Crazy Fun Park headlines extensive ACTF offering at MIPCOM

The ACTF international distribution team will return to MIP Junior and MIPCOM over the next two weeks for the first time since 2019, launching eight series to international broadcasters.

MIPCOM is the world’s largest exhibition of studios and distributors and the top showcase for content across all genres and platforms. Industry professionals from more than 100 countries will converge on Cannes, France, to compete for new series, meet international production partners and set the development agenda for the year ahead.

MIP Junior is a kids content market for producers, distributors and buyers of kids programming, which precedes MIPCOM.

Heading the line-up for the ACTF is Crazy Fun Park, the upcoming live action horror-comedy series for teens by Werner Film Productions for the ABC.

Crazy Fun Park is the story of Chester, a teenage boy whose life is turned upside down following the death of his best friend Mapplethorpe at an abandoned theme park. Chester discovers that the soul of Mapplethorpe is very much still alive and kicking – so he returns night after night to hang out with his friend and the other undead kids who haunt the fun park.

Producer Joanna Werner said: “It’s a unique show: it’s about boyhood friendship and dealing with growing up and moving apart from each other, but also loss and grief. The characters get to experience a fantastically incredible time in a fun park at night-time, where all the kids that have died there come alive again.

“We're really hoping that people who love Stranger Things will love this. I really feel like it's a very universal theme, so we feel and hope that we can get a really wide audience. And it's fun. It's a really fun show to watch, with moments of beautiful depth, as well.”

Also being launched at the MIPCOM market are:

Barrumbi Kids - the coming-of-age story of Tomias and Dahlia, two 11-year-old best friends growing up in a remote community in the Northern Territory. Produced by Tamarind Tree Pictures and Ambience Entertainment, Barrumbi Kids will air exclusively on National Indigenous Television (NITV) later this year.

MaveriX - the exhilarating story of a group of teenage motocross riders set against the spectacular backdrop of Australia’s red centre. The Brindle Film series premiered to Australian audiences on ABC ME and iview in April and can now be streamed internationally on Netflix.

Built to Survive – an exciting natural history series, produced by Butter Media for the ABC. It follows outback adventurer, biologist and third generation Indigenous educator, Phil Breslin, as he braves some of the country’s most extreme environments in search of the ultimate animal survivors: species that have evolved to withstand Australia’s extreme conditions and unique ecosystems.

More Than This – a ground-breaking teen drama series from Baby Banksia. Written and created by teen actor Olivia Deeble, More Than This is the real, authentic and often raw story of five high school students and their teacher whose diverse worlds collide when they are thrown together into an extension English class.

Kangaroo Beach – a delightful preschool animation series, produced by Cheeky Little Media for the ABC. Four young animal friends share an action-packed summer training as cadets with their lifeguard heroes and keeping the water safe at the spectacular Kangaroo Beach.

First Day Series 2 – in the second series of the International Emmy Award winning First Day, transgender student Hannah runs for Class Captain and exposes an underlying level of transphobia among her classmates. She starts a group for LGBTQIA+ students but risks alienating her closes friends in the process. Produced by Epic Films for the ABC.

Little J & Big Cuz Series 3 – Little J and Big Cuz are a couple of Indigenous Australian kids, busy with the ups and downs of the classroom and the playground. Produced by Old Dog Pictures for the ABC and NITV.

Visit the ACTF team during MIPCOM in the Palais des Festivals at stand number P-1.G77.