The UK's First Film Foundation and the Jerwood Charitable Foundation are launching a screenwriting programme, entitled First Feedback, which will provide development support for 12 writers.

The writers will take part in five free workshops over an period of eight months, which will be led by script tutor Phil Parker of the London Institute. First Film Foundation will then showcase the writers and their projects to industry development executives.

UK production outfits Dragon Pictures, The Film Consortium and WT2 are sponsoring the programme, along with British Screen, the UCI/CIC Charitable Trust, the Moving Image Development Agency (MIDA) and the London Film & Video Development Agency (LFVDA).

First Film Foundation director Jonathan Rawlinson said: "First Feedback offers an unrivalled opportunity for writers to receive free expert development advice, with the added bonus that their projects stand a good chance of being picked up by the industry."

First Film Foundation was founded in 1987 to help new writers, producers and directors make their first features. It also runs pan-European development training scheme, North by Northwest. Talents to have emerged from its various programmes include director Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher) and producers Jolyon Symonds (Kevin & Perry Go Large) and Richard Holmes (Waking Ned).

Applications and further details are available from First Film Foundation's web-site www.firstfilm.co.uk or send an SAE and A4 envelope to First Film Foundation, 9 Bourlet Close, London W1P 7PJ.