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LONDON -- Myriad Pictures and Grosvenor Park's First Choice Films have boarded the Istvan Szabo pic "Being Julia," starring Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons and produced by Robert Lantos.

Myriad will act as U.K. co-producer and handle international sales on the pic, which starts shooting in June. First Choice will provide 30% of the budget in equity financing.

"Being Julia" is one of the first three films being backed by the First Choice tax fund. The others are the Marc Evans pic "Trauma," which is also being sold by Myriad (Daily Variety 4/9/03); and Richard Jobson's "The Purifiers," a martial arts gang movie set in Britain in the near future.

"The Purifiers" stars Kevin McKidd, and is produced by Jobson and Chris Atkins of Vestry Films, along with Bill Kenwright. Kenwright is co-financing with Scottish Screen and Park Entertainment, which is handling international sales. Shooting starts May 5.