The film industry in the West Midlands is blossoming as two regionally-backed movies look set to hit the screens, an expert has said.

The boost comes as the BBC gets set to plough at least £100 million into the sector across the UK over the next decade.

Half of the money will be spent making BBC films, which include Confetti, which was partly shot in Birmingham and backed by Screen West Midlands. It is due to be released in April.

The other £50 million will be spent acquiring British films for broadcast.

Screen West Midlands new talent manager Dan Lawson said: "At the moment things are really happening and blossoming. The film industry here is gaining real momentum and the announcement from the BBC is very welcome indeed."

He said Screen West Midlands put in £250,000 for Confetti , which cost around £1 million and was directed by Debbie Isitt, who was brought up in Birmingham and is based in Coventry.

A 20 minute clip was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and the movie was picked up for distribution in the UK by 20th century Fox.

Mr Lawson said: "This was a major success for us. Proceeds will be ploughed back into projects in the region."

The film brings together an ensemble of UK comedy talent including Martin Freeman and Alison Steadman.

Also due for release is the Screen West Midlands- backed Channel 4 movie Road To Guantanamo.

The film tells the story of the so-called Tipton Three, who were locked up at the notorious detention camp.

It was partly shot in the region and will be released simultaneously at UK cinemas, on DVD, and the internet - the first time this has been done.

Screen West Midlands put in £150,000 for the project - ten per cent of the cost.

Channel 4 will air it on March 9 and the following day, the film will open in cinemas and be available for sale in shops or online.

Mr Lawson said: "This success, and a number of movies in the pipeline, show the optimism that there is in the industry at the current time."

Last week the industry was boosted by the launch of FILM Birmingham, a Birmingham City Council-backed scheme.

It is is designed to strengthen the city's reputation as a centre for film and television production as well as supporting a wide range of festivals and events.

The BBC cash injection provides welcome news following Britain's Bafta flop, which saw the Academy over-look homegrown talent in favour of US films.

It is the result of a partnership between the BBC and the UK Film Council, two of the biggest stakeholders in the British movie industry.

The investment strategy is subject to a "favourable" licence fee settlement, which will be set by the Government later this year.

Under the plans, the BBC's film production budget will increase by a minimum of 50 per cent from £10 million a year to £15 million a year.

In recent years, BBC films have included the likes of Billy Elliot, Mrs Henderson Presents and Match Point.

The Corporation's acquisition budget allocated to British films will rise by a minimum of £50 million over the next ten years.

Recent acquisitions include Bend It Like Beckham , Chicken Run and Bridget Jones's Diary.

The BBC has also snapped up the rights to the Bafta- winning Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-rabbit.

Jana Bennett, the BBC's director of television, said: "Films make a huge contribution to the mix of content on offer to British TV viewers.

"By investing this acquisition money in UK films, we are ensuring that television audiences have access to a mix of movies which includes the very best of British."

While many of the acquired films will be shown on main channels BBC1 and BBC2, there will be extra commitment to new talent on digital channel BBC3.

John Woodward, chief executive officer of the UK Film Council, said: "Our new partnership, backed by the substantial increase of the BBC's films budget, is a real boost for the British film industry.

"We've always worked well with the BBC in the past, but we now have a unique opportunity to put this relationship on a new footing."

This year's Baftas proved a huge disappointment for the British film industry.

The Constant Gardener was nominated in ten categories but ended up with just one prize. Instead the main awards went to big-budget Hollywood films such as Brokeback Mountain and Memoirs Of A Geisha.

Pride And Prejudice star Keira Knightley did not even merit a nomination, despite being up for an Oscar.