The British Film Institute (BFI) is investing in 15 new projects through its Short Form Animation Fund. More than US$1.2 million (GBP£922,406) was awarded in an effort to support new animation content in the UK, with nine projects receiving up to US$157,000 each for production.

Due to the quality of applicants to this new fund, an additional six projects received up to US$13,000 each for development, according to BFI in a release.

All of the projects are 15 minutes long or less, spanning a range of styles and genres, and heading for cinema, digital platforms or VR. Each recipient will receive oversight from a BFI Film Fund executive, as well as support from a dedicated animation consultant.

Production funding was provided to Beware of Trains from Pearly Oyster Productions; Animate Projects’ The Debutante; Diseased & Disorderly from Tyke Films; Inner Polar Bear from Gritty Realism Productions Limited; Loose Moose Productions’ No Ordinary Joe; Red Shoes from GiF Production; Amphibian Husbandry’s Shackle; Wild Summon from Sulkybunny; and Your Mountain is Waiting from Strange Beast.

Development funding, meanwhile, was awarded to Gardening from Hipster Films; Snafu Pictures’ The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil; (Pemon) The Land of Many Waters from Apropos Productions; The Rumour Mill from Bridge Way Films; High Tide Studio’s The Wall Dog; and Wind and the Shadow from Out of Orbit, in association with Belfast-based Enter Yes.

The Short Form Animation Fund launched last year, and awards funds from the National Lottery. It’s designed to support projects that represent significant advancement in the work of UK animators, enable progression or open up new opportunities. The Fund will reopen for applications in early 2021.

The BFI also manages the Young Audiences Content Fund, a three-year pilot supported by the government. Earlier this year, the YACF awarded development funding to 11 projects, including offerings focused on providing representation for different cultures, the LGBTQ community and children with disabilities.

In July, Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake! greenlit four new shows with support from the YACF. They included three animated series—Wyndley Animation’s Circle Square, Winnie & Wilbur from Winduna and Fourth Wall Creative’s Milo.