THE first four recipients of Screen Cornwall’s ‘Feature-Film Development Scheme’, for projects in the Cornish language (Kernewek) made by local creative talent, have been announced.  

All four projects will now be supported to detailed treatment stage. Two will then go on to receive further funding to reach script stage, with writer and producer fees covered. 

The four projects, all using working titles (w/t): are ‘Lanow/Rising Tide’, ‘Dedhyow Tesen/Cake Days’, ‘Poll Pri/Clay Pit’ and ‘Estren Hi/Alien She’.

Lanow/Rising Tide: Victims of a devastating housing crisis, 10-year-old Lowen and his loving father treasure one last summer together in the place they call home.  Written by Newlyn-based talent Callum Mitchell who was Assistant Director on Mark Jenkin’s Bait and Enys Men and produced by TV and audio producer Simon Nicholls of Spike Productions.  

Dedhyow Tesen/Cake Days: Returning to Cornwall, a young woman is determined her terminally ill father’s bucket list with him before it’s too late - unaware that he hasn’t been entirely honest with her, and time is running out faster than she realises.  Written by NFTS graduate and BAFTA-longlisted Cornwall-based screenwriter Julie Nørgaard Jensen, whose film and TV work has spanned the UK, US and the Nordics.

Poll Pri/Clay Pit: A generational drama set in the clay tips and villages of mid Cornwall. Written and directed by Cornish talent Edward Rowe who teams up with South West-based producer Bex Rose through production company Delvrys.

Estren Hi/Alien She: A twelve-year-old girl discovers a dead body and adopts his hardcore punk identity. Written and directed by creative duo Mathy Tremewan and Fran Broadhurst, who have built a career making acclaimed music videos and commercials. It is also co-produced by production company My Accomplice.

Managing director Laura Giles said: “It’s fitting to announce these commissions on the day we mark the 10th anniversary of Cornish being awarded national minority status by the Council of Europe. This scheme is all about strengthening authentic media representation for Cornwall by enabling distinctive stories to be told in Kernewek, and we look forward to working with these talented filmmaking teams.” 

Denzil Monk, consulting executive producer for Screen Cornwall’s Feature Film Development Scheme, says: “Yntanys ov vy a vos owth oberi gans Skrin Kernow; I’m thrilled to be working with Screen Cornwall, helping to develop our growing pool of Cornish screen talent and providing further opportunities to bring to life Cornish language and cultural short form, features and factual content for global audiences.

“These commissions are a crucial step towards providing a more pluralist and representative public service media that recognises and celebrates Cornish distinctiveness and will have a transformative impact on our burgeoning indigenous screen sector. Splann yw!”

For more information, visit: www.screencornwall.com/commissioning