ACTF News

As the ACTF team heads to MIP Junior and MIPCOM, the international market will get its first look at Australia’s latest pre-school heroes – the Knee High Spies, a highly original pre-school series from the award-winning producers of Dance Academy.

This ambitious live-action series incorporates state-of-the-art animatronics, puppets and visual effects to create a magical world where everyday toys have a life of their own, and unbeknownst to their young owners, their well-loved toys Jeremy Buttons, Deena, Squash, and Moss are regularly saving them and the family from the wild schemes of the family guinea pig, Silverpaw.

With missions to complete and interactive puzzles that Jeremy needs the audience’s help to solve, Knee High Spies is completely unique, totally engaging and sure to become a household staple across the globe. 

Produced by Werner Film Productions (Dance Academy, The Newsreader), created by Tim Bain (Kangaroo Beach) and directed by Jack Jameson (Lovely Little Farm, Waffle the Wonder Dog, Sesame Street), Knee High Spies will be in the MIPJNR library and available to screen at the ACTF stand during the market.

Also coming to MIPCOM for the first time is the beautifully animated series Tales from Outer Suburbia, adapted from Academy Award winner Shaun Tan’s bestselling illustrated anthology of the same name. Recently selected to screen at the Annecy Animated Film Festival in France, the 10 x 30-minute series sees Klara and Pim move to the suburbs with their mum, Lucy. Their new neighbourhood isn’t what it seems, though, as the kids encounter weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality.

Produced by Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, with Creative Director Shaun Tan and Director Noel Cleary leading the series, Tales from Outer Suburbia will delight families for years to come with its bold visuals and engaging, thought-provoking stories. This series will be enjoyed by the whole family.

These newly delivered series, along with many other award-winning Australian children’s programs, will be represented by the ACTF at MIP Junior and MIPCOM at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes. Come see us at stand number P-1.G61 from 13-16 October.

Knee High Spies is a Werner Films production for the ABC. Presented by Screen Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation in association with Vic Screen. Distribution by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. 

Tales from Outer Suburbia is a Highly Spirited and Flying Bark production for the ABC and BYUtv. Presented by Screen Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation in association with BYUtv, Screenwest and Lotterywest, and Siamese. Distribution by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.