Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) is to backdirector Cherie Nowlan's comedy drama Clubland, starring Brenda Blethyn.

Blethynplays a raunchy Sydney club performer whose shy 20-year-old son is forced to make a decision between her and his feisty new girlfriend.

The RB Films project has the backing of MovieHouseEntertainment in the UK and Palace Films in its home market and is produced byRosemary Blight and written by feature script editor and television writerKeith Thompson.

Nowlan hasbeen directing commercials and television since her 1996 debut feature ThankGod He Met Lizzie, which starred Cate Blanchett. Last week, she won theAustralian Film Institute Award for best direction in television for thefour-part series Marking Time.

The FFChas also backed Night, the first project under its new theatricaldocumentary strand. Writer/director Lawrence Johnston will explore theuniversal nature of night through a soundscape of people talking about itspleasures, fears and dangers.

He willuse a range of visual styles, from time-lapse photography to documentaryinterviews, and move from the extremes of nature to local icons such as theSydney Harbour Bridge.

Johnsonmade the documentary Eternity and the feature Life and is alsoproducing alongside Lizzette Atkins. SBS Independent is attached.

"With therise of cinema documentaries around the world, the FFC has been searching foran Australian project with similar potential to work well for theatricalaudiences," said FFC chief executive Brian Rosen. "I think Night has the scopeand ambition to do just that."

The FFChas also confirmed its commitment to Little Fish, which is now inproduction starring Cate Blanchett, Martin Henderson, and Hugo Weaving, andannounced the appointment of Ross Pearson as chief commercial officer.

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