Working Title is to come inon British commercials director Ringan Ledwidge's directorial debut, MiddleOf Nowhere. Co-produced by Sydney-based Deborah Balderstone WBP outfit and London-based Nira Park, it will start shooting in September in Australia.

Middle of Nowhere is a psychological thriller about young Britishtravellers who encounter a charismatic American with ulterior motives. It hasbeen scripted by James Watkins (My Little Eye) and Australian playwrightAndrew Upton, who is married to Cate Blanchett. The executive producers areNatascha Wharton, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Jon Finn.

With cast and budget to beconfirmed, the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) has announced that ithas given final investment approvals on this film, which will be handled inAustralia and internationally by UIP and by Universal Pictures/Focus in the US.

The FFC will also backRampage, a feature-length documentary by director George Gittoes about threeMiami brothers involved in the rap scene. Gittoes' last project, SoundtrackTo War, was about the importance of music to the US troops in Iraq. Gittoeswill produce alongside Gabrielle Dalton.

Meanwhile, the FFC also wentpublic with the news that its A$87 million worth of production investment inthe year to June 30 generated an unprecedented $A231 million woth of production including television drama and documentary. It invested A$42.9m in a slate of 14 features worth A$103.6m.

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