It’s been a great year for production in Cornwall with highlights including two feature films, three returning dramas, a children’s series and countless documentaries – not to mention the slate of regional shorts being produced by local talent over the last year too. To celebrate, here’s a roundup of some of our favourite productions.
January to March
Braving the January weather was MAB HUDEL (MAGICAL SON) – a short drama in the Cornish language written and directed by Edward ‘Kernow King’ Rowe. The film follows Enys Penrose, a rugby player, farmer and young gay man who lives in the shadow of his dead father and struggles with his sexuality. The film went on to screen at Encounters Film Festival, as well as being the first Cornish language film to screen at London Film Festival.
The beginning of the year also saw the return of Buffalo Pictures to Roscarrock Farm in Port Isaac for the final season of ITV’s long-running show DOC MARTIN. Despite the series already coming to an end, this won’t be the last time fans will see the show on their screens as a Christmas Special followed by a documentary are soon to air. The documentary, DOC MARTIN – A CELEBRATION, puts a spotlight on the longevity and local impact locally of the production, as well as offering insights from behind the camera, from scripting to post-production.
March to June
Ahead of the third series airing on the CBBC Channel and BBC iPlayer, King Bert Productions were back for a fourth series of the charming hit children’s drama MALORY TOWERS. The 13 x 25-minute series, adapted from the iconic novels by Enid Blyton, follows the adventures of Darrell Rivers as she attends the all-girls boarding school.
June to September
This busy production period kicked off with multiple shorts, including a new film from writer and director Joseph Inman of Bear Behind You. Funded by BFI NETWORK SW, SPINES is a short film where Thomas has to show empathy and forge a new friendship with sporty Agnes. In this loving ode to childhood and neurodivergence, we see young Thomas learn how to use his storytelling to bridge the gap.
In August, we welcomed Dorothy Street Pictures to Falmouth and Pendeen with their BBC Films/BFI feature with the working title of KNOCKERS. Most details are still under wraps for this project but we were pleased to support a production over the last two-years, building up to working with Cornish landowners and an abundance of our local crew.
September to December
In the Autumn, we were glad to welcome Red Planet Pictures with BEYOND PARADISE, a new original drama for BBC One which is a spin-off of the long-returning drama DEATH IN PARADISE. Shot on location in South East Cornwall with an abundance of local crew, the series catches up with Humphrey and Martha as they navigate a new life in rural Britain.
In contrast Storm Force Films shot THE AUDACIOUS, producing three episodes for BBC Digital. The series, released to coincide with COP27, showcases audacious people around the world who are finding solutions to our climate and ecological crises and driving the way ahead to a more hopeful future. Watch online, here.
