Welsh media agency,Sgrîn Cymru Wales, has launched a new funding scheme for Welsh filmmakers.

The Welsh MicrosScheme - to be financed by The Arts Council of Wales, Film Four and S4C, inpartnership with Sgrîn - is designed to enable the production of two featurefilms with budgets of up to £400,000 each over the next year.

"Welsh Micros isaimed at Welsh production companies, writers and directors who are breakinginto film production, as well as those filmmakers who have made short films andwant to move onto feature length projects," said Judith Higginbottom, Head ofProduction at Sgrîn Cymru Wales.

"The films will bemade on budgets of a maximum of £400,000, which will be fully-financed by thescheme and those applying will need to present a script which is at least atfirst draft stage."

The organisers hopethat at least one of the projects selected will be a Welsh language film.Angharad Jones, Commissioner for Drama at S4C, added "S4C is proud to be partof this scheme, as further proof of our continued commitment to Welsh filmculture."

The films will beselected in August, and will go into production this Autumn or next Spring.

'It's great topartner the Arts Council of Wales, S4C and Sgrîn in an initiative to finddistinctive, contemporary, engaging cinema stories. This scheme throws down thegauntlet to Welsh talent to meet that challenge,' said Peter Carlton, Head ofFilmFour Lab.

The deadline forapplications is July 23.

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