Microwave: Round Three open

Are you a short film-maker looking to take the leap into features? Do you have the burning desire to tell a story and need funding and support to realise your project? Round three of Microwave, Film London’s micro-budget feature film fund, is now open for applications.

The scheme is open to film-makers working in documentary, fiction, animation, and to artists working with the moving image. Microwave launched in 2006 to commission debut feature film-makers in the capital. It is a project for London-based companies to produce ten micro-budget feature films over a three year period.

Microwave challenges film-makers to shoot a full length feature film for up to £100,000 with cash and in-kind support. The initiative provides an intensive approach to film-making, with an emphasis on tightly focused scripts, short production schedules and commercial potential.

The first two greenlit features were Mum & Dad and Shifty; they have respectively generated industry interest since their completion. Three further films are in pre-production: dark psychological thriller, Analogue, to be directed by Suki Singh; Jes Benstock’s Alternative Miss World documentary, The British Guide to Showing Off (working title); and Freestyle, a teen romance based around the world of freestyle basketball, to be directed by Kolton Lee.

Apply to Microwave now and you could be one of the lucky film-making teams that are shortlisted to attend ‘Microschool’; a four day mentoring programme. After taking part in a competitive pitch, up to five of the projects will then be greenlit for production.

This year’s entry deadline is Friday 26 September 2008.

Full details about the scheme, including the Guidelines for Applicants and the Application Form, visit the Microwave page: www.filmlondon.org.uk/microbudget.

If you would like to find out more about the current Microwave films, or more about the world of micro-budget film-making, visit the new Microwave website: www.filmlondon.org.uk/microwave. **