Climate Stories Fund

Overview

The Media Cymru × Ffilm Cymru Wales Climate Stories Fund is for Research and Development (R&D) projects for feature films or immersive experiences that tell the story of the climate crisis in new and innovative ways. 

The fund will support the R&D element. Once the R&D is complete, successful applicants can apply for further funding through Ffilm Cymru Wales to continue development of the feature film or immersive experience. 

The Climate Stories Fund coincides with a pivotal moment for the global climate emergency. There is broad agreement that the film sector’s responsibility for tackling this crisis must involve both decarbonising production and creating impactful climate content that engages diverse audiences and stimulates action. This fund follows the launch of our Greening the Screen Development Fund earlier in the year, which focussed on decarbonising production in response to the BAFTA albert Screen New Deal Transformation Plan for Wales. 

Process

The R&D phase provides up to £20,000 for a four-month R&D sprint that will take place between 1 April and 31 July 2025.  

At the start of the R&D sprint, there will be an Insight Lab to provide successful projects with expert insights into the climate crisis and climate storytelling.  

At the end of the R&D sprint, successful projects will have the opportunity to apply for a further £50,000 to bring their project to life through Ffilm Cymru Wales.

Accessibility

If you have any specific requirements that would make the application more accessible to you (such as advice, scribing or reading support) or would like to discuss this application in an alternative format (video or audio formats, audio narration, large font, plain text, or alternative language), please email media.cymru@cardiff.ac.uk or phone 02922 511 434.  

Eligibility criteria

• You have an idea for an innovative R&D project focused on climate content that tells the story of the climate crisis in new and innovative ways. 
• Your company is based in Wales. 
• You can dedicate time and effort to complete an R&D sprint project between April and July 2025. 
• We will only accept and fund one application per individual/company/organisation as a project lead.  

Key Dates

• 2 December 2024: Applications open and launch event at Ffilm Cymru Wales (W2, Wellington, Wellington Street, Cardiff CF11 9BE) 
• 17 January 2025: Applications close at noon (applications will not be accepted after this time) 
• 14 February 2025: Applicants notified    
• 1 April 2025: R&D sprint projects begin 
• 31 July 2025: R&D projects end    
• August 2025 onwards: possibility of projects being commercially developed with Ffilm Cymru Wales 

Media Cymru Pillars

We are keen to support projects that address some, or all, of Media Cymru’s strategic pillars:   

• Green – reducing the negative environmental impact of the sector  
• Fair – creating a fair, equal and diverse sector  
• Global – increasing international collaborations    
• Growth – driving growth and productivity through R&D 

Media Cymru’s definition of Research and Development (R&D)

R&D activities are defined as creative and systematic work undertaken to address challenges and to create new or improved products, services, processes or experiences.  

In a media context, this could mean exploring, experimenting with or testing new technology such as extended reality, artificial intelligence or virtual production. It could also mean exploring radical, fairer and more planet-friendly ways of working. It could involve testing new methods of producing, distributing and experiencing content, or new ways of reaching audiences and being more sensitive to their needs and demands. 

The kind of R&D projects we are looking for are: 

• Novel: they will be based on original concepts and hypotheses, not obvious ones. 
• Creative: they will take experimental approaches and generate new findings. 
• Uncertain: they will begin with a degree of uncertainty about the final outcomes. 
• Systematic: they will be based on a planned and budgeted approach. 
• Transferable: they will generate results that can be reproduced to gain wider benefits. 

Climate Stories Fund Launch Event

On Monday 2 December, join Media Cymru and Ffilm Cymru Wales at the official launch of the new Climate Stories Fund.
Find out more and book your place. 

Apply

Please read the guidance notes before applying – they include more information, application details and eligibility criteria.  

If you wish to prepare your answers offline prior to submitting an application, the key application questions can be found in the guidance.

Climate Stories Fund Guidance (Word doc)

Climate Stories Fund Guidance (PDF)

All application must be completed and submitted online via our website. We cannot accept applications in other formats.