Children’s Film and Television Foundation

The Children’s Media Foundation was originally founded in the 1950’s as the Children’s Film Foundation, which in the 70’s became the Children’s Film and Television Foundation.

The Children’s Film Foundation (CFF) was set up with the support of Lord Rank in 1951. Its remit was to make films specifically for children, to be screened at Saturday morning matinees and used in schools.

The Foundation was supported by the British Film Industry, and an annual grant from the Eady Levy (a tax on the sale of cinema tickets). In 1950 the Foundation received 5% of the total fund, and continued to be well funded from this source, enabling the Foundation to make five or six low budget films a year.

These films were very successful and inspired a whole generation of new cinema-goers. They also gave an opportunity for a number of child actors and actresses, who later became stars, to begin their careers. These included Francesca Annis, Michael Crawford and Dennis Waterman.

When the Eady Levy ceased to exist, the Foundation re-organised itself into a development funder for both film and television projects, under a new name, The Children’s Film and Television Foundation (CFTF).

For the next few years the Foundation funded development of some films including Danny the Champion of the World (1989), but concentrated more on television series, enabling the commission of series such as The Borrowers (1992), The Queen’s Nose (1995), The Magician’s House (1999), Gypsy Girl (2001), and An Angel for May (2002).

Subsequently, the CFTF, together with the UK Film Council and the BBC, set up a script development fund for ‘family friendly’ features. Five projects were developed through this fund:

• Curry in a Hurry – Matador Pictures
• Eager – Heyday Films
• The Big Bazhooley – Tiger Aspect Productions
• Everything on a Waffle – Sarah Radclyffe Productions
• Journey to the River Sea – Kudos Productions

The CFTF script development fund is now closed.  The Children’s Media Foundation does not currently offer financial support for content development.

The full list of titles can be explored in detail in the CFTF Catalogue.
Some of the films are available to purchase on DVD.
Clips of the films can be seen on the CFandTF channel on YouTube.

I am very proud to be associated with the CFTF. In the past they produced brilliant films for children and built up a vast and valuable archive.

Jacqueline Wilson, Author