M-Net looking for film proposals with ''heart''.

Entries just opened for the 17th edition of M-Net's New Directions project in which filmmakers can propose film ideas for broadcast over the M-Net channels, with the theme of ''Heart''.

''We're looking for stories about love, emotion or experiences that touch or inspire,'' says Bongiwe Seland, New Directions project manager. ''These films can be about someone losing heart, or gaining it; someone behaving heartlessly, being touched in their heart, or eating their heart out,'' she says. ''They can also be films about getting to the heart of the matter; speaking from the bottom of one's heart, or giving heart and soul. In other words, films of real entertainment and magic.''

M-Net will commission two 26 minute dramas and one 48 minute documentary from out of all the proposals that New Directions receives. The 26 minute dramas have a budget of between R300 000 and R350 000 each and the documentary R200 000.  

New Directions now falls under M-Net's newly-formed M-Net Cares banner which unified all of the pay broadcaster's corporate social investment projects. ''This year New Directions is looking to take the project to a new level by focusing on skills development for emerging filmmakers,'' says Palesa Xorile, M-Net's CSI manager. ''New Directions seeks to develop skills in the African film and TV industry.''

The closing date for entries is Monday 7 June 2010. The commissioned films have to be delivered by February, 2011. Proposals for movies must be hand delivered to M-Net in Randburg. For more information people can call M-Net on 011 686 6000 or email bongiwe.selane@mnet.co.za