U.K. Coronavirus Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund Opens for Applications

The U.K.'s COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund, which recently saw its coffers run dry after just two weeks of applications, has received a major boost from the British Academy. BAFTA on Monday revealed that it was to reach out to itsnetworks and encourage donations to the initiative, enabling The Film and TV Charity, which set up the fund alongside the British Film Institute, to create further funding rounds.

The U.K.'s COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund, officially launched earlier this month by the British Film Institute and the Film and TV Charity, has now closed to applicants, with almost 3,000 people applying for more than £5 million ($6.2 million), exceeding its financial limitations.

By Tom Grater

The two-hour event, which also saw the participation of Bollywood stars and , featured performances by Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Lizzo, and Taylor Swift among others, was not planned as a fundraiser but the April 18 show inspired people across America to donate, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Covid-19 survivors Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina have teamed up United Nations (UN) officials to launch a $40 million (£32 million) fund for poor nations hit by the pandemic.

By David Robb

An advocacy group in Ecuador has created a fund to help LGBTQ people and Venezuelan refugees in the country during the coronavirus pandemic.

A new fund to support Irish musicians through the Covid-19 pandemic has been set up by key music industry bodies.

By Tim Dams

By Jake Kanter

The Performing Rights Organizations—American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and SESAC—have teamed up to form a new coronavirus relief fund as part of the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fund will focus on helping songwriters, composers, and lyricists. Make donations or apply for assistance here.

By Tim Dams

It's official, the Oneders are getting the band back together for a good cause. That Thing You Do! stars Tom Everett Scott, Johnathan Schaech, and Ethan Embry all announced on their social media pages Monday that they will be reuniting online for a live watch party in support of MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund on Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on their new YouTube Channel.

Like many in the world, Cheryl Saban is hunkering down at home with her husband, music and media entrepreneur Haim Saban, while holding down the fort on two professional fronts. As the president of Saban Family Foundation, she continues to meet virtually with her staff of five, which will be busier in the coming months as vital services are pushed to the brink more than ever due to the coronavirus pandemic.

By Brent Lang

Scottish prison officers are being offered emergency pay worth up to £1750 to cover a staffing crisis during the coronavirus outbreak.

By Jem Aswad

By Dave McNary

By Tom Grater

By Tom Grater