[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 18 in the fields of film, television, theater and music.

(ABC) ★ Ke Huy Quan – Together We Stand (CBS) ★ Christina Applegate – Heart of the City (ABC) ★ Billy Jacoby – The Golden Girls (NBC) ★ Alyson Croft – Highway to Heaven (NBC) ★ Brandon Call – Santa Barbara (NBC) ★ Kimberly McCullough – General Hospital (ABC) ★ Scott Nemes – It's Garry Shandling's Show (Showtime) ★ David Mendenhall – Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer (Warner Bros) ★ Kristie Baker – Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!

(Lee Mendelson/Bill Melendez Productions) ★ CBS Schoolbreak Special – God, The Universe, And Hot Fudge Sundaes (CBS) ★ Our House (NBC) ★ Jim Henson's Muppet Babies (Jim Henson Productions/Marvel Productions) ★ Rainbow Brite (Warner Bros.) ★ The Dirt Bike Kid (Trinity Pictures, Inc.) ★ The Karate Kid Part II (Columbia) ★ "Father and Son" – Pacific Bell ★ Jimmy Salvemini and Tiffany Renee ★ Wendy Anderson ★ Little House Under the Moon (China) – Deputy Director: Jie Yu; Director: Yuqiang Zhang.

★ Kids Incorporated – Ensemble: Ryan Lambert, Renee Sands, Rahsaan Patterson, Stacy Ferguson and Martika.

★ Stand By Me – Ensemble: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell.