Social platform TikTok is partnering with London Breeze Film Festival to support black British filmmakers via a new initiative called the Young Black Filmmakers Fund. The Fund will give young filmmakers an opportunity to pitch their short film scripts, secure funding, and create films for a premiere screening at Breeze 2026.
Fans can follow the £10,000 competition on their TikTok account @londonbreezefestival where they will be sharing exclusive content from behind the scenes and collaborating with TikTok creators in the build-up to the festival.
TikTok sees film as a growth area on its platform, saying: “With millions of posts on #FilmTok and #MovieTok TikTok has become a go-to destination for audiences to engage with everything related to their favourite films. This has paved the way for a new generation of creative talent and is inspiring the movie makers of the future.”
Sam Cullis, executive director, London Breeze, said: “London Breeze is incredibly proud to launch the unique Young Black Filmmakers Fund, a dedicated platform for an underrepresented community within the UK film industry. This fund is more than just financial support – as a festival, we aim to guide, support, and elevate underrepresented voices from around the globe. Year-round, we strive to curate exciting, bespoke events that foster a sense of community and celebrate our shared love of film. The 2025 winning pitch will receive not only the backing it deserves, but also the opportunity to premiere at our festival in 2026.”
Madolyn Grove, head of creators, TikTok UK, Ireland & Nordics, added: “TikTok is having a huge impact on the entertainment industry as millions of film fans around the world use TikTok to discover, connect, and engage with their favourite entertainment content. We are delighted to partner with the London Breeze Film Festival to spotlight and celebrate the next generation of Black filmmakers here in the UK.”
Alex Kayode-Kay, BAFTA nominated director, writer, actor, producer and London Breeze Film Festival Patron is the creator behind the fund and will support and mentor the winning filmmaking team. He said: “As a filmmaker, I understand how difficult it can be to get funding and support in the early stages of your career. The Young Black Filmmakers Fund will provide a resource for filmmakers from an underrepresented community that I’m part of, providing a resource for these talented storytellers.”
Details of the Fund can be found here.
