Amazon and Microsoft have teamed up to promote HD-DVD with the launch of the 1,000 Indies Project designed to make it easier for filmmakers to produce movies in the format.

The project will provide free authoring and set-up services for up to 1,000 selected independent titles.

The partnership will also provide access to the CustomFlix manufacturing-on-demand technology, which is part of the Amazon group of companies.

"This collaboration with Microsoft is a great opportunity for independent filmmakers to reach Amazon customers with their films via the HD-DVD format," said Peter Faricy, vice president of music and movies at Amazon.

The project will be spearheaded by CustomFlix, which will bring as many as 1,000 feature-length independent films to Amazon customers using CustomFlix, which produces and ships DVDs only as they are ordered.

This model aims to improve the cost structure for independent filmmakers by eliminating the need for inventory.

"From a technical standpoint, we found that the HD-DVD format fits our business model perfectly," said Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, co-founder and managing director of CustomFlix.

"With retail shelf space at a premium, our model eliminates the risk of carrying inventory and immediately expands the number of great HD-DVD titles available to consumers."

Christian Vesper, senior vice president of programming, acquisitions and scheduling at the Sundance Channel, added: "Programmes like this from Amazon lower barriers to entry for independent artists, and provide audiences with increased access to high-quality, high-definition content."

Sundance Channel will be reviewing the high-definition films for potential broadcast on its network, as well as making its own HD original series, Big Ideas for a Small Planet, available for purchase through Amazon's HD-DVD programme.