Film London Microwave Calls For Applications

Film London Microwave, the micro-budget film-making scheme, has proved to be phenomenally successful.
Seven features have been 'green-lit' to date and the first two completed films - Mum & Dad and Shifty - secured theatrical distribution in a number of territories, including the UK, and received widespread critical acclaim.
Film London has now launched a call for applications to discover three more projects to complete its slate of ten features.
Potential Microwave participants can access the application form online at: www.filmlondon.org.uk/microbudget; this year's entry deadline is Friday 26 June 2009.
Microwave challenges film-makers to shoot a full-length feature film for a budget not exceeding £100,000. Film London offers cash awards of up to £65,000 but crucially, the scheme offers bespoke training to each selected film-making team. This includes mentoring from established industry professionals who have included director Pete Travis (Vantage Point, End Game), producer Paul Webster (Atonement, Eastern Promises) and script editor Justin Trefgame (The Interpreter, Hot Fuzz).
Set up with BBC Films with support from Skillset as part of A Bigger Future, Microwave provides an intensive approach to film-making with an emphasis on tightly focussed scripts and short production schedules. The scheme is open to London-based production teams looking to move from short film-making to features.
Film London will initially shortlist 10-12 projects for 'Microschool', an intensive four-day programme of seminars, workshops, screenings and script surgeries covering everything from development through to sales and distribution. The teams will implement this advice before taking part in a competitive pitch where up to three successful projects will be greenlit for production.
In addition to Shifty and Mum & Dad, progress for the rest of the Microwave slate is going strong. Freestyle, directed by Kolton Lee, has been picked up by Revolver Entertainment and recently wrapped following a successful 18-day shoot; it will be released in the UK in October.
Director Jes Benstock captured spectacular footage at the Alternative Miss World Show this month for his documentary, The British Guide to Showing Off', about the show's creator Andrew Logan. Analogue, a dark psychological thriller to be directed by Suki Singh, is in pre-production while Foxglove (Ornette Spenceley) and Strawberry Fields (Frances Lea), greenlit in February, are in development.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, said: "I am extremely proud of the films Microwave has produced to date and the talent the scheme has nurtured and discovered. Our aim from the outset has been to find the next generation of successful British film-makers and I believe we are achieving that.
"It is a fantastic achievement for the first three features to have secured theatrical distribution and is testament to the talent of the team, but also the set up of the scheme. Through support, training and mentoring, Microwave is combining creative projects with an entrepreneurial approach to produce British films which the industry are really interested in.
"We currently have a slate of seven diverse and interesting features and we're excited to see what other projects are out there."
Steve Jenkins, Head of Films for BBC Acquisitions, said: "Microwave provides a great opportunity for BBC Films to increase its investment and involvement in British film, and particularly in exciting new talent. Mum & Dad and Shifty are convincing proof of the scheme's unique ability to produce films whose success completely transcends their micro-budgets."
Neil Peplow, Director of Film at Skillset, said: "Microwave provides an unparalleled opportunity for strong emerging film-making teams to learn about digital film-making and to make the transition from shorts to features. I'm delighted Skillset is supporting this innovative scheme developing the UK film industry's stars of tomorrow."
Film London's dedicated Microwave website gives practical advice on all aspects of micro-budget film-making. Site registration is free and the learning opportunities are endless. Further information is available at: www.filmlondon.org.uk/microwave.
(KMcA/BMcC)