Cape Town-based production outfit, Film Afrika Worldwide, is co-producing two feature-length TV movies, Diamond Hunters, with Italy's De Angelis and German investment fund Global Entertainment.

Roy Scheider is set to star in the films, which are based on Wilbur Smith's best-selling novel of the same name. Denis Berry, whose credits include the Highlander television series, will direct. Berry's father, John Berry, directed Boesman And Lena starring Angela Basset and Danny Glover in Cape Town last year.

Both Diamond Hunters films will be produced by Film Afrika head David Wicht in association with Steven North. Production is scheduled to start for eight weeks in May.