Spanish media group Sogecable has relaunched its script development programme, Canal Plus Guiones (Canal Plus Scripts).

The refurbished, four-year-old programme aims to help as many as 40 new and up-and-coming scriptwriters develop feature film and TV movie script ideas over the next three years on a combined budget of $400,000 (PTS70m).

Of those 40 treatments, the programme expects to complete 20 scripts and sell as many as 10 or 12 to local producers. Sogecable film production arm Sogecine, which has committed to assisting the programme develop scripts for cinema, is a likely home for some projects. Sogecine is currently developing two feature films - comedies Noche De Reyes and Leila - from Canal Plus Guiones scripts.

Other scripts from the programme already picked up by local producers include feature films Heartbeats, a romantic comedy to be produced by Euroficcion, and Munequitas Rusas, a thriller backed by Filmart. Completed title La Caverna premiered on pay outlet Canal Plus earlier this year.

The revamped programme - presented in Madrid this week by Canal Plus Guiones director Jacques Roldan, sub-director Simon de Santiago and Sogecine head of development Andres Modolell - offers writers $2,857 (PTS500,000) to develop a treatment and $14,286 (PTS2,500,000) for a completed script, plus bonuses of between $4,286 (PTS750,000) and $14,286 (PTS2,500,000) if projects get made.

The first group of selected projects will be announced in September during the San Sebastian International Film Festival, of which Canal Plus is an official sponsor.