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Exciting projects in the pipeline thanks to record development investment

Book adaptations, feature length films and a new live-action comedy series from Little Lunch producers Gristmill are among the projects to be allocated ACTF development funding in 2021/22.

A total of $848,861 was committed to 16 projects across the ACTF’s 2021/22 development funding rounds – a record 12-month spend for the organisation.

It was a year of change as children’s producers and writers continued to adapt to the changing television environment, where SVOD platforms are a major focus for the child audience alongside public broadcasters and dedicated children’s channels. The bar is higher than ever with all platforms looking for high-quality, original content that will engage their child audience.

Across the development rounds we have seen a focus on feature length projects, high end shorter form animation, young adult/teen fiction and a mix of live action, animation and factual projects.

Book adaptations were a focus across the year, with development funding provided for Tales from Outer Suburbia, an animated series from Highly Spirited and Flying Bark based on the Shaun Tan book; You Must Be Layla, a live action series from Goalpost Pictures adapting Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s novel; and the pre-school book series Ginnie and Pinnie, an animation from Moody Street Kids.

The live action/puppet pre-school series Knee High Spies from Werner Films and creator Tim Bain also received further funding in 21/22.

In the primary school age group, development funding was approved for the next Gristmill live-action comedy series Lightning Primary, as well as Northern Pictures The Many Worlds of Michaela Moreda and Built To Survive, which was developed by Butter Media and is now airing on ABC ME and iview.

Feature length films for both theatrical and/or SVOD release were well represented this year, with funding going to the development of live action films The Last Tiger from Moving Floor Entertainment and WOOF from the team at Wildheart Films, as well as animated feature films Arkana from Moody Street Kids and Mister Dependable.

The ACTF was also pleased to be able to support the development of subsequent seasons of existing programs we represent, including second series of the popular preschool program Kangaroo Beach (Cheeky Little Media) and Space Nova (SLR Productions), and a fourth season of the award-winning animated series Little J and Big Cuz.

ACTF Head of Content Bernadette O’Mahony said: “We are incredibly excited about the quality of the ideas we’ve seen and the creative teams attached to the projects we have supported. There’s a broad range of stories, voices and genres. We are looking forward to seeing the projects that emerge at the end of each development stage and continuing to work with such great creative teams.”

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “The ACTF received additional Commonwealth funding last year and it has enabled us not only to support several exciting brand-new projects, but also to fund the development of new series of much-loved programs like Little J and Big Cuz and Kangaroo Beach. 2021/22 has been a huge year for the ACTF.”

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