Noel Clarke, director of cult UK film Kidulthood, is to direct his first feature Adulthood, with $1m (£520,000) backing from the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund.

Adulthood, written, directed and starring Clarke follows up on the first film's story.

Adulthood is produced by George Isaac and Damian Jones for Cipher Films. The film is also being backed by Pathe and Independent. Shooting starts at the beginning of October.

Among other substantial awards are $0.9m to Kenny Glenaan's (Yasmin, Derailed) Summer about the friendship between two social misfits. The film is written by newcomer Hugh Ellis, and produced by Camilla Bray with Rebecca O'Brien Screen, Glasgow Film Office, Mediopolis Köln, Filmstiftung NRW, and Hewland International. The Works International are handling international sales. Vertigo are the UK distributors.

Writer-director Alexis dos Santos' Unmade Bedsgets $0.86m. The London-set offbeat drama has been made with The Bureau, Film4, and EM Media, and produced by The Bureau's Soledad Gatti-Pascual and Peter Ettedgui.

Lenny Crooks, Head of the New Cinema Fund says, 'We want to support distinctive filmmakers in developing and sustaining their work at every stage of their career, from making shorts through to first and second features and beyond.'

New Cinema Fund Awards

  • Adulthood (Noel Clarke) $1m (£520)
  • Summer $0.9m (£450,000)
  • Unmade Beds $0.86m (£428,396)
  • Hush $0.62m (£299,983)
  • Alex and her Arse Truck $50,000 (£25,000)
  • Island $50,000 (£25,000)
  • Much Ado about a Minor Ting $50,000 (£25,000)
  • Navel $50,000 (£25,000)
  • New Love $50,000 (£25,000)
  • Tony $50,000 (£25,000)

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