How It Works

All submissions are reviewed by our team and assessed on the strength and potential of the proposed feature film.

Projects are selected based on:

• Originality — the distinctiveness of the idea and creative vision

• Storytelling — the strength, clarity and effectiveness of the story

• Feature potential — the project’s potential to develop into a compelling feature-length film

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This is a skill-based selection process, not a random draw.

What To Submit

• Logline

• Treatment

• Writer's Statement

• Any other additional information you'd like to give

Key Details

• Funding is provided as a non-recoupable grant

• Filmmakers retain full ownership (IP) of their work

Terms & Conditions

• The Development Award is open to fiction feature film treatments, including live-action and animation projects.

• Submissions must consist of a three-page feature film treatment outlining the proposed film's story. Treatments must be submitted as a PDF using 12pt Times New Roman font with single line spacing.

• We welcome submissions from residents of the United Kingdom only, and all treatments must be written in English.

• Submissions may only be made by the project's writer.

• The person submitting the project is required to be a member of The Developing Room.

• The submitter must have an active Developing Room membership at the time of submission and must remain a member until the winner is announced. If their membership is cancelled or expires during this period, their submission will be disqualified.

• Members may submit one project per Development Award round. If a member submits more than one project during the same round, only their first submission will be considered.

• The submitted project must be the applicant's original work, or the applicant must hold the necessary rights and permissions to submit and develop the project. Where a project has multiple creators or rights holders, the submitter is responsible for obtaining the consent of all relevant parties before entering.

• Projects submitted to previous rounds of the Development Award may be resubmitted, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements of the current round.

• All eligible submissions will be reviewed by The Developing Room. Projects will be assessed on criteria including originality, storytelling and feature potential. The Development Award is a skill-based selection process and not a random draw.

• The decision of The Developing Room is final. No correspondence regarding the selection or judging process will be entered into.

• The Development Award is intended to support the development of the selected feature film treatment. The recipient will be responsible for developing their treatment in accordance with the requirements and timeframe set out for that award round.

• All rights, ownership and copyright in the submitted project remain entirely with the project’s creator(s). The Developing Room does not acquire any ownership, copyright or other rights in the project as a result of submission to, or selection for, the Development Award.

• The recipient may continue to develop the project independently and may seek additional development, production or other funding from third parties, subject to any separate agreements they enter into.

• The recipient agrees that The Developing Room may use their name, project title and relevant non-confidential information about the project and award to announce and promote the Development Award, including on our website, social media channels and in communications with the press or industry.

• By submitting, applicants confirm that the information provided in their application is true and accurate and that they have the authority to submit the project under these Terms & Conditions.

• If a project that receives the Development Award is subsequently produced and distributed as a feature film, the recipient agrees to include a “Special Thanks to The Developing Room” credit in the film’s final end credits.

• The Developing Room reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not comply with these Terms & Conditions or the requirements stated for the relevant Development Award round.