BFI Reveals New Slate from Young Audiences Content Fund

The BFI has unveiled the latest slate from the government-funded Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), with 12 brand-new commissions, a recommission and five development awards from across the U.K.

Channel 5’s Milkshake!, CITV, Channel 4, S4C and BBC ALBA all have new commissions within the portfolio, including a recommission of Milkshake!’s Go Green With the Grimwades and Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby commissioned for Channel 4 as this year’s animated Christmas Special.

MG ALBA announced one of the largest investments in children’s content since BBC ALBA’s inception, with the Scottish Gaelic live-action kids’ comedy Triùir aig Trì (Three at 3) receiving support from the YACF. Also for BBC ALBA is the children’s drama Am Piàno (The Piano).

ITV2 ordered YACF-backed content for the first time, with a brand-new coming-of-age teen drama Tell Me Everything from Noho Films and Television.

Previously announced as development projects, Pop Paper City (Milkshake!) and The Sound Collector (CITV) are now commissions. The BFI has a 10 percent conversation rate of development awardees to commissions for the YACF, which is 5 percent higher than the industry standard.

Also for CITV, there are Ted’s Top 10, produced by Zodiak Kids Studio UK, and The Sound Collector, produced by Eagle vs Bat.

For S4C, there are Y Goleudy (The Lighthouse), Etholiad ’21: Taswn i’n Brif Weinidog Cymru (Election 21: If I were the First Minister) and Dwdl a Fi.

Development awards have gone to the documentary Protest (Awen Productions), the situation comedy Idris’ Life (ChorMedia), the factual series Asking for a Friend (w/t) (BiLLO Studio), the young adult drama (Dis)Harmony (Headline Pictures) and comedy-drama Ready to Launch (276 Productions).

Head of Fund Jackie Edwards said: “We are so overjoyed that, despite the challenges of the past year, we are still continuing to make such a vital contribution to the children’s media landscape. To see all of these new unique and distinctive projects commissioned that speak to public service values and reflect and represent the U.K. is truly wonderful. We are thrilled that we are achieving a conversion rate of 10 percent of development to production, showcasing the Fund’s use of resources and the value for money within the sector. Public service content is now, more than ever, such a vital resource for young audiences, serving a range of different stories that offer a varied and broader perspective for young minds in the U.K., that are free and accessible to all.”

Minister for Media and Data John Whittingdale said: “I’m pleased that a new raft of exciting productions for young audiences will be brought to life through this round of awards. It is fantastic to see this publicly funded scheme continues to support homegrown talent and original TV that inspires young people and properly reflects the world they live in.”