ACTF

Here’s to you, Mum! This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating our favourite on-screen mums and mother figures from Australian children’s TV.

SLR Productions' CGI sci-fi space series Space Nova launches on the ABC this April. The series has undertaken an extraordinary five-year journey from concept to broadcast. SLR Productions CEO and Executive Producer Suzanne Ryan details what it takes to finance and develop a high-quality Australian children’s series.

Northern Pictures Executive Producer, Catherine Nebauer, and Head of ABC Children’s, Libbie Doherty, reflect on the key takeaways of making a fun and fast-paced series like Hardball, and share some of the challenges of filming during a pandemic.

A place on screen can be just as inspirational and important as any character we know and love.

We all love to remember watching Round The Twist as kids (and as adults too!), but did you know that the show's highly-anticipated Australian launch happened while everyone was still in bed? Here’s the story of how 30 years ago, Round The Twist’s Aussie premiere was swept out to sea.

The future of Australian screen content, including support for children’s content, is the subject of a Commonwealth Government review. The ACTF submission argues that the children’s audience is the most important audience of all.

Performer Ghenoa Gela aspires to inspire, especially kids. Her enthusiastic role as host of children’s live-action series Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors? is already resonating with families watching at home.

In a special Q&A webinar hosted by the ACTF and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA), Nadia shared her tips for young writers to inspire those entering this year’s My Place Competition.

New live-action series Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors? provides valuable opportunities for co-engaging in screen content and sharing family stories with kids.

How are animation producers adapting their workflow in a locked-down world? As productions across Australia are cancelled or put on hold, producers find creative ways to keep their projects moving during the worldwide Covid-19 lockdown period.

Australian live-action children’s series Thalu recently premiered on NITV. In just a few short weeks, the series has piqued the interest of critics and been a popular viewing choice for families.

International Women’s Day calls for collective action to forge a gender equal world. How are Australian children’s programs tracking on this front, and in what ways can our local industry act towards equality?

The ACTF has responded to the Review of the National Classification System.

The shows we watched as kids leave their mark and define us, and when we re-visit them years later, we sometimes discover extra layers. YouTuber Tristan Mildenhall explains what Nowhere Boys meant to him and his friends growing up.

SLR Productions has announced the cast for its futuristic series, Space Nova. But what does it take to get to this point? Come behind the scenes to find out about the extraordinary three-year journey to develop and finance a children’s series.

As an organisation that is passionate about children’s cultural and educational experiences, the ACTF greatly values student work experience programs. Introducing teens to the world of work – often for the first time – is a privilege, and we always aim to make this experience meaningful and inspiring.

A whole year off the mark, how is it that the Internet has got Round The Twist's 30-year anniversary so wrong — and why can no one remember when this iconic program went to air? It’s because in Australia, Round The Twist was buried. Here’s the story behind it.

Crash Zone’s Nikolai Nikolaeff revisits the world of OzKidsTV and tells us how kids' TV kick-started his international career. “It’s a cultural treasure, this place… kids around the world need content like this to learn to interact with each other and to develop as people. I think it’s really important.”

Although Australian children’s television is the most vulnerable form of Australian content, it has the best story to tell and provides the greatest public benefit. Here’s why Australian children’s television is so important.

“It didn’t seem weird at the time.” In the '90s, faceless dolls, talking elevators and all-seeing plants were just normal parts of growing up Australian. Actor Luke Carroll remembers his time on the wacky and lovable OzKidsTV series, Lift Off!.

In a powerful keynote address at the 2018 Children’s Media Conference, screen director Beeban Kidron explains why we must fight for the rights of children and young people in a digital world. 

Australian children’s television holds a special place in many hearts around the world. We've scoured the web to bring together some of the #OzKidsTV fan art and tributes we love.

Storytelling is one of the oldest and one of the most common of all human traits. It is also one of the strangest and one of the least understood.

In this Q&A with the ACTF’s Head of Education, Peter Maggs and Curriculum Officer, Janine Kelly, we learn how the ACTF Education team connect schools with the stars.

In this Q&A with International Sales Managers, Roberta Di Vito and Tim Hegarty, we learn how the ACTF Sales Team work together to sell Australian television series across the globe.

Heidi Arena (Mrs Gonsha) from Little Lunch delivers a lesson on the importance of stories for children on Australian screens.

If you care about Australian children’s content we encourage you to contribute to the Commonwealth Government’s review of the way it supports Australian content, including children’s content.

Watch Miranda Tapsell, Deborah Mailman and fellow cast talk about why it’s important to make a show like Little J and Big Cuz - that young indigenous kids can relate to - and how it might help close the education gap