Icon Films


Zinc Media taps Humble Bee creative chief to lead new Bristol-based factual label

UK factual outfit Zinc Media Group has poached Humble Bee Films’ creative director to helm a newly launched Bristol-based label, which will produce history, science, adventure and documentary programming. Atomic Television is being led by Stephen McQuillan and will work with commissioners and co-production partners in the US, UK and internationally, across all platforms. McQuillan, […]

Love Nature expands originals with Big Wave & WildBear commissions

Blue Ant Media’s global wildlife and nature brand Love Nature has unveiled a slate of original programming, including two new series. My Best Friend’s An Animal (6 x 60 minutes) is from UK-based Big Wave Productions and offers a light-hearted look at the unlikely bonds formed between humans and their wild animal friends. It is joined by […]

UK’s Icon Films appoints Atlantic & Lightbox alum to head factual development

UK-based factual indie Icon Films has appointed Luke Davis as head of factual development. In his new role, Davis will focus on developing new returning series as well as factual limited series and feature docs, which is a growth area for the company. Davis has previously held development roles at companies including Atlantic Productions, Lightbox, […]

Love Nature orders duo from Icon & NHNZ, unveils conservation support scheme

Streaming and broadcast brand Love Nature has ordered two wildlife series as part of an initiative designed to support the people and animals involved in conservation efforts. Love Nature Gives Back will provide financial donations and media support to assist the conservation of wild animal species and habitats, as well as the people working in conservation […]

TBI Weekly: Why cheaper tech will surface new voices in natural history

As 2022 gets into its stride, natural history is again making an impact on screen and on the commissioning slates of new and established buyers. Tim Dams explores how cost-efficient technologies are opening up myriad new opportunities for this classic genre. For those in the natural history TV business, the past few years have been […]

UK indie Icon Films hires Red Rock alum Belinda Cherrington as creative director

UK factual indie Icon Films has appointed Belinda Cherrington as creative director. Based in the US, Cherrington will be responsible for expanding Icon’s brand in adventure programming, innovating in the natural history space and growing the company’s roster of on-screen and off-screen talent. Reporting to CEO and co-founder Laura Marshall, Cherrington also joins Icon’s leadership team of […]

Five takeaways from World Congress of Science and Factual Producers 2020

Gemma Greene, head of development at British factual indie Icon Films, shares with TBI what key lessons she learned at this year’s Science Congress.  We should all have been enjoying the bonhomie and Christmas lights of Strasbourg this week – but instead this year’s World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) was another virtual conference […]

TBI Special Report Part One: Adapting production during lock down and beyond

Screen production has been among the hardest hit sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic, with freelance workers in particular suffering badly. Mark Layton explores how some businesses have adapted and evaluates lockdown’s lingering effect It is hard to understate the impact that Covid-19 has had on communities around the world. First and foremost, of course, is […]

Fremantle takes global rights to Icon’s Okavango doc

UK indie Icon Films’ documentary Okavango – A Flood Of Life has been picked up for global distribution by Fremantle. Commissioned by Japanese broadcaster NHK last year, the natural history film follows veteran filmmaker Brad Bestelink (Savage Kingdom) as he explores the Okavango Delta in Africa through the eyes of the region’s indigenous people. Originally […]