The BFI Diversity Standards are a set of guidelines designed to drive equitable opportunity and improve representation across:
- Film
- Television
- Games
- Exhibition and distribution
- Skills and education
- Organisations
The core purpose of these standards is to provide a framework whereby all individuals working on projects can bring about industry-wide change.
We believe this can be achieved by addressing under-representation and by mandating these standards for BFI funding applications, qualifying for certain award eligibility and wider adoption for best practice.
Under-representation and under-represented groups in the UK relate to the protected characteristics as defined in the UK Equality Act 2010.
Additional areas include regional participation, socioeconomic background and caring responsibilities. This is not an exhaustive list and the BFI welcomes projects addressing under-representation in further areas.
Addressing under-representation also means being aware of intersectional experiences and the impact of multiple minoritised and marginalised identities.
To drive sustainable change, people must go beyond the desire to ‘get things over the line’. There needs to be collaborative efforts to reframe purpose and intentions.
The BFI Diversity Standards provide a baseline. From this, the ambition should be to achieve higher levels of diversity and inclusion.
All applicants, especially repeat applicants are encouraged to be creative, innovative and aim for a culture of continuous improvement to gain the most value from the Diversity Standards.
The Diversity Standards are a contractual requirement for all BFI funding.
Industry commitment
We are committed to working with the UK screen industries to both:
- encourage wider voluntarily adoption of the Standards
- to ensure the sector is representative of the UK, both in terms of its workforce and the content it produces.
The BFI Diversity Standards have been adopted by BBC Film and Film4, making them a requirement for the majority of public funding for film in the UK. They are being piloted by Screen Scotland.
Paramount Pictures are also committed to meeting the Standards for its UK-based feature film productions.
Achieving the Standards is also an eligibility requirement for various British categories in the BAFTA Film, Television and Games Awards.
The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) apply the Standards to all British categories.
How to be assessed against the Standards
If meeting the Standards is a requirement of funding or awards eligibility for your project, you should refer to the relevant guidance below.
You can tell us how your project meets the Standards on your funding application form or the Diversity Standards application form.
We will assess your application, and come back to you with any queries or suggestions.
Once our assessment is complete, we will inform you of the outcome and notify the relevant fund or awards body that you have met the Standards.
Guidance
We have published guidance for each version of the Standards. If you are unsure which version of the Standards you should use, please refer to the top of the relevant guidance page or contact the Diversity Standards team.
Application forms
If you’re applying for any BFI funding (except the BFI Doc Society fund) or filling in the Diversity Standards for BAFTA TV or Games awards, your Standards form will be contained in the main funding or awards form.
Application forms are available for the following:
Doc Society provides a Standards form as an attachment. Please refer to their guidance for more information.
Film4 provides a Standards form as part of your deliverables.
More information
Explore practical resources which can assist projects in being more inclusive and achieve the diversity standards.
Contact
If you have any queries about which guidance or form is relevant for you, how to meet the Standards or would like to discuss your project in detail, you can contact the Diversity Standards team via diversitystandards@bfi.org.uk or call 020 7173 3273.