Four UK filmmakers win £20,000 each from BFI and CHANEL: what residents need to know

Arts & Entertainment Desk 2026-10-14 18:55 2 min read

A diverse group of nine well-dressed actors standing together against a wooden paneled wall.

Four UK filmmakers have each received £20,000 through the 2026 BFI & CHANEL Filmmaker Awards, announced at a special event at Claridge’s in London. The awards support emerging filmmakers as they develop new work and explore different approaches to their practice.

Four filmmakers selected for the awards

The winners are Rich Felgate for We, The Hated; Olive Nwosu for Lady; Imran Perretta for Ish; and Rachel Taparjan for Something Familiar. Their roles span directing, writing, producing, cinematography and composing.

The jury said its selection recognised creative ambition and the strength of each filmmaker’s work. It considered each applicant’s body of work and application, choosing four winners after initially setting out to select three.

Four UK filmmakers win £20,000 each from BFI and CHANEL: what residents need to know

£20,000 for new work and collaboration

Each award provides £20,000 to help its recipient expand their work, explore new ideas, and support co-creation and knowledge exchange. The BFI and CHANEL partnership has presented the awards since 2022, as part of the BFI’s support for the next generation of UK independent filmmaking talent.

The 2026 jury included actors Jessie Buckley and Gwendoline Christie, alongside Edward Enninful, Marie-Louise Khondji and BFI chief executive Ben Roberts. The winners were selected from a shortlist of eight. Eligible applicants were UK residents who had made one or two features or immersive works released in the UK or shown at a leading UK or international film festival; eligible work had to be released or showcased between 1 January 2025 and 30 June 2026.

Source: British Film Institute News

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Award details, recipient names and eligibility criteria are drawn from the British Film Institute’s announcement.

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