By Darren Waters BBC News Online entertainment staff

A scheme to increase the numbers of women feature film directors is to be launched by Women in Film and Television (WFTV) and United International Pictures (UIP).

Directing Change will give two UK-based women on the brink of a film career the opportunity to shadow an established director on a production.

Jane Campion (left) is a rare female director Oscar winner

It has the backing of Gurinder Chadha, the director of Bend it like Beckham, The Piano director Jane Campion, as well as Alan Parker, Anthony Minghella, Mike Newell, Stephen Frears, Michael Apted, and producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

Stewart Till, chairman and chief executive of UIP, said: "In the UK and around the world at the moment women directors are having trouble breaking into feature films.

Oscar winners

"There are exceptions - but they are infrequent exceptions."

Anthony Minghella supports the scheme

Latest figures show that only 6% of top grossing films have been directed by women and in the UK, eight of a total of 350 features produced in the UK were directed by women.

Only two women - Campion and Lina Wertm�ller - have been nominated for the best director Oscar.

Mr Till said: "The point of this plan is for two women directors with some directing experience, on the brink of a film career, to be able to shadow an experienced director on a production."

He said UIP had a responsibility to help facilitate change.

"There is such a disconnect between the numbers of women in the industry and the numbers of women directors.

"The industry would be better if there were more women directors."

Jane Cussons, chief executive of WFTV, said: "When WFTV was alerted to the falling number of women feature film directors from research conducted in the US and UK, we were determined to address the alarming situation.

"It is our hope that this scheme will become an established route for women directors looking to break in to big budget features."

WFTV will take applications from women with some directorial experience before choosing two to take part.

It is hoped Directing Change, which is launched on Thursday, will become an annual scheme.