The SundanceInstitute received its largest ever grant of $5m from the Annenberg Foundationlast night (22) and will use the award to establish the Annenberg Film FellowsProgramme to help aspiring film-makers.

The five-yearscheme will offer personal stipends, residencies and creative support for up tofive participants on the institute's Feature Film Programme, with eachfellowship extending over two years to cover a specific project.

The 2004 fellowswill be announced this spring following a selection process involving thosecandidates who have already participated in some aspect of the Feature FilmProgramme.

"Through my ownpersonal contact with artists I know just how challenging it is to remainfocused on producing their work while also making a living and paying therent," Charles Annenberg Weingarten, a foundation trustee who directed theestablishment of the fellowship programme, said in a statement.

"This programmewill enable promising film-makers to stay committed and focused on their workand to enrich their creative process through the programmes and nurturingenvironment of the Feature Film Programme and Sundance Institute."

Sundanceexecutive director Ken Brecher added: "The Annenberg Film Fellows Programmeprovides financial and creative resources at a critical moment in an aspiringfilm-maker's life that can assist in launching their careers."

The Annenberg Foundation wasfounded in 1989 by the publisher, diplomat and philanthropist Walter HAnnenberg to advance public well-being through improved communication.