FAQ | No Password Required

Frequently

Asked Questions

About the Programme

What support is provided?

This is an advanced development programme designed to transform feature scripts into professionally packaged, market-ready projects. You'll attend four days of residential training with the cohort, covering story, chain of title, the finance plan, sales strategy and commercial packaging. Following the residential, you'll work one-to-one with specialist industry professionals, receive guidance from an Industry Champion, and conclude the programme with a curated series of meetings with sales agents and distributors at Access to Market Day.

How many projects will be selected?

Ten production companies will be selected to take part in Edition Two.

How much does the programme cost?

There is no fee to take part in the programme. All programme training, consultancies and development support are provided at no cost to selected participants.

What will my project receive?

Each selected project will receive:

Script consultancy

Script breakdown and production schedule

Detailed production budget and top sheet

Finance plan

Current sales estimates

Chain of title guidance

Three hours of support from an Industry Champion

Together, these elements form a professionally packaged, market-ready project for conversations with investors, financiers, sales agents and distributors.

How will the one-to-ones work?

Following the residential development intensive, you'll work one-to-one with specialists, each focused on a different aspect of your project package. You'll receive script consultancy to strengthen your screenplay, work with an assistant director on your script breakdown and production schedule, a line producer on your detailed budget and top sheet, a finance specialist on your finance plan, and an experienced sales agent who will prepare current sales estimates. You'll also receive guidance on chain of title, alongside three hours of strategic support from your Industry Champion.

How many hours will I have with my Industry Champion?

Three hours delivered either online or in person.

How are Industry Champions assigned?

We take an individual approach, assessing the specific needs of each project and matching participants with an Industry Champion whose experience and interests best align with the project.

What happens after the residential development intensive?

Following the four-day residential, each project enters a focused development period. During this time, you'll work one-to-one with specialist consultants to develop every element of your project package before presenting it at the Access to Market Day.

How much time should I expect to commit?

Participants should expect to commit to the full residential intensive, scheduled one-to-one consultancies, Access to Market Day, and development work between sessions.

Can I only take part in the one-to-one consultancies?

No. Participants are expected to engage with the full programme.

Will the programme guarantee finance or production?

No. The programme is designed to strengthen projects and prepare them for conversations with investors, financiers, sales agents and distributors. Participation does not guarantee financing or production.

Applying

Can I apply with more than one project?

No. Applicants may submit one project only. Apply with the project you believe is the strongest fit for the programme.

Can I edit my application after submitting it?

No. Applications cannot be edited once submitted. Please review your answers carefully before submitting.

How will my application be assessed, and will it stay confidential?

All applications are anonymised and treated confidentially throughout the assessment process. The No Password Required team first checks eligibility and prepares a longlist. A jury of industry experts then reads and scores the anonymised applications, and the highest scoring projects are selected. Where scores are tied, shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview before a final decision is made.

When will I hear the outcome?

All applicants will be informed once the selection process has concluded. Successful applicants will receive full programme details and next steps at that point.

Eligibility

Who can apply?

The programme is open to UK-based, early-career Global Majority-led production companies, or producers preparing to establish one, who are working towards their first feature as lead producer. To be eligible, you must:

Have a developed live-action narrative fiction feature screenplay.

Be a UK citizen or legal resident for tax purposes.

Be the lead producer and from a Global Majority background.

Be developing a feature with a production budget of £3 million or less.

Hold the rights to produce the screenplay.

Have secured no more than 40% of your production finance (excluding the UK tax credit).

Be available to attend the four-day residential intensive and Access to Market Day in person.

Be over 18 and not in full-time education.

What does "first feature as lead producer" mean?

It means you have not previously produced a feature film as lead producer while holding an ownership interest in the project or its production company. Previous experience as an associate producer, co-producer, delegate producer or producer for hire does not make you ineligible.

I am not British. Can I apply?

Yes, provided you are legally resident in the UK for tax purposes and meet the other eligibility criteria.

I am British but live abroad. Can I apply?

No. Participants must be based in the UK for the duration of the programme.

I already have production funding. Can I apply?

The programme is designed for projects still in advanced development. If your project has secured more than 40% of its production finance (excluding the UK tax credit), it is not eligible.

Do I need to have received development funding from a UK public funder?

No. The programme is particularly suited to producers who have largely self-funded development and now need specialist support to prepare their project for the marketplace.

I have previously worked as a delegate producer, loan-out producer or producer-for-hire on a feature. Can I apply?

Yes, provided you did not own the exploitation rights to that project and were not a shareholder in the production company.

We are a producing team and not all of us are from the Global Majority. Is that acceptable?

Yes, provided the Global Majority producer is the lead producer on the project.

Can I apply if I already run a production company?

Yes, provided you meet all eligibility requirements.

Can students apply?

No. Applicants must not be in full-time education during the programme.

What do you mean by Global Majority?

Global Majority refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the Global South, or racialised as ethnic minorities. Collectively, these communities represent the majority of the world's population.

The Writer & Creative Team

Can the producer also be the writer?

No. There must be a Producer attached who is not also the writer.

I am a writer without a producer. Can I apply?

No. This programme is designed for producers, so you must have a producer attached before applying.

Can my screenplay be written by more than one writer?

Yes. Projects written by more than one writer may apply, provided the producer meets the programme's eligibility criteria.

Does my writer need to be from a Global Majority background?

No. Writers may be from any background.

Your Project

What stage does my script need to be at?

You must have a developed screenplay. The programme is designed to take projects from script stage to a professionally packaged, market-ready proposition. There may be some late-stage developments to the script based on the learning from the programme to ensure your project is market-ready.

Do I need to submit my script with the application?

No. Scripts are only requested from shortlisted or selected applicants.

What genre does my project need to be?

Any genre is welcome, provided it is a live-action narrative fiction feature.

Can I apply with a true story?

Yes, provided the project is a live-action narrative fiction feature, and you have secured any rights, permissions or releases required to develop and produce it.

Can I apply with an adaptation?

Yes, provided you hold the necessary rights.

Does the script need to focus on Global Majority identity?

No. Your story can explore any subject matter.

Can I change my project after being selected?

No. Participants are selected based on the project submitted during the application process.

Taking Part

Can I attend online?

The producer must attend both the residential development intensive and Access to Market Day in person. Writers may attend the residential online where appropriate but are not required to attend in person.

Can someone else attend in my place?

No. The selected producer is expected to participate throughout the programme and cannot nominate a substitute.

Do I have to live in London?

No. The programme is open to eligible applicants across the UK. If you are selected and are based outside London, your travel and accommodation will be covered by the programme.

Will I get paid?

Yes. Both the producer and writer receive a participation fee recognising that meaningful project development requires protected creative time as well as specialist expertise. The participation fee is based on an hourly rate of £14.80 (London Living Wage) and will be paid in instalments throughout the programme. More information will follow if selected.

I want to attend, but there are personal barriers to access.

Please contact us to discuss any access requirements or barriers to participation. We'll work with you to explore appropriate support wherever possible.

Access to Market Day

What is Access to Market Day?

The Access to Market Day is the culmination of the programme, bringing participants together for a curated series of one-to-one meetings with international sales agents and distributors. It provides an opportunity to present their projects, receive market feedback, and begin building relationships that can support their journey towards production.

Will I pitch my project?

The Access to Market Day is focused on curated industry meetings rather than a public pitching competition.

Who will I meet?

Meetings are curated according to the needs and market positioning of each project. Participants will meet relevant international sales agents and distributors, with the final schedule determined by project fit and industry availability.

Will everyone meet the same companies?

No. Meetings are tailored to each project's genre, scale, audience and commercial potential.

Who supports Access to Market Day?

The Access to Market Day is supported by the Film Distributors' Association, Film Export UK and My Smash Media.

Rights & Chain of Title

Do I need to own the intellectual property?

No. You only need the exclusive right to produce the project. Unless already assigned by mutual agreement, we do not require the intellectual property to be assigned by the writer in order for the Producer to participate in the program with their script.

Do I need to prove my right to produce?

Only if you are selected will we ask to see the relevant agreements or assignments. We can also provide simple template documents where appropriate.

I developed this project with another producer, but we are no longer working together. Can I still apply?

Yes, provided you can demonstrate a clear chain of title confirming that the previous producer's position has been formally resolved.

Do I keep my rights?

Yes. No Password Required does not acquire any rights in participant projects.

Does No Password Required become an Executive Producer?

No.

Is the support recoupable?

No. All support provided through the programme is non-recoupable.

Participation, Terms & Conduct

When does the programme take place?

The programme runs from 28 September to 28 October 2026. Key programme dates: • 28 September – 1 October 2026 (London), Four-Day Residential Development Intensive • October 2026 (Online & London), One-to-One Specialist Consultancies (scheduled individually) • 28 October 2026 (London), Access to Market Day The producer must attend the Residential Development Intensive and Access to Market Day in person. You'll also take part in scheduled one-to-one consultancies and development work between these dates. A full timetable, confirming each session and whether it takes place in person or online, is shared with selected participants.

How do payments and expenses work?

Both the producer and writer receive a participation fee. Producers will be paid up to £1420.80, and writers will be paid up to £880, in instalments across the programme. Travel and accommodation for producers based outside London are also covered. If you're selected, we'll confirm the payment schedule and give you a simple way to submit payment requests to us, with full details set out in your participation agreement.

Will my involvement be publicised?

Yes. By taking part, you give No Password Required and the BFI permission to publicise your involvement, including your name, a short biography and your project title. As the programme is made possible through National Lottery funding via the BFI, we also ask participants to help acknowledge that support and to highlight the benefit they've gained from taking part.

Will I need to credit the programme if my film is made?

Yes. If your project goes into production, you'll be asked to include an end credit in the following form: "Supported in development by No Password Required and funded by the BFI Creative Challenge Fund," followed by the BFI and National Lottery logo lock-up (or any alternative wording or logo advised by the BFI at the time). Where an on-screen credit for the programme's organisers is agreed, its format will be approved in advance.

What kind of environment can I expect?

We're committed to providing a safe, welcoming, accessible and inclusive environment for everyone involved, in person and online. We have anti-bullying, harassment and racism guidelines in place, and we expect every participant, partner, contributor and team member to behave respectfully. Discrimination, abuse, harassment, bullying, intimidating behaviour and micro-aggressions have no place on the programme, and anyone not observing these principles may be asked to leave immediately.

What's expected of me as a participant?

Places are limited and highly valued, so we ask participants to attend every session, arrive on time and engage fully with all contributors. We also ask that you act as an ambassador for the UK screen sector and are collegiate and generous with your fellow participants throughout the programme.

Can my place be withdrawn?

In rare cases, yes. Acting reasonably, we may end a participant's involvement, and, with the BFI's approval, seek reimbursement of the costs of their participation, if their behaviour falls below the standards reasonably expected of an industry professional or brings the programme, its organisers, the BFI or the National Lottery into disrepute.

What happens after the programme?

After the programme, you may be asked to take part in follow-up surveys run by the BFI. You'll be asked to consent to us sharing data with the BFI so it can follow your career progression and the progress of your project, and to us providing the BFI with a copy of your project deliverables.

What will I be asked to confirm about my project's rights?

If selected, you'll be asked to confirm that your project is original, or that the necessary rights have been optioned, licensed or acquired; that you own it free of any undisclosed claims or encumbrances; that it doesn't infringe anyone's rights and isn't defamatory or obscene; and that you remain responsible for its content. You'll also agree to keep confidential any scripts or other materials shared by other participants or contributors during the programme, and not to use or share them without permission. Full terms are set out in the participation agreement provided to selected participants.

Partners

Who are the Industry Partners?

No Password Required is delivered by Republic of Story and The British Blacklist, supported by the BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding.

Edition Two is delivered with the support of Lee & Thompson, All3Media and Fruit Tree Media, alongside the Film Distributors' Association, Film Export UK and My Smash Media, who support Access to Market Day.

About No Password Required

No Password Required maps Black and Global Majority-owned production companies across Europe. Using the data and insights generated through this work, we design strategic interventions that improve economic equity and access within the European screen industries.

Still have a question?

If your question hasn't been answered here, please contact us at contact@nopasswordrequired.com.

We'll also be hosting an applicant webinar, and a recording will be made available for anyone unable to attend live.