Northern Ireland talent among BAFTA Children’s Awards nominations
Date Posted: October 19, 2016
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has today announced the nominations for the British Academy Children’s Awards, which honour the very best in children’s media, with talent from Northern Ireland being recognised. The ceremony will be held at the Roundhouse, London, on Sunday 20 November.
Northern Ireland’s Sixteen South has been nominated in the Independent Production Company of the Year category. The Belfast based animation company is best known for Lilly’s Driftwood Bay which is set on the fictional, rugged Island of Arranish and is about a little girl who creates an imaginary world from treasures she finds washed up on the beach. The show is the first international series of its kind to be created and produced completely in Northern Ireland. It has been sold to over 100 countries and airs locally on Nick Jr, Milkshake, RTÉ2, RTÉjr and Netflix. Lily’s Driftwood Bay received funding from Northern Ireland Screen supported by Invest NI. Sixteen South is also currently working on new production Claude.
Northern Ireland game developer Blackstaff Games has been nominated in the Interactive – Original category for its game DogBiscuit. The game follows the little dog DogBiscuit on an exciting journey with the mission to return colour to the world. Players design worlds individually and draw beautiful things for DogBiscuit and his crayon friends. DogBiscuit received funding from Northern Ireland Screen supported by Invest NI.
The development team behind Zodiak Kids Studios’ Secret life of Boys has also been nominated in the Interactive – Original category. The show follows Ginger Boxwell as she flies from Australia to the UK to spend the summer with four cousins she’s never met before. The interactive TV series allows viewers to discover additional content, including character insights and hidden secrets, which will help piece together Ginger’s big secret; and extra punchlines which allow the user to re-live gags in new ways. The secrets are unlocked online and are a gateway to more fun. Series 1 of Secret Life of Boys filmed in Northern Ireland with series 2 currently in production. Both series received funding from Northern Ireland Screen supported by Invest NI
Richard Williams, CEO Northern Ireland Screen, said “We are delighted for Sixteen South on its nomination for Independent Production Company of the Year. It is a testament to their hardwork and talent, and fully deserved. We are also equally delighted for the nomination for the team behind Secret Life of Boys, it has been a fantastic experience working with Zodiak Kids and supporting the shows production here in Northern Ireland. It is also fantastic to see Blackstaff Games being nominated, a sign that the growing game development sector here in Northern Ireland is beginning to receive the recognition it deserves. We wish them all the best of luck in the awards.”
