Rip It Up

10th May - 31st October 2026
Current Programme
Applications Open
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Introduction
Funding Options
Timeline Overview
Film Hub Information
Accessibility

The 2026 BFI FAN UK-wide season, Rip It Up, explores and celebrates the changing face of youth rebellion, culture and expression – from joy to heartbreak - on screen in the UK.

Youth culture in the UK has a wide and varied history, from the defiant rebellion of Teddy Boys, mods and rockers and the many activist movements that have shaped our society, to hedonistic self-expression in the music and fashion scenes and the emotional rollercoaster that simply is being a teenager – all of which have been portrayed on screen in a multitude of ways.

 

With the Southbank Centre marking the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain – a landmark moment of post-war cultural renewal – and the 50th anniversary of Punk being celebrated in 2026, BFI FAN members are invited to join in these UK-wide celebrations and explore how youth scenes and counterculture have impacted and resonate to this day, inspiring new generations and beyond.

 

Rip It Up has two core elements, both of which need to include big screen moments and offer audiences opportunities to reflect on the evolution of generational rebellion from the 1950s through to today in the UK:

 

  • Activity involving young programmers/creatives, focusing on youth scenes and/or counterculture that they themselves are part of or can relate to, with clear potential to engage their peers.
  • Activity celebrating the transformative energy and evolution of youth culture over the past 75 years, tapping into a selection of key titles with potential to engage a range of audiences across generations.
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What funding is available?

 

There are three ways you can engage with the programme and access support:

 

1. MENU:

Access up to £500 (£125 per film) for programme enhancement, wraparound activity and audience development when you book one or more of the key titles.

 

2. BESPOKE:

Apply for up to £15,000 (average awards likely to be circa £5,000) to develop a more bespoke season of films within the parameters of the Creative Brief. There is also scope for site-specific, immersive and ‘event cinema’ project activity. If your bespoke activity includes Menu titles, please include costs associated with those screenings within your activity budget rather than applying separately for the menu.

 

3. CROSS-FAN:

Apply for up to £15,000 to support programme/ marketing/outreach activity with the potential to scale or tour across the UK and/or projects involving multiple site-specific events in more than one region/nation. If your Cross FAN activity includes Menu titles, please include costs associated with those screenings within your activity budget rather than applying separately for the menu. Please note that we won’t be funding many cross-FAN projects this year, so they will need to have a clear audience development and outreach plan, as well as confirmation from five or more venues about their participation to be considered. If you are interested in submitting a Cross-FAN application, you should contact BFI FAN season producer Ti Singh at [email protected] before applying.

 

Please note, you must be a member of the Film Audience Network to apply for this funding. Not a member yet? It’s free and easy to join.

Timeline

 

Key dates:

  • First deadline for Bespoke and Cross FAN Proposals – Monday 13 April 2026
  • Final deadline for Bespoke applications – Wed 1 July 2026
  • Menu applications open until Mon 7 Sept 2026 (subject to funds remaining)
  • Menu Expressions of Interest can be submitted until Mon 7 September 2026 (but note that for your activity to be included in initial listings announcement, you will need to confirm your bookings by the end of April.)

 

Period of activity: The bulk of the season takes place between May and October 2026 across the FAN membership.

Accessibility

 

If you require any access support to complete the form, please email your Film Hub directly, and they can advise on how they can accommodate your needs to complete a proposal.

 

You can find further support for access through the BFI’s funding support guidance.

Where do I start?

 

Read the Creative Brief for more information about the programme scope and to get some inspiration. Also, get ideas from the list of available contextual titles that are available to book.

 

Next, visit your local Film Hub’s Rip It Up page (linked below) to find out more and to begin your proposal!

 

Film Hub Application Pages:

Scotland

North

N. Ireland

Wales

Midlands

London

South East

South West

 

Image credits:

 

Pride, courtesy of Park Circus: Pathé (Header)

Human Traffic, courtesy of BFI Distribution (Image 1)

Bend It Like Beckham, courtesy of Lionsgate (Image 2)

Young Soul Rebels, courtesy of BFI Distribution (Image 3)

This is England (Image 4)

Babylon, courtesy of BFI Distribution (Image 5)

Trainspotting, courtesy of Park Circus: Film Four (Image 6)

East is East, courtesy of Park Circus: Film Four (Image 7)

Rocks, courtesy of Altitude Films (Image 8)

Quadrophenia, courtesy of Park Circus: Universal (Image 9)

 

 

Image credits:

 

Pride, courtesy of Park Circus: Pathé (Header)

 

BFI FAN
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