Film and Video Umbrella

What Film and Video Umbrella does

Film and Video Umbrella (FVU) is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Number 1165046, legal name Film and Video Umbrella Ltd) that commissions, produces, and curates moving-image works by artists. Founded in the 1990s and operating for over three decades, FVU is headquartered in Nottingham at Broadway Cinema with a secondary office in London at Rich Mix, and operates with a staff of 12 under Director Angelica Sule and Associate Director Steven Bode. Its primary customers are individual moving-image artists (emerging and established) who receive production funding, exhibition slots, and critical-text commissions; secondary constituents include UK and international galleries and cultural institutions that host touring exhibitions, plus general art audiences engaging with the work.

FVU's product surface comprises five distinct lines. FVU Watch is a free online streaming platform hosting commissioned and archival works with audio description and captioning. FVU New Takes, launched in early 2026 in partnership with Arnolfini, is a monthly showcase of newly commissioned works screened in Arnolfini's Dark Studio and on FVU Watch. FVU:LAB, delivered with Nottingham Trent University, is an artist development programme giving four emerging artists access to NTU's Design and Digital Arts building and advanced technologies. The Michael O'Pray Prize is an annual writing award (now in its 10th edition in 2026) for early-career UK writers on moving image. An online bookshop processes publication sales via PayPal. Underlying technology is non-proprietary: standard web infrastructure (Google Analytics, Vimeo, SoundCloud, PayPal) and WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility compliance, with no disclosed AI/ML capability.

FVU's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. The organisation does not sell services or earn material commercial revenue; income is derived primarily from Arts Council England public funding, supplemented by the Jerwood Foundation and other grant-making bodies. Distribution of works occurs through a channel network of partner galleries (Hunterian, John Hansard, Bonington, Arnolfini, Somerset House Studios, HOME Manchester, Tramway) in the UK and The Wexner Center for the Arts in the US, alongside FVU Watch and film-festival screenings. Pricing for commissions, exhibitions, FVU Watch content, and most texts is free; the bookshop is the only commercial touchpoint.

Name

Film and Video Umbrella

Legal name

Film and Video Umbrella Ltd

Website

https://fvu.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Film and Video Umbrella is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation that commissions, produces, and curates artists' moving-image works, serving emerging and established artists, partner galleries, and art audiences through streaming (FVU Watch), touring exhibitions, the FVU New Takes programme, FVU:LAB, and the Michael O'Pray Prize.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Curation and Moving-Image Commissioning

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios (BPAFAHAD)

Keywords

• Moving image art
• Artist film commissions
• Art exhibition curation
• Arts charity programming
• Artist development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Charitable funding and grants: FVU is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Number 1165046) that operates primarily through public funding and grants from Arts Council England, with additional support from foundations such as Jerwood Foundation. Revenue is not generated from commercial sales but from grants, donations, and commissioned project work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Film and Video Umbrella commissions, produces and curates moving-image works by artists, providing production funding, exhibition opportunities, critical texts, and distribution through its FVU Watch streaming platform and touring exhibition programmes. It runs recurring programmes (FVU New Takes, FVU:LAB) and the Michael O'Pray Prize for critical writing, all funded primarily through grants from Arts Council England and foundations such as Jerwood Foundation.

Product overview

Film and Video Umbrella is an arts organization that commissions, produces, and curates moving-image works by artists. For over three decades, FVU has championed new creative talent and promoted innovative ideas in the moving image field. The organization's offerings include FVU Watch (a streaming platform for viewing commissioned and archival works), the FVU New Takes monthly showcase program in partnership with Arnolfini, FVU:LAB (an artist development program with Nottingham Trent University), and the Michael O'Pray Prize (an award for writing on experimental moving image). The organization commissions individual moving image works from artists, which are presented through exhibitions, screenings, and the online watch platform. Projects span diverse themes including climate crisis, disability, archival memory, body politics, and contemporary trans+ culture. FVU also operates an online bookshop for publications and texts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FVU Watch FVU Watch is the organisation's online streaming platform for viewing newly commissioned films and archival works from FVU's project portfolio. Works are available for free viewing with audio description and captioning options for general art audiences, artists, and partner venues.
• FVU New Takes FVU New Takes is a monthly showcase program in partnership with Arnolfini presenting newly commissioned moving image works, with works premiering on FVU Watch before physical exhibitions in Arnolfini's Dark Studio on Level 2. Six newly commissioned works are featured in the current cohort, with support from Arts Council England and Jerwood Foundation.
• FVU:LAB FVU:LAB is a program delivered in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University that provides opportunities for four emerging moving image artists to work with cutting-edge technologies at NTU's Design and Digital Arts building, supporting them in realising specific outcomes through access to facilities and expertise.
• Michael O'Pray Prize The Michael O'Pray Prize is an annual award for new writing on innovation and experimentation in the moving image, open to all early-career writers based in the UK and free to apply. Now in its 10th edition, it is awarded by Film and Video Umbrella and published through the FVU Read platform.
• FVU Bookshop The FVU Bookshop is an online shop selling publications, texts, and related materials commissioned or published by Film and Video Umbrella, processing transactions through PayPal for individual art audiences, researchers, and collectors.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ArtangelflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Artangel commissioned and produced Naeem Mohaiemen's THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY (2025), presenting it in London. This is a major flagship partnership for FVU.
• The Wexner Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commissioned in partnership with The Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University for the exhibition of THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY. The work travels to Ohio in Spring 2026.
• The Hunterian, University of GlasgowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK tour exhibition partner for THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY, presenting the work from 5 June 2026 to 11 October 2026 at the Hunterian Art Gallery.
• John Hansard Gallery, SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK tour exhibition partner for THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY.
• Bonington Gallery, NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK tour exhibition partner for THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY, exhibiting from 21 March 2026 to 9 May 2026.
• Arnolfini, BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition partner for FVU New Takes programme, presenting works in Arnolfini's Dark Studio from Spring 2026. FVU New Takes showcases six newly commissioned works.
• Somerset House StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioned Enclosure by Jenkin Van Zyl with Film and Video Umbrella and HOME Manchester.
• HOME ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioned Enclosure by Jenkin Van Zyl with Film and Video Umbrella and Somerset House Studios.
• Nottingham Trent UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFVU:LAB is delivered in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, providing opportunities for emerging moving image artists to work with cutting-edge technologies at NTU's new Design and Digital Arts building.
• ExperimenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Naeem Mohaiemen commission.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Somerset House Studios: London artist-residency and commissioning programme co-commissioning Enclosure with FVU; operates a smaller moving-image commissioning footprint but directly overlaps as both partner and peer.

Direct peers

• LUX: London-based non-profit agency for artists' moving image, distributing and promoting experimental film and video - directly comparable curated distribution and artist-development role.
• Artangel: UK non-profit commissioning site-specific and moving-image works by artists; FVU's direct co-production partner on THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY and a near-twin in mission and commissioning model.

Broad incumbents

• Serpentine Galleries: Major London contemporary art institution commissioning artists across media including moving image; broader in scope but overlaps on commissioning and exhibition programming.
• BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art: Gateshead-based major contemporary art gallery regularly commissioning and exhibiting moving-image work; comparable exhibition and commissioning scale though broader programme.
• Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA): London arts venue presenting moving image, film and performance programmes; comparable curatorial remit and audience overlap with FVU's exhibitions and screenings.

Regional players

• HOME Manchester: Manchester arts venue commissioning and presenting moving image; co-commissioned Enclosure with FVU and operates as a regional peer in England's arts ecology.
• Arnolfini: Bristol contemporary arts centre hosting the FVU New Takes monthly showcase; comparable gallery programming role in a different region.

Others

• Liverpool Biennial: Large-scale periodic UK contemporary art commissioning and exhibition platform; adjacent rather than direct, but a comparable funder-funded public commissioning body.
• docents Programme (BFI): Adjacent public-funded screen culture organisation providing funding and exhibition for moving-image work in the UK; not a direct competitor but a comparable public-sector funder/curator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/filmvidumbrella
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbWzHzzkid9BZZm7sf0S2EA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FilmandVideoUmbrella
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmvidumbrella
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/film-and-video-umbrella-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Film and Video Umbrella