The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, in collaboration with Bosena and C Fylm, is thrilled to announce three special screenings of Enys Men, the globally critically-acclaimed feature from BAFTA award-winning Cornish filmmaker Mark Jenkin.
Enys Men is filmed amongst the now-disused tin mines within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site in West Penwith, and is influenced by the ‘echoes’ of previous generations and families of miners, and their effect on the land. Audiences will have the unique opportunity to watch Enys Men in the very landscapes that inspired the film, as it is screened on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of June at three venues in the Cornish and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site. Following the film, there will be a panel discussion hosted by Enys Men producer Denzil Monk.
Enys Men is a mind-bending Cornish folk horror set in 1973 that unfolds on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast. A wildlife volunteer’s daily observations of a rare flower take a dark turn into the strange and metaphysical, forcing both her and viewers to question what is real and what is nightmare, and whether the land is alive or sentient? Shot by Jenkin on grainy 16mm colour film stock and with his trademark post-synched sound, the form feels both innovative and authentic to the period. Filmed on location around the former tin mines of West Penwith, it is also an ode to Cornwall’s rich folklore and natural beauty.
Enys Men, and its production company Bosena, follow both a theme and a working practice based on ‘ecosophy’ – a philosophy of ecological harmony. It was this environmental commitment, alongside the locations and the historical storylines that brought the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site onboard as an initial, and vital, seed funder for the production.
The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site operates under an agreed Management Plan, and the latest plan implements critical environmental and sustainability agendas shared across the ongoing stewardship of the Cornish and West Devon landscape by the body in collaboration with Cornwall Council and various partnership organisations. The latest Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Management Plan was heralded as ‘world-leading’ by the UK arm of UNESCO, and recognised for its commitment to driving optimum sustainability for present communities and future generations in the coming years.
Sally Weston, Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Lead, said, “There’s a definite meeting of a commitment to place, minds and sustainable practice and creative storytelling between the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and Bosena. And this is all in evidence in both the characters and the historical, and oftentimes menacing, multi-generational ‘echoes’ in Enys Men.”
Denzil Monk, Founder of Bosena and Producer of Enys Men, said, “The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site was a vital investor in our initial seed-funding rounds, making the film possible in fact, as a result of their early support. The team were a much-appreciated partner in our historical research and took on an Executive Producer role in the making, and shaping, of the film. To be showing the film within these powerful settings, and talking about the influence of the Cornish mining landscape on us all is very much a welcomed opportunity.”
The screenings will take place at the following venues in the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site:
- Heartlands, Pool on Wednesday 28th June
- Tavistock Guildhall on Thursday 29th June
- Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen on Friday 30th June
Doors will open at 6.30pm, with the screenings starting at 7pm. Following the film, Denzil Monk (Enys Men Producer), Sally Weston (Cornwall Mining World Heritage Site lead), and special guests will delve into the film’s themes, the production process, and the rich cultural heritage of Cornwall. With a “Pay What You Can” pricing structure, audiences have the flexibility to contribute between £8 and £14. Tickets for the screenings are available now.