Letheren is nominated for a most promising newcomer prize

Wearing, who ran the BBC serials department and was behind such dramas as Boys from the Blackstuff and Our Friends in the North, has stressed the sheer topicality of the drama.

'Waking dream'

"This is right on the agenda," he told BBC News Online.

"It is a kind of mad, waking dream of a movie but it does pick up on themes that are not being reflected in contemporary drama."

South West Nine tells the story of five characters whose lives interweave in one 24-hour period in Brixton.

The film, shot only a year ago, touches on anti-globalisation, ethnic clashes, drugs, clubbing and internet anarchy.

"With something like this you need to move fast on getting it going," says Mr Wearing, who found investors in the US and Ireland to get it off the ground.

The film is from the Production company behind Human Traffic

"Its been quite hairy, but very exciting," says Wearing of the swift turn around.

Unique collaboration

South West Nine has already had five nominations for the forthcoming British Independent Film Awards (Bifa), including for best film, best newcomer and best directing debut.

The film is also nominated for a best music prize for its soundtrack featuring Jamelia, Baby Fox and a unique collaboration, specially composed for the film by Orbital and Alabama 3.

The most promising newcomer nominee is Mark Letheren, for his role as drug-dealer sidekick Mitch.

Mitch's performance during his accidental acid overdose is already being critically acclaimed, but Wearing says the film is very much a group effort.

"Everybody in the cast is very young and relatively new to the scene," he says.

"That it has worked is not so much a surprise as a sign of vindication."