Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack's Mirage Enterprises, sales and financing operation Intermedia and UK script development body The Script Factory have launched a screenwriting competition for contemporary urban comedies.

Finalists will compete for a $14,700 (£10,000) development commission from Mirage and Intermedia by pitching ideas to Minghella and Pollack. The competition closes November 9.

"We all acknowledge that there is great UK writing talent out there full of ideas but it can be difficult for their pitches to be heard," maintained Minghella. "We hope that this competition will provide a way in which this can happen."