Children's Film Unit

[2] The CFU operated outside of normal school hours, when during regular weekend and holiday workshops the children were trained to a high level of competence in all aspects of filmmaking, including camera-work, lighting, sound, acting, writing, and costume.

[7] Willie's War at The Prince Charles Cinema, WC2, on Thursday 4 May 1995[8] The Gingerbread House at BAFTA, Piccadilly, on Monday 3 March 1997[9] Almost all of their films have been shown on Channel 4, had a theatrical release, and been distributed in territories around the world.

Cast includes: Julian Silvester, Freddie Jones, Douglas Storm A Swarm in May (1983)[13] Returning to the school where he is a chorister, after an unhappy Easter holiday, John Owen faces the daunting task of singing the Beekeeper's solo in an ancient ritual at Whitsuntide.

Cast includes: Oliver Hicks, Jack May, Frank Middlemass, Douglas Storm Mister Skeeter (1984) Lisa and Jamie are residents in a children's home, which is threatened with closure.

Cast includes: Peter Bayliss, Louise Rawlings, Orlando Wells Dark Enemy (1984) Set in an idyllic valley, the story centres around a group of children surviving after the death of their elders.

Cast includes: David Haig, Douglas Storm Daemon (1985) Unhappy schoolboy, Nick Foster, is sent to a psychiatrist after developing sores and hearing strange voices.

Cast includes: Jenni Barrand, Jeremy Coster, Peter Bayliss, Sebastian Knapp Under The Bed (1988) Adapted from a story by Bill Oddie and Laura Beaumont, this is the story of Felicity, whose habit of throwing things under her bed, including an uneaten bowl of cereal, moldy apples cores, family heirlooms, and even elderly relatives, leads to the birth of "Heap", a monster with an insatiable appetite.

Cast includes: Nicola Stewart, Thomas Arnold, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, Peter Corey, Maria Charles Hard Road (1988) An accidental meeting between bored schoolgirl, Kelly, and suicidal schoolboy, Max, leads to the two children stealing a Ferrari and running away together in it.

After organising a protest and gaining media attention, Gavin enlists the aid of a sympathetic teacher to help him break into the power station with a Geiger counter.

Cast includes: Ian Hogg, Susan Curnow, Michael Bond, Damian Hodges, David Issacs, Danny Joy, Russell Lyesight, Hayden Peters, Carlton Taylor, Ben Wheeler How's Business (1991) Adapted from the book by Alison Prince, this wartime drama follows young Howard Grainger as he is evacuated from London during the Blitz and relocated to the countryside, where he begins a series of schemes to try and accrue sufficient funds to return home.

Cast includes: Ben Brazier, Ron Moody, Paul Brightwell, Paul Copley, Sara Clee, Richard Digance, Don Henderson, Brett Fancy, Emily Richard, Ann Way, Carol MacReady Emily's Ghost (1992) Edwardian drama about a girl who dreams of becoming a doctor, but is unable to pursue her ambitions due to the social constraints of the era.

Cast includes: Lee Turnbull, Jean Alexander, Philip Boddy, Gordon Griffin, Edward Highmore, Jemima Rooper, Tat Whalley Nightshade (1995) A break in the country has sinister repercussions for the Brady Family.

Cast includes: Danielle Hawley, Danny Barnham, Ian Johnstone, Gordon Griffin, Brian Sibley, Wendy Jones, Patsy Byrne Awayday (1997) Cast includes: Daniel Cogan, David Comerford, Tom Golding, Shanie Hanley, Rachel Malin The CFU continued to operate for the first decade of the new millennium, but lack of funding prevented them from making any further feature films.

Colin Finbow on location for "Doombeach" (1989) Photograph by Kit Ellis