The Production Finance Market (PFM) is our annual two-day financing event for film, run in association with the BFI London Film Festival.

Applications are now closed for the 2023 edition.

With sixteen annual editions behind it, the Market has helped forge countless long-term business connections, and is the only event of its kind in the UK.

From encouraging new business relationships to attaching international sales companies and securing various forms of investments in companies and film projects, PFM is invaluable for producers and financiers alike.

The PFM is focused on feature film projects, including Animation and feature documentaries and has two distinct strands.

Which market strand is for me?

The main strand of the PFM is for projects presented by established producers with budgets above €1m (budget requirement does not apply to documentaries) and focuses on curated one-to-one meetings.

The New Talent strand (NTS) is for filmmaking teams (producer and director) applying with their first or second feature and includes pitch training and project mentoring as part of its programme.

What to expect

The Market includes a keynote speech delivered by an industry leader. Our 2022 Keynote address was delivered by BFI CEO Ben Roberts. Past speakers have included award-winning producer Paul Webster, screenwriter, producer and director James Schamus, Alison Owen, founder of Monumental Pictures, Elizabeth Karlsen, co-founder Number 9 Films, Ben Roberts CEO of the BFI, Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, Alison Thompson, co-founder Cornerstone Films and Danny Perkins, former UK CEO of STUDIOCANAL.

The Market comprises intense networking and pitching meetings between financiers and producers. Taking the form of ‘speed dating’ sessions, producers have around 20 minutes to impress each financier before moving on to their next meeting. This streamlined schedule enables producers to meet many more financiers than usually possible.

The 2023 edition will continue its UK partnership with The New Black Film Collective as well as partnering this year with Writers Lab UK. It also continues its international partnerships with Tallinn Black Nights, EAVE, MIFF 37 South, The Netherlands Film Commission, Ontario Creates IFF@TIFF and South Africa’s National Film & Video Foundation whilst also continuing to work with its Spanish and Italian industry colleagues and others across Europe.

The Market is supported by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI, and takes place during the BFI London Film Festival.