‘iFeatures’ delivered by South West Screen with the support of BBC Films and Bristol City Council is a new digital film scheme which will see three full-length theatrical features developed and shot in Bristol over the next eighteen months.

Guided by experienced industry professionals, the scheme is open to writers, directors and producers from across the UK who are looking to immerse themselves in the creative opportunities of low-budget filmmaking whilst rising to the challenge of delivering to an audience with increasingly high expectations.

Interested filmmakers will have seven weeks in which submit their ideas from the launch date of October 19th.

Twelve filmmaking teams will then be invited to take their projects through an intensive creative and commercial development process, from which three will ultimately be ‘greenlit’ for production in Summer 2010. The finished films will premiere in early 2011 with the BBC pre-buying UK TV rights.

Each team will also benefit from a bespoke professional development programme, supported by Skillset and NESTA, which is designed to enhance skills, market knowledge and industry contacts. In this way, iFeatures will actively support the production ambitions of all the participants and not just those whose projects make it all the way through the scheme.

iFeatures is aims to tap into Bristol’s burgeoning cultural confidence in the wake of such high profile offerings as the recent Banksy exhibition, TV shows Being Human and Skins, and the acclaimed Encounters International Short Film Festival. Bristol’s filmmaking talent was recognized at this year’s BAFTAs, with the city’s Esther May Campbell and Aardman Animations winning in the Short Film categories. Encouraging collaborations between the wealth of local talent – writers, directors, producers, composers, designers – and the nation’s most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers is a key part of the initiative, as is finding the stories that capture the essence of this vibrant city and its peoples.

For potential applicants unfamiliar with Bristol and its history, a dedicated website, www.ifeatures.co.uk will provide a flavour of this remarkable city. The site will contain full information about the scheme, how and when to apply, as well as hints and tips about Bristol to inspire and inform. Special networking functionality will also enable filmmakers from across the UK to link up and share ideas.

The iFeatures team will also be running a series of workshops and networking events across the country during late October and November to raise awareness of this opportunity and to provide advice.