Britt Allcroft, who created the Thomas the Tank Engine phenomenon, makes her feature film directorial debut with Thomas and the Magic Railroad, an epic tale of adventure and wonderment for all ages.
Allcroft has already brought her own look, style and content to entertainment for family audiences around the world. In the early 1980s she re-discovered The Railway Series of books from her childhood which were largely unknown outside of the UK. Allcroft brought these stories to life in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends on British network television in 1984 and watched the concept blossom into an award winning phenomenon on four continents. Thomas and his friends captured the hearts of millions and inspired a mini-industry of Thomas the Tank Engine-related businesses. In the late 80s, she co-created and began producing Shining Time Station, which has been honoured with an Emmy Award, a Parents Choice Gold Award, an Action for Children’s Television Award and a Gemini Award.
Her production, Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie is an animated musical sitcom for kids. The show, which airs on the Fox Family Channel in the US, has premiered around the world to strong ratings and critical acclaim.
Allcroft has always been fascinated by the power of storytelling. She began writing for magazines at age 15 and by 17 had her own spots for radio and telelvision shows. She quicky rose through the ranks of British netwoek television as a writer/director/producer, working in every genre including dramas, documentaries, talk shows, game shows and the performing arts.
She drew attention with the series Mothers by Daughters, created for Channel 4 and shown in the US on PBS. The highly acclaimed production set the tone for Britt Allcroft’s forthcoming production finding the extraordinary world that exists within the ordinary.
