YACF Initiates Broadcaster Collaboration for Kids’ Film Sol

The BFI’s Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF) has brought together CITV, ITV Hub, ALL 4, My5, TG4, S4C and BBC ALBA to jointly broadcast Sol, a new children’s animation about grief.

Aiming to bring light and comfort to families with young children on the darkest day of the year, the Winter Solstice, Sol is an uplifting animated film about a little boy’s journey through grief. Originally commissioned by the Celtic-language broadcasters TG4, S4C and BBC ALBA, it will air in three languages (Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic) and with English subtitles on the national U.K. broadcasters and platforms.

The 28-minute film was made by Belfast-based Paper Owl Films. Aardman is distributing. Sol has been funded by the YACF and The Northern Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Screen Fund. The Albert calculator and sustainable production certification was used to measure and reduce the production’s carbon footprint.

Fionnula Flanagan voices Sol’s grandmother, while Myra Zepf (author and winner of Ireland’s Children’s Book of the Year prize) voices Sol’s mother. Sol himself is voiced by 12-year-old Zana Akkoc. The film’s song has been recorded by Moya Brennan, a member of Celtic folk band Clannad.

Jackie Edwards, head of the YACF, said: “Sol is about remembering, with love, those we’ve lost, knowing we’re not alone and encouraging families to talk about their loss. Far too many children and young people are experiencing grief this year, and so we wanted to create a moment to pause and reflect, and for PSBs to come together and co-transmit this special film to as many of this country’s young people as possible to support them to find light in the darkness.”

Paul Mortimer, head of digital channels and acquisitions at ITV, said: “CITV and the ITV Hub are pleased to support this wonderful initiative. The film is a beautifully realized story that will bring comfort to kids across the U.K. at the end of a dark year for everyone, helping children understand and deal with sadness and grief that may have touched them.”

Creative director Grainne McGuinness commented: “Now, more than ever, children need strong visual stories to help them deal with unfamiliar emotions and to inspire a way forward full of optimism.”