Australian Children’s Television Foundation

September 23, 2009 World Screen

Roberta Di Vito & Tim Hegarty 
 International Sales Executives

What are some of your top properties for MIPCOM?
The ACTF is launching a second series of Lockie Leonard with 26 new episodes. In series two, Lockie Leonard is back with more adventures and laughs as he continues to navigate young love, his definitely odd family, his attempts to reach for the stars, and the occasionally intense experiences of being a young teenager. Lockie Leonard, together with his family and friends, continue to stumble their way through a succession of funny yet always touching and empowering snapshots of the weirdness of everyday teenage life and love. My Place is a family series set in one place in South Sydney. It starts in 2008 and goes back to 1888. Each episode takes you back ten years to each child living in the same space of Earth. You meet children of Aboriginal, Greek, German, Chinese, American, Irish and English origin. The series is a microcosm of Australian history, all from children’s points of view. New to the ACTF catalogue is the animated series Deadly. It’s hard work when you’re 12-years old, and have to look after your mother, who has just turned 2. It’s frustrating being a runaway in search of your family, with only a faded photo to go on. And it’s absolutely DEADLY knowing that the seeds of a blue tea plant have been washed into the river system, and any moment now plants will grow that can keep people young forever. Based on the bestselling series of books by Australia’s top children’s authors Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings, Deadly is a twisted mix of action, entertainment and eternal toddlers, for fun-loving teenagers everywhere.
 
Why will these programs appeal to buyers?
The ACTF is a world-renowned producer of top quality children’s programs, with sales to more than 100 territories. The production values, quality of scripts and choice of cast are all exemplary. The titles mentioned above are all unique and highly entertaining—children around the world watching these programs will identify with the characters and their experiences.
 
What are some of the trends you’re currently seeing in this market?
As always, buyers are looking for series filled with great characters, strong stories, emotions and humor with universal themes that children can relate to regardless of the country in which they live. In particular, it appears that live action programming is now high on the agenda for many buyers, where once animation was their key interest.
 
What are your goals and expectations MIPCOM?
To create an interest for our new programs that are being launched at MIPCOM with the ultimate aim being to sell those programs into as many territories as possible. Given the quality of new programs being launched at MIPCOM we anticipate that they will be well received by buyers.