Kensington Communications

Kensington Communications Inc
Logo
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Founded1980 in Kensington Market, by Robert Lang
Executive ProducerRobert Lang
Writer & Web DeveloperAllen Booth

Kensington Communications is a Toronto-based production company specializing in documentary films and factual television programming. Founded in Toronto's Kensington Market 1980 by Canadian producer and director Robert Lang, the company has produced over 250 programs, including popular documentary series and features which specialize in music, science, history and contemporary social issues.

Since the late 1990s, Kensington Communications has also developed multi-platform interactive projects for the web and mobile devices that incorporate entertaining educational components related to the content of its documentary productions. Its interactive initiatives have included rich media websites, mobile applications, locative documentaries and museum-based AR experiences.

Recent Productions

In 2025, Kensington co-produced "Carnival: They Can't Steal Our Joy", an award-winning  feature-length documentary for TVO and Knowledge Network that examines the cultural significance and social history of Caribbean Carnival traditions in Canada and around the world.[1]

In 2024, Kensington produced "Fluid: Life Beyond the Binary", a one-hour documentary for CBC's "The Nature of Things", presented by Mae Martin, that explores the incredible diversity of sex, gender and biological variation across the natural world.[2]

The company's other recent science productions include the one-hour science documentaries "Why We Dance" and "Nature's Cleanup Crew", both produced for CBC's "The Nature of Things" [3]

Filmography

Television Series

  • Museum Secrets (2010–2014) - 22 one-hour episodes for History Channel (Canada), Smithsonian Channel (USA), UKTV, BBC Worldwide. The series explores compelling stories behind the artifacts in 22 of the world's greatest museums.[4]
  • Shameless Idealists (2012) - 5 half-hour episodes series produced for CTV. Each episode provides an intimate portrait of a celebrity who has made an indelible mark through their work for social change.[5]
  • CitySonic (2009) - 3 x ½ hours and 20 short films for AUX TV and online streaming that unlock the hidden history of Toronto's music scene through the artists' stories.[6]
  • Diamond Road (2007) - 3 one-hour episodes for TVO, Discovery Times and ZDF/ARTE. Explores the historical, cultural and political facets of the world's most intriguing gem.[7]
  • 72 Hours: True Crime, (2004 - 2007) - 45 half-hour documentary series produced for CBC and TLC (USA). Blend of documentary and dramatic re-enactments to investigate true crime mysteries from across North America.[8]
  • The Sacred Balance (2002) - a ground-breaking 4-part series produced for CBC and PBS with broadcaster-environmentalist David Suzuki that celebrates the interconnectedness of all life processes on Earth through the stories of scientists, philosophers and Indigenous elders. The series was accompanied by a rich media interactive website, SacredBalance.com.[9]
  • Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science (1997 - 2002) - 65 half-hour episodes produced for Discovery Channel (Canada) and TLC (USA). Hosted by actor Graham Greene, true crime series focused on the role of forensic science in solving some of the most perplexing crimes of our time.[10]

One-Off documentaries and TV Programs

Interactive Media

Kensington Communications has been recognized for its early work using interactive and digital techniques in documentary storytelling. Beginning in the late 1990s, the company incorporated web-based platforms and mobile applications into its projects at a time when interactive documentary formats were still emerging within the broader media industry. These initiatives have included non-linear storytelling systems, user-driven content navigation, augmented reality and the integration of interactive tools for locative documentary.[28]

Through projects such as "River of Sand Online", "The Sacred Balance Online", "Diamond Road Online", "City Sonic", "ScopifyROM", and "Risk Navigator", the company contributed to the development of documentary-related interactive media by combining traditional linear non-fiction storytelling with digital interactivity. These projects in their time reflected broader shifts in documentary practice toward participatory, educational, and multi-platform forms of audience engagement.[28]

River of Sand Online (1998)

During filming of "River of Sand" in Mali, Kensington developed an accompanying website that was designed to complement the film, providing information on Mali's geography, history, and culture, as well as additional material on the people and locations featured in the documentary.[29]

The interactive component incorporated daily online phone calls when users could check in with the production team, and explore photographs, maps, audio clips, and educational resources intended to deepen their understanding of the places and issues explored in the film. Users could navigate thematic sections and access background information on Malian music and society. The project was an early exploration of transmedia documentary storytelling and was intended for use by both general audiences and educators interested in African culture and international development.[29]

The Sacred Balance Online (2003)

Released alongside the documentary series "The Sacred Balance", the accompanying website provided educational and supplementary multimedia materials based on the themes explored in the program. Drawing on the work of Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki, the platform presented interactive content concerning ecology, biodiversity, and humanity's relationship with the natural environment. The project formed part of Kensington Communications' continuing efforts to expand documentary storytelling beyond conventional linear broadcast formats.[30]

Diamond Road Online (2007)

"Diamond Road Online" was an interactive documentary website created as a companion to the documentary series "Diamond Road". The platform enabled users to explore hundreds of short clips concerning the global diamond industry through a customized recommendation engine and non-linear interface. Features included user profiles, content recommendations, ratings, and the ability to assemble personalized viewing paths and storylines. This innovative project was designed to present multiple perspectives on the subject matter through user-directed navigation of documentary content. It won for Excellence in News and Information at the Canadian New Media Awards in 2008 and was invited to a number of prestigious conferences and festivals worldwide like Siggraph 2008.[31]

City Sonic (2009)

City Sonic unlocks the hidden history of Toronto's music scene through musicians' eyes. In conjunction with the series of 20 short films and 3 x 1/2 hours, Kensington co-produced with White Pine Pictures locative content specifically for smartphones that was unlocked and accessible in the 20 places that were the subject of the artists' stories. This was a very early use of locative documentary principles that were in their infancy at the time. [6]

ScopifyROM (2013)

"ScopifyROM" was a mobile app developed by Kensington Communications in collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum. Designed for use within the museum setting, the augmented reality app provided interactive content related to selected artifacts and exhibits. Features included digital reconstructions, visualizations, and additional interpretive materials accessed through mobile devices. The application enabled visitors to obtain supplementary information while viewing exhibits in person and represented an early application of mobile technologies to enhance the museum experience.[32]

Risk Navigator (2017)

"Risk Navigator" was an interactive mobile app developed as a companion to the documentary "Risk Factor" (also known as "The Truth About Risk"). The app incorporated educational content and interactive tools to allow users to improve risk perception and decision-making. Users could explore different categories of risk through guided modules and assessments connected to themes presented in the documentary. The project extended the documentary's educational objectives through a digital platform designed to encourage audience participation and self-directed learning.[28]

Museum Secrets Online (2010 - 2018)

Museum Secrets TV series was supported by a rich media interactive website (online from 2010 to 2018) that further explored the stories behind museum treasures through web-exclusive videos, informational content and online games.[33]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2017 Canadian Screen Awards Best Sports Program The Equalizer Nominee[34]
2016 49th International Independent Film Festival Worldfest Houston Platinum Remi Award category Sports The Equalizer Won[35]
2016 Paladino d'Oro Sport Film Festival International Sport Film Festival The Equalizer Finalist[36]
2014 Canadian Screen Awards Best Factual Museum Secrets Won[37]
2014 Canadian Screen Awards Best Editing Museum Secrets Won[37]
2013 Canadian Screen Awards Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series Museum Secrets Won[38]
2013 Canadian Screen Awards Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits Nominee[39]
2011 Gemini Awards Best Cross-Platform Project - Non-Fiction Museum Secrets Nominee[40]
2011 Gemini Awards Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research Museum Secrets Nominee[40]
2011 Gemini Awards Best Original Music Score for a Documentary Program or Series Museum Secrets Nominee[40]
2011 Banff World Media Festival Best Cross-Platform Project Museum Secrets Finalist[41]
2008 Gemini Awards Best Documentary Series Diamond Road Won[42]
2008 International Independent Film Festival Worldfest Houston Platinum Remi Award Best Feature Documentary Diamond Road Won[43]
2007 New York Festivals Docudrama (World Medal) 72 Hours: True Crime Won[44]
2005 New York Festivals Docudrama (World Medal) 72 Hours: True Crime Won[45]
2004 Yorkton Film Festival Best Documentary, Social/Political (Golden Sheaf Award) Almost Home: A Sayisi Dene Journey Won[46]
2004 Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival NFB Kathleen Shannon Award Almost Home: A Sayisi Dene Journey Won[46]
2003 Paris Festival International de l’Emission Scientifique de Télévision Prix Science & Société The Sacred Balance (Episode: "The Matrix of Life") Won[47]
2002 DGC Team Award Outstanding Achievement in a Documentary Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science Nominee[48]
2001 Gemini Awards Best Direction in a Documentary Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science Nominee[48]
2000 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography in Documentary Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science Won[48]
1998 Gemini Awards Science, Technology, Nature Separate Lives Won[49]
1995 Alliance for Children and Television Best Variety The Biggest Little Ticket Won[50]
1994 Yorkton Film and TV Festival Best Children's/Variety (Golden Sheaf Award) The Biggest Little Ticket Won[51]

References

  1. 1 2 boxoffice.hotdocs.ca https://boxoffice.hotdocs.ca/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=501599~fff311b7-cdad-4e14-9ae4-a9905e1b9cb0. Retrieved 2026-07-06. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 1 2 Mullen, Pat (2024-03-28). "Mae Martin Discusses the Fluidity of Gender Identity in CBC Doc". POV Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  3. 1 2 Bibeau, Nathalie (Feb 28, 2022). "I trained as a dancer for 15 years, but I never knew why dance was so important to me – until now".
  4. ↑ "'Museum Secrets' Shares the Weird and Wonderful of Famous Exhibits Beginning Dec. 16". PBS Wisconsin. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Levy, Joel (2013-07-12). "Kensington Communications". Toronto Guardian. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  6. 1 2 "City Sonic". White Pine Pictures. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  7. ↑ "Diamond Road | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs". www.bullfrogfilms.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  8. ↑ "72 Hours: True Crime". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  9. ↑ "The Sacred Balance | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs". www.bullfrogfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  10. ↑ "Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  11. ↑ "NATURE'S CLEANUP CREW". Bullfrog Communities. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  12. ↑ "The Shadow of Gold | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs". www.bullfrogfilms.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  13. ↑ "Winter Equalizer: Champions vs. Legends". Berlin Producers. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  14. ↑ "TVO Today | Current Affairs Journalism, Documentaries and Podcasts". www.tvo.org. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  15. ↑ Radio, CBC (Sep 16, 2015). "New documentary 'The Drop' asks why young people don't vote". CBC.
  16. ↑ "The Equalizer (2016) | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  17. ↑ "Toward The Heart". towardtheheart.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  18. ↑ "Return To Nepal | BRUCE COCKBURN". Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  19. ↑ "DVDs | BRUCE COCKBURN". Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  20. ↑ "Bruce Cockburn - News Archive - Mali documentary available". cockburnproject.net. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  21. ↑ Canada, National Film Board of. "A Place in the World". National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  22. ↑ The Biggest Little Ticket (1994). Retrieved 2026-07-06 – via letterboxd.com.
  23. ↑ "Close Up Films | Mariposa: Under A Stormy Sky". closeupfilms.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  24. ↑ "One Warm Line: The Legacy of Stan Rogers". www.rambles.net. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  25. ↑ Kensington Communications; Pyramid Film & Video (1987), Stepdancing: Portrait of a Remarried Family, Internet Archive, Santa Monica, CA : Pyramid Film & Video, retrieved 2026-07-06
  26. ↑ Canada, National Film Board of. "Fragile Harvest". National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  27. ↑ "Joe David: Spirit of the Mask -- femfilm.ca: Canadian Women Film Directors Database". www.femfilm.ca. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  28. 1 2 3 Lanthier, Nancy (2011-02-01). "The Virtual Revolution". POV Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  29. 1 2 "River Of Sand | BRUCE COCKBURN". Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  30. ↑ "Docuseek | The Matrix of Life". docuseek2.com. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  31. ↑ Lachman, Richard (2008-08-11). "Diamond road online: a user-guided documentary experience". ACM SIGGRAPH 2008 new tech demos. SIGGRAPH '08. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery: 1. doi:10.1145/1401615.1401627. ISBN 978-1-4503-7847-5.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  32. ↑ "ScopifyROM: New App Lands at the ROM | Royal Ontario Museum". www.rom.on.ca. 2026-10-18. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  33. ↑ "Museum Secrets". CBC. September 4, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Canadian Screen Awards". Academy. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "Platinum Remi Award". Albatross World Sales. Albatross World Sales. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  36. ↑ "Paladino d'Oro Sport Film Festival". Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  37. 1 2 "Canadian Screen Awards". Playback. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  38. ↑ "Canadian Screen Awards" (PDF). Canadian Screen Awards. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  39. ↑ "2013 Canadian Screen Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  40. 1 2 3 "Gemini Awards". Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  41. ↑ "Bannf Wolrd Media Festival". Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  42. ↑ "Gemini Awards Database". Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  43. ↑ "Diamond Road | Bullfrog Films: 1-800-543-3764: Environmental DVDs and Educational DVDs". www.bullfrogfilms.com.
  44. ↑ "New York Festivals Winner". New York Festivals. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  45. ↑ "New York Festivals Winner". New York Festivals. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  46. 1 2 "Golden Sheaf Awards 2004". Yorkton Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2013-12-07. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  47. ↑ "The Sacred Balance". David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  48. 1 2 3 "Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science". TVGuide.com.
  49. ↑ "Gemini Awards Database". Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  50. ↑ "Alliance for Children and Television". Playback.
  51. ↑ "CANADA'S GOLDEN SHEAF AWARD WINNERS 1994" (PDF).
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