Join us.

Full Membership is open to those with a principal director credit on a broadcast UK television programme, or commercially distributed and screened feature film, whose work may be eligible under our distribution schemes.

Full Membership offers annual access to all our services and benefits. It also includes permanent registration on our distribution schemes, so you’ll always receive any future distribution payments even if your annual subscription lapses.

Full Membership services include access to our packed screenings and events programme, exclusive career development opportunities, benefits and offers, free legal advice on anything related to your work as a director, free use of our drop-in members’ space, and lots more.

Directors aged 65 and over receive Full Membership at half the price.

Associate Membership is open to those with a minimum of two completed director credits on audiovisual works that have been publicly screened or commercially exploited but are not eligible for payment under our distribution schemes. For example: shorts or feature films selected to screen at curated public film festivals, advertising promos or branded content, music videos, video games or VR projects.

In order to be considered for membership, we ask applicants to provide evidence of a completed director credit on a minimum of two audiovisual works. We will accept the following as evidence of sufficient industry or public recognition:

• A short or feature film selected to screen at a curated public film festival (qualifying festivals include those listed in the British Council festival directory, FIAPF or BAFTA-accredited lists, or select festivals endorsed by Directors UK). We will accept a copy of an official selection email or letter (including FilmFreeway or WithoutABox selection emails) or a festival programme listing (either a link, screenshot or scan, provided we can clearly identify the festival and edition).
• Completed professional advertising promo campaign or professional music video. We will accept proof of contract or a payment agreement, or industry press and marketing naming you as director.
• Released video game or VR project. We will accept proof of contract or payment agreement, or industry press and marketing naming you as director.
• Represented for directing work by an agent or agency registered with the Personal Managers Association (PMA). We will accept a copy of your contract with the agent, or letterhead reference from them.
• Director contract with a recognised producer for a film in funded development or production.
• Distribution contract for a short film or feature, with a distributor who is listed with the Film Distributors’ Association.
• Bafta Crew selection.
• Content selected, commissioned or published by online platforms such as:
  • VICE
  • VIMEO STAFF PICKS
  • The Guardian
  • New York Times Op-Docs
  • NOWNESS
  • BBC Three
  • Short of the Week
  • Shorts TV
  • Seed and Spark
  • Aesthetica
  • BFI NETWORK Postroom Picks

You can find out more about our eligibility criteria here.

Associate Membership comes with a whole host of benefits: from access to our packed screenings and events programme, exclusive career development opportunities, benefits and offers, contract vetting, free use of our drop-in members’ space, and lots more.

After five years of membership, Associate Members will be asked to provide evidence of a further professional directing credit to ensure that this membership is still relevant for them.

Associate Members who go on to gain credits that are eligible under the Directors UK distribution schemes would be eligible for Full or Distribution-Only Membership and will be contacted to change their membership.

Distribution-Only membership is open to those with a principal director credit on a broadcast UK television programme, or commercially distributed and screened feature film. Your works may be eligible under our distribution schemes.

Distribution-Only Membership offers permanent registration on our distribution schemes for a one-off registration fee, so you’ll always receive any future distribution payments. Distribution-Only Membership does not include access to any other member benefits or services.

If they would like to take advantage of any other benefits, Distribution-Only Members can upgrade to Full Membership at any point after joining for the annual subscription price of £168 (or half price for members aged 65 and over).

For Full Members, we may have a record of your TV/film credits on our database. Our membership team will email you to verify this list. If we do not currently have a record of your credits, we will contact you for further information.

For Associate Members, our membership team will email you to request confirmation of director credits from amongst the criteria listed above. Please contact us if you are unsure about what to provide.

We collect payments for secondary usage from two sources – UK broadcasters and other collecting societies around the world. Different rules may apply to each broadcaster or society, so please bear in mind the following criteria:

• Directors of an eligible programme would qualify for payment if they are credited as a principal director according to our hierarchy
• Productions that meet all the following criteria are eligible under our UK Distribution Scheme:
  • Programmes commissioned by a signatory broadcaster to the UK Rights Deal (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, S4C and Sky UK)
  • Programmes produced after 1 July 2001
  • Programmes not made under a staff contract issued by the above UK broadcasters
• Feature films are not covered under the UK scheme
• Under the Foreign Distribution Scheme the restrictions mentioned above do not apply, however eligibility of works is determined by the individual distribution schemes of the foreign societies reporting to us