The West Midlands Content Production Fund is a new £6 million investment programme designed to support film and television productions that can demonstrate a strong case for public investment and deliver significant economic, employment and sector development benefits for the West Midlands.
The Fund is expected to provide awards ranging from £100,000 to £600,000 towards eligible production and post-production costs. Applications will be welcomed from a broad range of content types, including scripted and unscripted television, feature films, documentaries and animation. Both West Midlands-based producers and productions seeking to undertake substantial production activity within the region will be eligible to apply.
Funding may be provided through either recoupable or non-recoupable grants, with the funding mechanism determined on a project-by-project basis. All awards will be subject to appropriate public value protection provisions.
Priority will be given to productions that demonstrate the potential to generate significant expenditure within the West Midlands, create employment and skills development opportunities for local people, utilise regional businesses, facilities and infrastructure, and contribute to the long-term growth and sustainability of the region’s screen sector.
About this Expression of Interest
The Fund is currently operating an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage. This is an initial, light-touch process intended to provide the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) with an early understanding of prospective productions and their potential alignment with the Fund’s objectives.
At this stage, applicants are requested to provide high-level information about their production, including the overall budget, anticipated funding requirement, proposed production timetable, and expected production activity within the West Midlands. Detailed supporting information and evidence are not required at the EOI stage and will only be requested from applicants invited to submit a Full Application.
The Full Application process is currently expected to open in early 2027. Detailed eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and application guidance will be published at that stage.
Submission of an Expression of Interest does not constitute a formal application for funding and does not guarantee that funding will be awarded. Support through the West Midlands Content Production Fund will be allocated on a competitive and discretionary basis.
