ACTF News

An episode of the much-loved preschool series Little J & Big Cuz has been recognised for its excellence with writer Samuel Nuggin-Paynter winning an Australian Writers’ Guild Award.

The episode “Levi Learns” from the third series of the ABC/NITV program won the 2022 AWGIE in the Children’s Television ‘P’ category at this month’s ceremony.

An episode of The Strange Chores by Luke Tierney won the AWGIE in the Children’s Television C classification (Children’s – 5-14 Years).

Three scripts from Little J & Big Cuz were nominated in the preschool category, with “Shelter” by Adam Thompson and “Serpent’s Eye” by Dot West also finalists, alongside an episode of Beep and Mort written by Charlotte Rose Hamlyn.

Little J & Big Cuz has now been nominated for eight AWGIE awards across the three series and has taken out the award each time.

Little J & Big Cuz Script Producer Clare Madsen said: "I want to thank all the Little J & Big Cuz writers for their warm-hearted, funny and profound story telling, and their generosity in our development processes - as seasoned writers mentor emerging writers, and all share ideas and their own experiences freely. I'm also grateful for the rigorous creative conversations we have with our producers and directors. And none of this is possible without the support, trust and insightful feedback from our commissioning editors and stakeholders - so thanks very much to all of you."

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “Little J & Big Cuz is an incredibly special series – warm, funny and entertaining, but also extremely valuable viewing for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children who are able to explore Indigenous culture and community through the stories it tells. Congratulations to Samuel and all the talented storytellers behind this wonderful series.”

Little J & Big Cuz Series 3 is a Ned Lander Media and Old Dog Pictures production for ABC and NITV. Financed by Screen Australia, ABC, NITV and The Australian Council for Educational Research in association with Film Victoria and Screen Tasmania. Internationally distributed by the Australian Children's Television Foundation. 

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