16 film-making teams selected for iFeatures 2

16 film-making teams have been selected from 350 submissions to take part in Creative England’s low budget film-making scheme iFeatures 2.

Each will now undergo intensive creative and commercial development, with three of the films being greenlight to go into production in early 2013 at budgets of £350,000.

Amongst the film-makers selected are former Screen Stars of Tomorrow Deborah Haywood (writer/director) and Gavin Humphries (producer) who have teamed up for Pin Cushion and one of this year’s stars Dominic Buchanan (producer) who is teaming up with writer/director Jonathan Entwistle on teen noir project Devil Town. Martin Radich, director of Crack Willow, returns with thriller Norfolk and Samm Haillay, producer of Cannes Critics Week selection Better Things, teams with director Simon Ellis for Monkey Do.

The projects span the length and breadth of the UK, taking in beaches in Cornwall to a lighthouse on the Northumbrian coast, as well as covering different genres from thriller, comedy drama and documentary.

The 16 projects to be selected are:

The Creator – writer/director/producers Al Holmes and Al Taylor – a sci-fi project prompted by the centenary of the birth of Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing.

The Den, director Al Mackay, writer Ed Hime, producer Rachel Dargavel – a Peak District set drama about two teenage boys who trek up to their old childhood den in the hills in search of a missing friend.

Devil Town, writer/director Jonathan Entwistle, writer Ed Aldridge, producer Dominic Buchanan – teen noir set in a sleepy rural town that is rocked by the strange suicide of a quiet new girl.

Going To Mecca, director Jason Wingard, writer David Isaac, producers Justine Potter and Serena Cullen – a comedy about two lads who go on a pilgrimage.

The Goobs, writer/director Guy Myhill, producer Lee Groombridgev - comedy set in Norfolk about a 16 year old during a summer heatwave

I Could Live Yours, writer/director Rachel Tunnard, producer Michael Berliner – A comedy about Anna, a girl who makes the worst home videos you’ve ever seen but for the best reason: to bring her brother back to life.

Monkey Do, writer/director Simon Ellis, writer Tim Cunningham, producer Samm Haillay - story of troubled 11-year old, Lee, and recession-hit-shop-fitter, Nick, who become unlikely accomplices in a string of high-risk burglaries until real-life commitments spark their downfall.

Norfolk, writer/director Martin Radich, producer Finlay Prestall - thriller

Party Politics, writer/director Jez Lewis, producer Rachel Wexler - a documentary which examines the political climate in the UK that gave rise to the British rave culture.

Pin Cushion, writer/director Deborah Haywood, producer Gavin Humphries - a Derbyshire-based teen drama about school girl friendships and rivalries that spiral out of control.

The Prefect, writer/director Dan Smyth, producer Marcie Maclellan – crime thriller about a high-achieving head boy who has his ideals shattered when his father is accused of murder.

Still Night, Still Light, writer/director Alex Taylor, producer Nicola Bowen – the story of the shy teenage daughter of an archaeologist who stages her own alien abduction in a bid to get attention from her father.

Strangles Point, director David Jackson, writer Ross Jameson, producer Miranda Fleming –a remote Cornish fishing village comes under a terrifying attack.

The Summer Child, director Esther Richardson, writer Regina Moriarty, producer Nicola Clayton – adaptation of Tove Jansson’s short story, a coming of age tale about identity set on the Northumberland coast.

Time And Tide, director Andy Taylor Smith, writer Alexandra Wilds, producer Russell Noon – drama about an 18 year old girl who leaves home to lose herself in the hedonistic promises of Cornish town Newquay.

Way Out East, writer/director Andrew Brand, producer Zorana Piggott – Western style film set in a remote Norfolk town.

Tristan Goligher, iFeatures 2 executive producer, said: “It’s great to see such a broad range of talent and ideas. The 16 films that have made it through have a clear identity and are not trying to fit into any preconceived idea of what iFeatures is about. There’s no such thing as a typical iFeatures film, so it’s refreshing to see this really interesting and original mix of projects, ideas and personalities.”

Christopher Moll, Creative England’s head of talent and the initiator of the original iFeatures programme which ran in Bristol, said: “It’s also gratifying to see that many of the participants have come up through shorts schemes such as Digital Shorts, through mentoring programmes such as Guiding Lights and from exceptional educational establishments such as the National Film and Television School. It demonstrates their importance as vital conduits for emerging talent where they can learn their trade, gain the experience and make the contacts that will enable them to develop their careers in film.”

The scheme is in partnership with the BFI Film Fund, BBC Films and Creative Skillset.