Film London's new low-budget feature film scheme, Microwave, hasannounced its first two projects to go into production. They are Steven Sheil'sMum And Dad, a horror project about amurderous family living near a London airport (to be produced by Lisa Trnovski),and Eran Creevy's Shady (workingtitle), about a charismatic Muslim crack dealer (to be produced by Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh).

The scheme drew 71applications for its initial round of funding, with 11 shortlisted film-makersattending a three-day programme of seminars and workshops. The two projectswere chosen from a pitching session at the end of the three days.

The films will go into ashort development phase to work on scripts and finalise budgets and schedules,and they should go into production before the end of 2006.

"It's thrilling to championtalented film-makers such as Eran and Steven, and to play a part in realisingtheir ambitions," said Sol Gatti-Pascual, Microwave's creative executive. "Bothof these teams will benefit from intensive training throughout the productionprocess. As part of Microwave we are also developing a unique production anddistribution online resource which will be available not only to ourfilm-makers, but to all UK film-makers, to generate and inspire a new wave ofmicro-budget feature film production in the UK."

The initiative is alsobacked by BBC and Skillset.Each project can get up to$133,000 (£75,000) cash funding through Film London (including some BBC support), and film-makers can also raise additional support up to atotal budget of $178,000 (£100,000).

The scheme aims to produce10 films by 2008.

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