A four-part documentary series produced by Adventist Media has received a Silver Crown Award for Best Television Production at the 53rd annual ICVM Crown Awards, held during the NRB Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States.
Developed in partnership with Off the Rails Productions, Ancient Bible Destinations: Turkiye takes viewers on a journey through Istanbul, Tarsus and the seven churches of Revelation, exploring the historical and spiritual significance of these ancient sites.
Adventist Media CEO Dr Brad Kemp, an executive producer for the series, described the award as “a huge accomplishment and a great honour for Adventist Media”.
The Christian version of the documentary has already received multiple international accolades, including Gold for Best Christian Documentary at the Christian Family Film Festival 2025, Best Documentary and Best Narrator at the Christian Film Festival 2025 and Official Selection at the Jesus Cine Fest International Christian Film Festival 2025.
A slightly shorter, general-audience version titled Turkiye’s Astonishing Antiquities has also garnered strong recognition on the international festival circuit. Awards include Best Documentary at the Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival 2025 and the Symbiotic Film Festival 2025, as well as Best Narration in a Documentary at the Anatolia International Film Festival 2025.
Narrated by English actor David Suchet—widely known for his portrayal of Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie adaptations—the series builds on an earlier production focused on Greece.
According to Ole Pedersen, general manager of Hope Media for the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference, the Christian version contains stronger biblical messaging and theological reflection, while the general-market edit has been tailored for broader audiences.
The series highlights Istanbul’s pivotal role in Christian history, particularly following Constantine’s relocation of the Roman Empire’s seat of power from Rome. Tarsus is featured because of its association with the apostle Paul, while two episodes examine the seven churches of Revelation and their historical context and enduring spiritual message.
“This is recognition of the work that can be done by Adventist Media when it’s focused and there’s a clear purpose in what we want to do,” said Mr Pedersen, who also served as an executive producer on the series. “We had a great partner to work with who had the connections to create the content with us.”
He added that the recognition sets a strong benchmark for future projects. “We know what the standard is in terms of producing content that gets recognised, but it also gets distribution. The interest from non-Adventist Christian networks worldwide has been great, and distributors are asking to carry it.”
The Christian version will air on Hope Channel from late March across New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, the general-audience edition is scheduled to screen later this year in Australia on television and cable networks.
