Larbert pupil's big ideas for the future heading for the small screen

A youngster’s vision of what the world will be like in 75 years has won a national competition and is about to be screened multiple times on CITV.
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Larbert Village Primary School pupil Ellie Toms (10) impressed the judges to become a final winner in the BFI See Yourself on Screen Challenge – a UK-wide competition for four to 18-year-olds, administered by the BFI’s Young Audience Content Fund.

The competition asked young people like Ellie all over the UK to produce an idea for a television show which would be set in the year 2096.

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Ellie created a great film entitled Our (Not So) Perfect Future Life which asked the question, in a time when life is full of gadgets and robots, what happens when they all decide to break down on the same day?

Larbert Village Primary School pupil Ellie Toms (10) will soon be a telly starLarbert Village Primary School pupil Ellie Toms (10) will soon be a telly star
Larbert Village Primary School pupil Ellie Toms (10) will soon be a telly star
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During the making of the two-minute film, Ellie was mentored by TV and radio presenter Vick Hope, and her short film will be airing on CITV on October 25, 26, 27 and 28.

Martin Toms, Ellie’s proud dad, said: “Ellie’s idea was how we rely on technology and what would happen if one day it all broke. After winning her eight to 13-year-old age group, She had to act and film her two-minute short story which was then edited by a professional producer.

"Radio 1 DJ Vick Hope gave her top tips and ideas for the film which is going to be shown four times next week on Children’s ITV. As part of the competition, Ellie has also been invited to be interviewed by Sky News kids programme FYI Kids all about her experience.”

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The competition is part of the BFI’s Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which supports the creation of distinctive, high-quality content for audiences up to the age of 18.

It’s a three-year pilot project which will support the creation of content – like Ellie’s film – for children and young audiences to be broadcast on free-to-access, Ofcom regulated television channels and online platforms.

Financed by UK Government as part of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Contestable Fund, the YACF aims to provide new avenues for creators of original content and bring new voices to the market, and back content which entertains, informs and reflects the experiences of young people growing up across the UK today.

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