The UK's FilmFour has partnered with mobile communications giant Orange to launch a major short film prize, which carries £10,000 and the opportunity to develop a feature with FilmFour Lab, the low budget arm of FilmFour.

Aiming to find the UK film-makers of the future, the award - which supersedes Orange's previous screenwriting prize - is open to writer and director individuals and teams, who have until 2 July 2001 to submit a five-minute fictional film script.

Industry judges will then shortlist six scripts to be produced by FilmFour Lab using digital technology, from February 2002.

"Short film is the bedrock of emergent film talent," said Robin Gutch, head of FilmFour Lab, adding that the prize will give the public the opportunity to see the best of next-generation filmmakers.

The six short-listed films will be premiered on FilmFour.com in July 2002 and will then be individually screened on FilmFour, the company's pay-TV film channel.

The six films will also be featured on a special programme on Channel 4 - FilmFour's terrestrial broadcaster parent - when viewers will be able to vote for their favourite film both on-line or by phone.