Banff Visionary Joins Victoria Festival

Pat Ferns the legendary visionary behind Banff Television Festival has stepped onto the board of the Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival. Kathy Kay, director of the Festival is delighted by the recent addition. “I can’t believe our good fortune, with Pat’s contacts, knowledge, and panache the Festival can only continue its growth and importance to filmmakers.”

Ferns will be coordinating a new initiative of the Festival’s entitled Trigger Points Pacific, a co-production conference to be held February 4 - 6, 2005. Trigger Points will bring together top industry players – producers, commissioning editors, and broadcasters – from targeted regions to develop co-production deals. "Victoria has a small but vibrant film community. It is growing and has ambitions. This is both a delight and an opportunity to serve my new community, which has welcomed me so warmly. I continue to roam the world as part of my new businesses, and I have added the promotion of Victoria's inviting prospects to my agenda. Who can resist daffodils in February?"

Pat Ferns has produced some of Canada’s finest award-winning film and television programming as well as some of the world’s leading media events. His new company- Ferns Productions Inc. -will continue this tradition, producing and packaging the most innovative talent and projects with the financing they require. Pat Ferns will continue to present his signature pitching sessions, mentoring and leadership training around the world.

Ferns Productions Inc. has formed a strategic association with Towers Productions, Inc. covering factual programming. Ferns’ blue-chip factual production has included presenter-led series with Walter Cronkite, Roger Daltrey, Gerald Durrell, Helen Fisher, David Halberstam, Michael Ignatieff, Jonathan Miller, Malcolm Muggeridge and Al Oeming, as well as numerous single documentaries from Glenn Gould and Germaine Greer to Peter Ustinov and Mai Zetterling. The factual genres in which he has worked include arts, ecology, history, international affairs, literature, natural history, politics, religion, science, society and various forms of factual entertainment.

Ferns’ drama credits include the first Canadian productions on BBC’s Screen2, on PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre and on TNT as well as the first Canadian mini-series on Britain’s ITV and on U.S. network television. His achievements embrace award-winning continuing series and top prizes at festivals in the U.K. and Europe in addition to Canada and across the U.S.A. Among Ferns’ drama credits are Billy Bishop Goes to War, Countdown to Looking Glass, The First Circle, Frontier, Glory Enough for All, Going Home, Heaven on Earth, Labour of Love, Lifeline to Victory, Love on the Run, Northwood, Passion and Paradise, The Sea Wolf, Stage on Screen, Waiting for the Parade and Young Catherine.

Ferns is a recognized arts expert for his ballet and opera productions and his entertainment experience covers the range from game shows to variety specials.

Pat Ferns has been dubbed “the father of independent production” in Canada and is the recipient of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s Achievement Award for “exceptional contribution to the Canadian television industry”.

The 11th annual Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival will be held February 4 - 13, 2005.