A functional film fabrication method for fabricating a functional film on a base having a flat surface includes an installation step and an application step. In the installation step, a base is installed so that the flat surface is on top, and a droplet discharge head with a plurality of nozzles aligned in a first direction is arranged above the flat surface. In the application step, a functional film is fabricated on the flat surface by repeating a discharge step and a nozzle movement step. In the discharge step, droplets of a functional liquid are discharged from the nozzles onto the base. In the nozzle movement step, the nozzles are moved relative to the base in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction over a distance shorter than the distance between the nozzles in the first direction.