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We are a dynamic film and video production company that specializes in making high-quality programming for world markets. Our mission is to tell fascinating stories and inspire audiences with our work. We are dedicated to creating programs that are both innovative and engaging, and we are passionate about using our skills to help bring these visions to life.

We pride ourselves on our professionalism, and we deliver programs that reflect our commitment to quality and excellence. Based in British Columbia, Canada, our talented community of writers, directors, and producers is committed to creating compelling stories that resonate with viewers everywhere. As a multi-award-winning film and television production company, we have become industry leaders in content development and international co-production. We have a proven track record of success, and we bring that experience and expertise to every project we undertake.

CAPTAIN COOK: OBSESSION AND DISCOVERY

bio

Pat Ferns, President of Ferns Productions Inc. and Principal of the International Institute for Television and Media Leadership, is a prominent figure in the television and media industry.

Pat has organized and consulted for various international events, including the CNEX Chinese Documentary Forum and the China International Conference of Science and Education Producers. He has played a pivotal role in fostering documentary culture, notably with the Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, China.

With over five decades of experience, he has produced numerous acclaimed television and new media events, such as the Banff Television Festival and nextMEDIA.

In addition, he has also spearheaded successful factual mini-series like "Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery" and "Darwin’s Brave New World." A renowned speaker, Pat created the first public pitching forum, a platform that has been taken up all over the globe. He is recognized for his efforts in promoting a Canadian presence in television and pioneering independent production in Canada.

Throughout his career, Pat has garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious Academy Achievement Award and membership in The Order of Canada.

His contributions extend to film production, strategic consultation, and event management. Ferns resides in Shirley, BC.

body of work

2007

Captain Cook - Obsession and Discovery

2009

Darwin’s Brave New World

2020

Listening to Orcas

A four-part miniseries narrated by geographer and historian Vanessa Collingridge.

This documentary tells the real story of the life and times of Captain James Cook; the greatest explorer in history who discovered Australia and New Zealand. His three voyages pushed the borders of the British Empire to the ends of the Earth.

A three-part (1Hr) drama-documentary TV series about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by means of natural selection.

It uses reconstruction with present-day documentary between the 19th century and present day. The series was developed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species.

Listening to Orcas, a Germany-France-Canada co-production explores ground-breaking research into the killer whale.

Marine biologist and presenter Sarika Cullis-Suzuki meets up with the scientists who have transformed our awareness of orcas and have turned Johnstone Strait, on British Columbia’s west coast, into a living laboratory of orca research.

2017

1491: The Untold Story Of The Americas Before Columbus

with Aarrow Productions

Presented from an Indigenous-perspective the series for the Aboriginal Peoples’ Network Television, is a journey along a timeline that dates from 20,000 years ago to 1491.

The origins and history of ancient Indigenous societies in North, Central and South America are interpreted by expert Indigenous scholars and cultural leaders in the fields of archaeology, art history, ethnology, genetics, geology, and linguistics.

2018

China: The Miraculous Transformation

with Holgate Productions

It required someone strong to rescue China from the chaos of the Cultural Revolution.

This film reveals how Deng Xiaoping, a strategic genius and the ultimate bureaucrat, used ancient wisdom and 14th Century systems to set China on the road to becoming a superpower.

2018

China’s Hollywood

with CultureLink Media

A China-France co-production for France 5, the film explores China’s emerging international feature film industry, now enjoying worldwide recognition and box office success.

in development

2024

Trade Routes Season I “The South China Sea”

In this blue-chip documentary series from the team that brought you ‘Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery’ and ‘Darwin’s Brave New World’, renowned Geographer Dr. Vanessa Collingridge embarks on an epic four-part journey spanning continents and centuries to reveal the untold story of China's role in the past, present, and future’s competition for control of global commerce.

festival

management