Pay attention now as we present to you the educational part of the website. It's time to step into the way-back machine as we delve into CFF's illustrious history!

The CFF was spawned in the 1950s by the British Film Industry as a non-profit-making company to produce films specifically aimed at kids. Each year they would receive a substantial annual grant with no expectation of a return. The government cited such a company was necessary as imported kids features were not totally suitable and required editing. The CFF promised to produce homegrown features that were both moral and upstanding as well as entertaining. Admission prices were kept low so as to give children from all walks of life the opportunity to attend. Children's cinema clubs would soon become a national institution.

Over the years, many studios had a hand in producing CFF features, providing a great training ground for young filmmakers. Such notables as Peter Rogers (who would go on to create the legendary "Carry On" series) cut their teeth working for them. The Foundation worked closely with the studios to make sure that their standards were being upheld. They would also continuously research their young audience to monitor their ever-changing tastes, always remaining cutting edge.

Production would start with the selection of a story. If it passed the rigorous selection process, where it would be deemed suitable or not, the film rights would be obtained. The story would then be passed on to a freelance scriptwriter or a studio who would develop a final shooting script. It would then require a final approval from the higher ups of the CFF before a budget could be drawn up. The CFF would also have a hand in the selections of technicians, cast, design, costume, location, etc.

As well as domestically, the films were also shipped overseas. They were considered great tools for providing better cultural understanding. CFF films played in over 30 countries and were dubbed in a dozen different languages.

During the 1960s their films would win a number of prestigious awards including "Hunted in Holland" (1960) winning the Diploma of Honour in Cannes, "The Last Rhino" (1963) taking the Pelaya De Oro in Gijon, and "Cup Fever" (1966, starring members of Manchester United) winning the Silver Gondolo and Golden Capricorn awards in Venice. But darker days loomed…

Television would become the downfall of the CFF. By the late '70s, it was producing kids programming of equal, if not better, quality. Cinema club attendance rapidly went to the dogs, and by 1981 it's funding was pulled. Not only unable to meet the challenge of television, it was now forced to sell it's product in order to finance further productions. All good things must come to an end, there's no denying the CFF's influence on popular British culture!

Credit goes to Rowana Agajanian (research assistant in the Sixties Research Group at the Open University, Milton Keynes, UK) for the above information. To read her full article head over to: http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/72_BWTY/CFF.html.