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Groundbreaking Series First Day Heads to the UK

The ACTF has secured a deal with UK public broadcaster BBC for children’s series First Day. The live action drama will broadcast on BBC’s children’s channel, CBBC.

The ground-breaking drama series First Day follows transgender teen, Hannah Bradford’s first year of high school. Not only does Hannah have to navigate the challenges that come with starting a new school and new friendships, but also find the courage to live as her most authentic self.

The new series which features transgender actor Evie Macdonald in the lead role, builds on the highly-acclaimed stand-alone episode commissioned in 2017, which was awarded the Diversity TV Excellence Award for Kids’ Programming at MIPCOM 2018, the Gender Equity Prize at the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International in 2018, Best Children’s Series (Fiction) at Fan Chile 2018, in addition to Best Screenplay and the Audience Award at the Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney in 2018.

The ACTF’s International Sales Manager, Tim Hegarty said “The BBC is recognised as one of the most prestigious broadcasters of children’s programs in the world, the ACTF and the series creators are thrilled that children and families in the UK will be able to watch this important series on CBBC.” Hegarty added “this sale of First Day to the BBC adds to the catalogue of sales for the series which include YLE (Finland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden) and MOMOKIDS (Taiwan).”

First Day is produced by Epic Films in association with Kojo Entertainment, with investment from Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation , the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the ACTF. The Australian Children’s Television Foundation distributes First Day internationally.