Mark Jenkin’s new film Enys Men to be distributed by the BFI

Ahead of its world premiere at Cannes today, Enys Men, the new psychological horror film by Bait director Mark Jenkin, has been picked up for distribution in the UK and Ireland by the BFI. 

Screening in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the festival, Enys Men is set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast, where a wildlife volunteer’s daily observations of a rare flower turn into a metaphysical journey that forces her, as well as the viewer, to question what is real and what is nightmare.

The film sees Jenkin reteam with his Bait leads Mary Woodvine and Edward Rowe, and also reunite with BFI Distribution who released Bait in UK cinemas in August 2019. Bait premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, was launched to critical acclaim and became one of 2019’s biggest UK arthouse hits. It had a lengthy run in cinemas and won Jenkin and his producers the BAFTA for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.

The Enys Men deal was negotiated between BFI acquisitions manager Laura Dos Santos and Protagonist Pictures’ chief commercial officer George Hamilton.

“Mark Jenkin is one of the most original, intriguing and exciting filmmakers working in the UK today,” said Julie Pearce, BFI head of distribution. “The BFI is proud to continue our relationship with this extraordinary Cornish storyteller in presenting Enys Men to audiences around the UK.”

“Mark continues to be one of the UK’s most promising filmmakers, so we’re honoured to have helped his latest work find the perfect home for British audiences,” adds Hamilton. “Our friends at the BFI share our commitment to championing exciting new voices, so we know Enys Men is in the best hands possible.”

Enys Men is produced by Denzil Monk for Bosena. Johnny Fewings serves as executive producer. Film4 co-financed the film, with Ben Coren and Lauren Dark serving as executive producers.