ENYS MEN (UK / 2022 / 91 mins / cert 15) is Jenkin’s folk horror follow-up to his internationally acclaimed and BAFTA-winning box office hit BAIT – similarly shot mostly in and around his home base in West Penwith and again starring Mary Woodvine (Poldark, Judge John Deed, Doc Martin) and Edward ‘Kernow King’ Rowe (The Witcher, House of the Dragon).

The new film is not due for UK-wide release until January 13 but its distributor, the BFI (British Film Institute), is teaming up with Film Hub South West and producer Denzil Monk to put on a series of advance screenings in Cornwall, Devon and Bristol, with Mark Jenkin in attendance at each for a Q&A and with Mary Woodvine joining him on some dates.

Kernewek, the Cornish language, is an essential element in the film including in an original song written by Mercury Prize 2022 nominee Gwenno. To highlight this, in what is believed to be a feature film promotional first, bilingual Cornish/English posters are being produced.

Our Film Hub South West Managing Director Maddy Probst has said: “ENYS MEN draws from a rich tradition of British folk horror films such as THE WICKERMAN and THE SHOUT but also speaks strongly to many areas of the West Country – a region abounding in ancient sites, reminders of lost industries and tales of the uncanny. There’s no doubt it will capture the imagination of film fans across the South West and beyond. We are delighted to join the BFI in giving local audiences an early opportunity to talk with Mark and see his unique work at their local cinema before it goes on general release.”

It is the plot, though, which most strongly reflects Cornwall – a mind-bending story, set in 1973 and centred on a wildlife volunteer whose daily observations of a strange flower on a lonely island take a dark turn, involving miners, bal maidens, a boat wreck and a Bronze Age menhir, forcing both her and viewers to question what is real and what is nightmare.

Producer Denzil Monk says: “As with BAIT, Mark has shot ENYS MEN on 16mm film using his 1970s Bolex H16 camera, but this time it’s in colour. We’re very happy to be creating the bilingual poster. This is a Cornish production through and through and a celebration of Cornwall’s rich folklore, its tin and copper mining heritage, relationship with the sea and stunning natural beauty.”

A further perk for regional cinephiles is that on every Sunday in January, Watershed will present a selection of films from THE CINEMATIC DNA OF ENYS MAN, a season curated by Mark Jenkin for BFI Southbank including Nicolas Roeg’s WALKABOUT (1971) and LOST HIGHWAY (David Lynch, 1997).)

ENYS MEN preview tickets can be booked either via host venues or by following the links at https://www.enysmen.co.uk/ where details of all UK dates can also be found.

ENYS MEN is written and directed by Mark Jenkin and produced by Cornwall-based Denzil Monk. It is a Bosena Production, presented by Film4 in association with Sound/Image Cinema Lab and distributed UK-wide by the BFI.