Cannes Market Dailies

Protagonist Pictures has closed a UK deal with BFI Distribution for Mark Jenkin's highly anticipated psychological-horror, Enys Men, ahead of its world premiere in Directors' Fortnight, it was announced today by Protagonist Pictures CEO Dave Bishop. Film4 will retain UK free TV rights.

The deal was negotiated between BFI (British Film Institute) Acquisitions Manager Laura Dos Santos and Protagonist's Chief Commercial Officer George Hamilton.

Set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast, the gripping feature sees 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.

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.

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

Protagonist Chief Commercial Officer George Hamilton added: "Mark continues to be one of the UK's most promising filmmakers, so we're honored to have helped his latest work find the perfect home for British audiences. Our friends at the BFI share our commitment to championing exciting new voices, so we know Enys Men is in the best hands possible."

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ABOUT PROTAGONIST PICTURES

Protagonist Pictures is an international sales, finance, and production company with a proven track record in outstanding films and commercial successes. Based in the UK, the company handles films from around the world, always maintaining a strong focus on filmmakers with exceptional vision and storytelling skills.

Current sales titles include Raymond De Felitta's Artist in Residence starring Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia and Josh Hutcherson, Rebecca Miller's She Came to Me, starring Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei and Joanna Kulig, the underwater thriller The Dive by Maximilian Erlenwein, BAFTA Award-winning writer-director Mark Jenkin's highly anticipated psychological-horror Enys Men, which will have its worldwide premiere in Director's Fortnight, and War Pony, the directorial debut from Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, that will have its worldwide premiere in Un Certain Regard.

Other titles include Phyllis Nagy's Call Jane, starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, which premiered in Sundance and Berlin in 2022, Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas starrer Official Competition, by directing duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, which premiered in Venice in 2021, the 2021 Nordic supernatural thriller The Innocents which premiered in Cannes at Un Certain Regard, Censor, the opening night film of the Midnight section at Sundance 2021, directed by Prano Bailey-Bond and starring Niamh Algar – both Screen International 2018 Stars of Tomorrow alumni, Ben Wheatley's In The Earth, starring Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires, and Reece Shearsmith – also a Sundance 2021 title, Limbo, directed by Ben Sharrock and starring Amir El-Masry, Saint Maud, from Screen's 2018 Stars of Tomorrow writer/director Rose Glass and starring Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle, Sound of Metal, directed by Darius Marder, starring Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke.

ABOUT BFI DISTRIBUTION

BFI Distribution brings a broad range of films into UK-wide cinemas, from classics and important world cinema titles to exciting contemporary British and European films.

From favourites like A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and MIDNIGHT COWBOY, world cinema classics such as LA DOLCE VITA, THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, SEVEN SAMURAI, THE 400 BLOWS and LA HAINE, past British films like DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES, MAURICE and NAKED, to contemporary independent new releases, including the BAFTA-winning BAIT, LITTLE JOE, VARDA BY AGNES, WOMEN MAKE FILM, LYNN + LUCY, MOGUL MOWGLI, COUNTY LINES, the BAFTA-winning AFTER LOVE, LA MIF and ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME, BFI Distribution regularly provides programmers and audiences with an eclectic and engaging slate of releases.

Films frequently include restored masterpieces (many by the BFI National Archive) previously unavailable for theatrical screenings, such as THE EPIC OF EVEREST, NAPOLEON and SOUTH, and touring packages from directors such as Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and François Truffaut, enabling regional venues to programme director-focussed seasons themselves.

ABOUT THE BFI (BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE)

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK's lead organisation for film and the moving image.

Our mission is:

• To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
• To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world's largest film and television archive
• To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals - delivered online and in venue
• To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
• To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK's screen industries

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.

The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Tim Richards.