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Silverback Films

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Silverback Films
TypeSubsidiary
Founded12 July 2012; 14 years ago (2012-07-12)
Founders
Parent
DivisionsStudio Silverback
Websitesilverbackfilms.tv

Silverback Films is a Bristol-based British natural history film and television production company owned by Banijay UK.

History

[edit]

Silverback Films was founded in 2012 by wildlife filmmakers Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey,[1] who are known for producing wildlife documentaries and series in partnership with major broadcasters like Netflix, the BBC, and Disney.[2]

In December 2020, Silverback Films launched its feature film production division, Studio Silverback, to focus solely on films that tackle the world’s pressing environmental challenges. This would be led by co-founders Fothergill and Scholey, along with Jonnie Hughes and Colin Butfield.[3][4]

At the start of November 2022, Silverback Films formed a partnership with Steven Spielberg's American entertainment company Amblin Partners via its television production division of Amblin Television, and later under its documentary arm Amblin Documentaries, to produce a series of natural history docuseries for Netflix. The series started with the nature documentary miniseries Life on Our Planet, produced by Silverback Films and Amblin Television and released in 2023 [5][6]

Description

[edit]

Silverback Films is a film production company owned by Banijay UK.[1] Based in Bristol, England, it produces natural history documentary films.[7]

Filmography

[edit]
Title Years Network Notes
North America2013Discovery Channelco-production with Discovery Channel[8]
Bears2014Cinema releaseco-production with Disneynature [9]
The Hunt2015BBC Oneco-production with BBC, Open University, CCTV-9 and NDR Naturfilm [10]
Monkey Kingdom2015Cinema releaseco-production with Disneynature and Crazy Ape Productions
Dolphin Reef2018Cinema releaseco-production with Disneynature
Our Planet2019-2023Netflixco-production with World Wildlife Fund
Dancing with the Birds2019Netflix
Penguins2019Cinema releaseco-production with Disneynature
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet2020Netflixco-production with Altitude Film Entertainment and Netflix
Elephant2020Disney+co-production with Disneynature and Wildstar Films
A Perfect Planet2021BBC One
Breaking Boundaries2021Netflixco-production with Indikate Productions
Polar Bear2022Disney+co-production with Disneynature
Life on Our Planet2023Netflixco-production with Amblin Television[6][5]
Wild Isles2023BBC Oneco-production with RSPB, World Wide Fund for Nature and Open University
Ocean with David Attenborough2025Cinema releaseco-production with Open Planet Studios, Altitude Film Entertainment, and Minderoo Productions [11]
Parenthood2025BBC Oneco-production with All3Media International [12][13]
Sea Lions of the Galapagos2025Disney+co-production with Disneynature
The Dinosaurs2026Netflixco-production with Amblin Documentaries
Secret of the Bees2026National Geographicco-production with National Geographic Studios and Lightstorm Earth [14]

References

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  1. 1 2 Szalai, Georg (4 March 2026). "Banijay Group CEO on How AI, Rise of Creators Drove All3Media Deal: "More Scale, More IP, More Growth"". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. "The making of Ocean with David Attenborough, as told by Silverback Films | Royal Television Society". rts.org.uk. 3 June 2025.
  3. "Studio Silverback – Silverback Films launches new film production company to drive global environmental change". Silverback Films. 13 December 2020.
  4. Ramachandran, Naman (9 December 2020). "'Our Planet' Producer Silverback Films Launches Studio Silverback For Environmental Impact Projects (Exclusive)". Variety.
  5. 1 2 White, Peter (1 November 2022). "Netflix Plots Natural History Push: Morgan Freeman To Narrate Two Series & David Attenborough Returns With Season 2 Of 'Our Planet'". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 Panaligan, EJ (1 November 2022). "Netflix Orders Six New Natural History Documentary Shows, Including Morgan Freeman-Narrated 'Our Universe' (TV News Roundup)". Variety. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  7. Ravindran, Manori (3 December 2020). "All3Media Buys 'Our Planet' Natural History Producer Silverback Films". Variety.
  8. "7 Part Series North America to Premiere Sunday May 19 on Discovery". TV By the Numbers via internet archive.
  9. "Bears: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 9 April 2014.
  10. "'The Hunt': How Producers Made Sure There Are No Villains". Yahoo Entertainment. 2 July 2016.
  11. Carey, Matthew (18 July 2024). "David Attenborough To Partner With National Geographic On New Documentary Spotlighting Threats To World's Oceans And "How They Can Bounce Back"".
  12. "Announcing 'Parenthood' for BBC One and iPlayer". Silverback Films. 20 February 2024.
  13. Creamer, Jon (21 February 2024). "Silverback preps Parenthood for BBC". Televisual.
  14. Donnelly, Jim (5 March 2026). "Watch 'Secrets of the Bees' on National Geographic March 31 8/7c. Stream on Hulu & Disney+". ABC. Retrieved 14 May 2026.