[1][2][3] Established in 1978 by long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press Association member, Maureen Dragone, the Youth in Film Association was the first organization to establish an awards ceremony specifically set to recognize and award the contributions of performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television, theater and music.

[3] ★ Sean Astin - Staying Together (Hemdale Film Corporation) ★ Winona Ryder - Great Balls of Fire!

(Orion Pictures) ★ Hugh O'Conor - My Left Foot (Miramax Films) ★ Gaby Hoffmann - Field of Dreams (Universal Studios) ★ Brian Austin Green - Adventures in Babysitting (Walt Disney Television) ★ Juliet Sorcey - Taken Away (CBS) ★ Neil Patrick Harris - Doogie Howser, M.D.

★ Scott Nemes - It's Garry Shandling's Show (Showtime) ★ Lark Voorhies - Saved by the Bell (NBC) ★ R. J. Williams - General Hospital (ABC) ★ Ashley Peldon - Guiding Light (CBS) ★ Brian Bonsall - Family Ties (NBC) ★ Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - Full House (ABC) ★ A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (NBC) - Garland Spencer, A.J.

Johnson, Leon, T. C. Carson, Swain Perry, Nathaniel Barnes, Robert Bady, Shamon Ricks and Larry O. Williams ★ I Know My First Name Is Steven (NBC) ★ Major Dad (CBS) ★ Out of This World ★ The Little Mermaid (Disney) ★ Back to the Future Part II (Universal) ★ Parenthood (Universal) ★ Dead Poets Society (Touchstone) ★ Jon Provost - Lassie ★ Margaret O'Brien - Journey for Margaret ★ Donna Metroff, Producer - WonderWorks PBS ★ Norman Twain, Producer - Lean on Me ★ Christopher Burke - Life Goes On ★ Salvatore Cascio (Italy) - Cinema Paradiso ★ Max Rennie (England) - When the Whales Came ★ Helen Pearce (England) - When the Whales Came ★ When the Whales Came (England)