Screen agency Film London has announced a new low-budgetfilm scheme in the UK,Microwave, which will fund ten low-budget films in the next three years.

Each project can get up to $133,000 (£75,000) cash funding through FilmLondon (including some BBC support), and film-makers can also raise additionalsupport up to a total budget of $178,000 (£100,000).

Film London'sassistance will include waived location fees, in-kind support from filmservices companies, and a revenue share model from the unions.

Because FilmLondon is non-profit, any monies recouped from the scheme will be reinvested.

The programme's mentors will include directors Stephen Frears, Gurinder Chadha, and John Akomfrah andproducers Sandy Lieberson, Jeremy Thomas, and James Schamus.

Fiction, documentary and animation projects will beconsidered. Film London said Microwavewould emphasise "tightly focused scripts, short production schedules andcommercial potential."

Applicants must be registered companies based in GreaterLondon, as Microwave is not open to individual film-makers. Applicants shouldhave made at least one short or "no-budget" feature and should have someexperience in production, marketing, and distribution.

Applications will require a full shooting script, budget andschedule. Eligible films have to be primarily filmed and post-produced in London.

Completed films will be screened on one of the BBC'stelevision channels and will also be considered for screening during the UKFilm Focus sales event.

Microwave is separate from the TheUK Film Council and FilmFour's Low Budget FilmScheme, also launching in 2006 through production companies Warp X and Qwerty.