Reel Impact frequently asked questions

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Please email any further questions to [email protected]

The grants application window for the first round of applications will close at 5pm on Sunday 30th June. Please allow sufficient time to submit your application as the window will not be extended. Dates for future rounds will be communicated in due course.

Reel Impact seeks to support the creation of a more inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist industry that properly recognises and values the talents of its Black and Global Majority members. It aims to do so by providing support, resources, grants, and opportunities to help eligible applicants rise, thrive, and achieve their goals.

Aligning with recommendations from Sasha Salmon’s Think Piece on Anti-Racism in the UK Film and TV Industry, published in September 2021, the Charity made a commitment to invest £1m of the Charity’s own money in a new programme to tackle racism within the screen industries so more Black and Global Majority workers can enhance and sustain their careers and access opportunities to positions at all levels.

Mid to senior level individuals and off-screen talent from Black and Global Majority communities to access unrestricted funds to progress their careers, and Black and Global Majority-led organisations and production companies.

We’re defining Black and Global Majority to mean people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and/​or have been racialised as ​‘ethnic minorities’.

Mid-to-senior level industry workers would be those who can demonstrate experience, expertise, and responsibility, such as holding a leadership, management or decision-making position, or other more complex roles.

You can only be a named applicant on one application per round. Organisations are defined as a registered company or a not-for-profit (defined as independent organisations whose purpose is something other than to make private profit for directors, members or shareholders. To include Un-incorporated Associations, CIC, CIO, Charitable Trust, Community Benefit or Cooperative Society). Proof of an organisation’s track record and finances will need to be supplied as part of the application process. Individuals who are sole owners can apply as an organisation if they meet the criteria.

Applicants must be a UK resident or UK registered non-profit organisation* or Limited company. 

*These are defined as independent organisations whose purpose is something other than to make private profit for directors, members or shareholders. To include Un-incorporated Associations, CIC, CIO, Charitable Trust, Community Benefit or Cooperative Society 

To apply for this grant, individuals need to meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Applicants live and work in the UK
• Applicants must have three years’ experience of working in the UK film, TV or cinema industry
• Applicants should identify as being from the Black and Global Majority 
• Applicants will have worked in the UK film, TV, or cinema industry for at least three years 
• Applicants are a mid to senior Black and Global Majority freelancer, creator or creative talent working in the industry

To apply for this grant, organisations need to meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• All applicants live and work in the UK
• At least one applicant has worked in the UK film, TV, or cinema industry for at least three years
• Applications should be on behalf of a registered company or not for profit organisation*
• The organisation should be able to provide evidence that it is Black and Global Majority owned or led and has at least 50% of leadership and governance roles occupied by people from Black and Global Majority communities

*These are defined as independent organisations whose purpose is something other than to make private profit for directors, members or shareholders. To include Un-incorporated Associations, CIC, CIO, Charitable Trust, Community Benefit or Cooperative Society.

Panel will assess applications based on: 

• Need – most marginalised, experiencing the most barriers, considering intersectionality. 
• Diversity of approach – e.g. supporting different methods to tackle challenges, enabling both innovative new approaches whilst building on proven success. 
• Impact – e.g. potential to improve equity, promote anti-racism, and create lasting systemic change.

Where possible, we will assess diversity through the following targets: 

• Geographical location – Target 60% London, 40% Nations and Regions 
• Intersectionality and specificity – Disability, Sexuality, etc. 
• Variety of application / project / activity 
• Mix of organisations and production companies 

Applicants can apply for up to £10,000 for individuals and £25,000 for organisations.

Examples include:

• Activities that improve the lives of Black and Global Majority individuals in the film, TV, and cinema industry 
• Support for career progression and financial relief 
• Professional development
• Projects or activities that promote anti-racism or combat racism. 
• Advocacy for a fair and equitable society, considering intersectionality (e.g. disability, LGBQT+, Black and Global Majority subgroups, class) 
• Training
• Addressing challenges faced by people from the Black and Global Majority 

Examples include:

• Activities that promote politics, religion, or religious beliefs (or lack of) 
• Activities that benefit people outside of the UK 
• Production or development costs 
• Funding for one-off events (unless linked to a longer-term aim or outcome). 

The criteria are purposely broad, giving applicants the flexibility to apply to use funds as needed to achieve their aims, including by supporting living costs, professional development, and enhancing their ability to achieve impact.

Applications will go through three stages of review, with each eligible application being reviewed at least twice by an independent assessment panel. The majority of the independent panel will be from the Black and Global Majority. To ensure confidentiality and the fairness of the assessment process, we will not be publicising the names of our assessors before grant applications are reviewed.

The total assessment period will take up to three months. 

• Stage 1 – Checking eligibility 
• Stage 2 – Shortlisting applications 
• Stage 3 – Application final assessment 
• Successful applicants will be informed in September for round one.

If you receive a grant from Reel Impact, you aren’t able to apply for further rounds within 12 months of that grant. If you apply for a future round after that 12-month period, you may be eligible for further funding, however your previous grant will be taken into consideration when being assessed alongside other applications.

Yes, you can apply for a subsequent round. You will have to submit a new application.

We anticipate large numbers of applications and will not be able to fund them all. 

Unsuccessful applicants will be informed by email and are eligible to re-apply in future rounds. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, only shortlisted applicants will receive feedback, if requested. Unsuccessful applicants can reapply to a future round of this fund by submitting a new application. Unsuccessful applicants are still able to apply for other grants from the Charity, such as our Stop-Gap Grant if eligible, and can still access the Charity’s support services.

All applicants will be added to Reel Impact mailing list (unless we are informed otherwise) and be informed of networking opportunities, peer-to-peer support with other Black and Global Majority creatives, or relevant Film and TV Charity events. 

This is dependent on the size of the project. Short term projects or activities and/​or those that require immediate support will be issued with 100% of funds. Medium to long-term projects a portion of he will be issued with 50% of funding, with the remaining 50% issued subject to receipt of interim progress check. Funds will be issued to successful applicants subject to acceptance of the grant’s terms and conditions.

Whilst we will not be scrutinising successful applicants, it is essential that we monitor the impact of funds to ensure they are effectively reaching those who need them the most. We will monitor the progress and impact of our projects through regular assessments and data analysis. In cases where the projects are lengthy, interim monitoring may be requested.

All applicants will be added to Reel Impact’s mailing list (unless we are informed otherwise) and will be kept up to date with relevant opportunities and events to connect and network, including use of working space in Golden Square and access to the Charity’s wellbeing support.

As part of the ongoing development of the programme, we will be building partnerships with other industry stakeholders. These partnerships may lead to further opportunities, that add value and may include workshops, training or events.

In addition to the above support, we will complement and amplify awardee’s work by tailoring support where we can better fit their needs, each will be managed on a case by case basis.