Microwave Seeks Applications For Second Funding Round

The second round of applications for Microwave, Film London’s micro-budget feature film fund, is now open.
Microwave challenges film-makers to shoot a full length film for up to £75,000 with the option of raising additional in-kind support taking the budget to a maximum of £100,000. Launched in 2006, the scheme provides an intensive approach to film-making, with an emphasis on tightly focused scripts and short production schedules and is open to London-based production companies.
The first film to be produced under Microwave, 'Mum & Dad', has just wrapped following a successful and intensive three-week shoot in London and Nottingham. Written and directed by Steven Shiel, Mum & Dad is an intense chilling and nerve-fraying horror film about a murderous family living in the shadow of a major London airport.
Maggie Ellis, Head of Production, said: "This is an exciting time for film-makers and Microwave is one of the schemes that is making its mark in selecting talent who we believe will be amongst the next wave of UK success stories. Now one year old and with two projects in the pipeline, we are looking forward to receiving applications which positively respond to the challenge of making truly micro-budget work – the challenge is to convince us that you can make a documentary or fiction film which is conceived and written to micro-budget scale and tells a fresh and distinctive story."
A series of roadshows to promote the second round of Microwave and offer advice on the application process will take place at venues across London over the coming weeks:

• 30 May 2007 – Curzon Soho at 11am
• 6 June 2007 – Roxy Bar & Screen at 6.30pm
• 13 June 2007 – Whitechapel Gallery at 6.30pm
• 18 June 2007 – TUC at 1pm

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 29 June 2007.
(SP)