Producers Barry Navidi and Manfred Wilde have raised $30m in equity for a slate of films through their production outfit Sun, Moon & Stars Entertainment, according to Navidi and Wilde.

Navidi, whose producing credits include TV film Mr Corbett's Ghost, said the money was raised via private investors in Europe and Middle East, plus German tax shelter financing. He declined to reveal investors' identities.

The first project using the equity financing to go into production is Big Bad Love, an adaptation of Larry Brown's novel which is to start shooting in Mississippi this week. Future films include PVT Wars, an adaptation of James McLure's play which is scheduled for production late this year.