focus on film festivals and mental health is the first of its kind within the film industry. She creates new ways to approach festival strategies and redefine how to look after one’s mental health within the intense & rewarding world of the film festival circuit.
Rebekah and her hard-working team are committed to nurturing filmmakers in order to help them secure film festival screenings, win awards, and cultivate a positive recognition within the film industry. Currently, her company has won over 2,500 awards for their clients and four Oscar success stories. She has secured hundreds of festival screenings around the world for her clients and has supported over 850 international filmmakers, enlightening and inspiring their journey towards achieving their goals and following their filmmaking dreams.
Company Website: https://www.thefilmfestivaldoctor.com/
ABOUT LIBBY GERVAIS (Casarotto & Ramsay Associates)
Libby works in the Film & TV department at the literary agency Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, representing writers, directors, producers and literary properties, and scouting new talent. Her experience includes agenting and development, previously interning with the development team at Red Planet Pictures (Our House, Sanditon) and working as a script consultant on shorts, including the BFI Flare–premiering Please Carry On.
She has spent the past two years as Industry Workshop Coordinator at The Developing Room, where she leads workshops and events supporting emerging screen creatives. Libby is also the co-founder of AXIS: The POC Scripted Network, a collective championing people of colour working in scripted development. AXIS has collaborated with and received sponsorship from ITV, Fifth Season and Channel 4.
ABOUT TYSERS LIVE - PRODUCTION INSURANCE
Tysers Live is a global division of Tysers Insurance Brokers dedicated to servicing the needs of the global entertainment industry with offerings in Music, Theatre, Live Events, Media & Film and Advertising & Commercials combining under one brand.
We bring together some of the world’s most passionate, knowledgeable, and skilled risk and specialty insurance professionals to manage the many issues facing our clients today. We cover all areas of the sector, including media, film, television, music, and events as well as more specific media sectors including freelancers, post-production, VFX, SFX, outside broadcast, facilities and hire companies & we design insurance programmes that are responsive to the emerging and complex needs and requirements.
Company Website: https://www.tysers.com/solution/entertainment-sport/
