Michael Ferns

Michael Ferns is a Scottish film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his debut feature film Kirk about the life of Reverend Robert Kirk of Aberfoyle. The film won the 'Best Independent Feature' at the Festival of Fantastic Films and also earned Ferns the 'Best Director' award at the 2010 British Academy Scotland New Talent Awards.[1]

Michael Ferns
Born (1991-11-13) 13 November 1991
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Alma materRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland
OccupationFilm director
film editor
screenwriter
Notable work
  • Letter From An Old Boy
  • Cupidity
  • Kirk
WebsiteOfficial website

Life and career

A keen filmmaker and prominent member of the Strathendrick Film Society,[2] Michael Ferns enrolled on the Digital Film and Television course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2009, he directed, photographed and edited his debut feature film, the historical fantasy Kirk about the life of Reverend Robert Kirk, a minister and scholar of the late 1600s. The film was very well received and appeared at the 2009 Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester. The Festivals chairman, Gil Layne Young wrote "The direction was exciting, showing touches of quality that would be missed by much older directors. Kirk is a fantasy movie with roots in real Scottish life of the 17th century and for the first time in years I saw a bunch of real men wiping a tear from their eyes."[3] Critic M. J. Simpson praised the director writing "Despite the director's youth, this is one of the most accomplished, mature, professional and impressive films I have seen for a very long time. I think it no exaggeration to say that, if Ferns lives up to the promise of this debut feature, then Kirk marks the arrival on the scene of a major new talent."[4] In 2010, Ferns was awarded the 'Best Director' accolade at the 2010 British Academy Scotland New Talent Awards which was held at the Mitchell Theatre in Glasgow.[5]

After graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2012, Ferns embarked on his professional career. Whilst working on commercial pieces for clients such as the NHS and Diabetes UK, Ferns also directed the music video 'The Clown' for Beecake, the band of Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd.[6] The video was also screened at the 2013 Raindance Film Festival.[7] Recently, Ferns was approached by the Aberlour Children's charity to direct a promotional film to commemorate the First World War centenary. Using never before heard words from real soldiers, Letter From An Old Boy tells the story of young men fighting on the front line in World War One, writing back to the orphanage they called home.[8] The film was screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival[9] and the Glasgow Film Festival.[10] Chris Binding of Flick Feat wrote " Michael Ferns produced a powerful short dramatizing the emotional correspondence that tied many young soldiers to home."[11]

Ferns is currently working on the short film A Cold Day in June which stars Kathryn Howden, Tracy Wiles and Daniel Kerr who won the Best Acting Performance prize at the 2013 British Academy Scotland New Talent Awards.[12]

Filmography
Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Writer Editor
2009 Kirk Yes Yes Feature Film
2010 Highland Heartbeat PBS Pledge Yes TV Movie
The Day I Met Miss Rodgers Yes Yes Short Film
2011 Bronco Yes Short Film
Heads Up Yes Yes Yes Short Film
Cupidity Yes Short Film
2012 One New Message Yes Short Film
Please Stay Yes Yes Music Video
2013 The Clown Yes Yes Music Video
2014 Letter From An Old Boy Yes Yes Yes Short Film

Awards
Year Nominated Work Awards Category Result
2009 Kirk Festival of Fantastic Films Best Feature Film Won
2010 Kirk British Academy Scotland New Talent Awards Best Director Won
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References
  1. British Academy Scotland New Talent Awards Full List of Winners & Nominations 2010
  2. An Interview with Michael Ferns
  3. Festival of Fantastic Films: Chairman's Review of Kirk
  4. M.J Simpson Film Reviews & Interviews: Kirk
  5. "Scottish Screen News Archive: 'BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards 2010 - Winners Announced'". Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  6. Beecake Official Site: Cast/Crew List'
  7. Raindance Festival: Screening List'
  8. "Aberlour Charity Official Site: Videos'". Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  9. List Magazine: Events: Videos'
  10. "Glasgow Film Festival: Blog'". Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  11. Flick Feast Review: Letter From An Old Boy
  12. BBC News Article: 'Wee Man actor Daniel Kerr, 12, gets Bafta nomination'
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