Luminaries from children’s film & TV launch Film Street at showbiz premiere

Leading lights from children’s TV and film revealed an exciting new website on Thursday April 27 for very young filmmakers at the Film Street launch event in London.
Anna Home OBE, Chief Executive for the Children’s Film and Television Foundation; Greg Childs, Managing Director, Childs Eye production company; Stewart Till CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of film distributor, United International Pictures (UIP); and Barney Harwood, CBBC and BBC Radio 4 Go 4 It presenter officially launched www.filmstreet.co.uk at a film premiere attended by 100 primary school children plus teachers, film & TV industry executives and educationalists.
Film Street is an exciting and fun website for six to nine-year-olds, designed to unlock imaginations, introduce the joys of film and encourage expression through filmmaking. The website is full of interactive activities, fresh movie-making ideas, expert advice and endless hours of learning enjoyment plus downloadable teaching and learning activities mapped to the curriculum.
Film Street has been commissioned by Culture Online, part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and developed by First Light, the UK Film Council’s young people’s initiative. Partners include CBBC, the British Film Institute, the UK Film Council and Creative Partnerships.
The Film Street launch event was a showbiz film premiere with a twist. The event was developed and organised by primary school children who created their perfect film launch including a red carpet, paparazzi, cartoons and a children’s style tea party as refreshments.
Children’s BBC presenter, Barney Harwood, hosted the colourful event in the main cinema at the Curzon Mayfair alongside characters from the site. Stewart Till, Chairman and Chief Executive of film distributors, United International Pictures introduced Film Street by saying “Inspiring and nurturing the next generation is crucial to the future of British film. Film Street is an inventive and accessible way for young children to actively learn about film.”
Pip Eldridge, First Light’s CEO, walked the 300 strong audience through Film Street meeting a whole host of characters on the way, from pirates and cowgirls to chickens and space hoppers, who offer a wealth of filmmaking advice, activities and games. Pip said “Anyone of any age can log on to Film Street; we’ve made it really easy so everyone can join in the fun!”
Anna Home OBE, the Chief Executive for the Children's Film and Television Foundation and former producer of such classic children’s TV as Grange Hill and Jackanory, added "I love the idea of Film Street. It places film and all its possibilities right at children's finger tips and encourages them to explore this medium and start creating!"
(GB)