MA Film & Television alumnus on founding film production company
17 August 2026
494 Films, a production company founded by MA Film & Television alumnus Simon Jenner and based in Cornwall, has already submitted three short films to the festival circuit and is now preparing to shoot another project this September.
Having collaborated with various Falmouth alumni throughout the filmmaking process, Simon chatted with us about his experience of working with fellow Falmouth graduates, how his course tutors have supported his growth as a filmmaker, and why he started his own production company in Cornwall.
Can you give us an insight into 494 Films and the work you do?
As a film production company, we're focused on making as many short films as we can to develop our skills and create a portfolio of work. We intend to use that portfolio as a foundation to acquire bigger and bigger funds, hoping to eventually produce a feature film.
What inspired you to create the production company and how did you first go about founding it?
I founded 494 Films when I made my first film back in 2023. It was really just a place to house the film under a banner instead of just my name. I had read somewhere that getting funding was easier if you had a limited company, and so I just went ahead and did it.
The name comes from a personal greeting that my family and I share with each other, and the house logo is inspired by our company values: to build films from the ground up.
You have recently worked with a fellow Falmouth alumnus on the short film, Olympian. Can you tell us more about this project?
Olympian was an idea put forth to me by screenwriter and MA Writing for Script & Screen (Online) alumna, Emily Joshua, who I met on the New Writers Network in 2025. She came to me with a script that depicted one character in one location with a simple yet effective premise: to show the daily tasks of someone with multiple disabilities.
We had discussed the benefits of economic filmmaking, using minimal locations and championing story over spectacle. After those initial discussions, we decided to just go for it. We found a location, put together a small crew (most of whom were Falmouth alumni), and shot the whole thing over two days last year. Having Emily on board as our writer and star brought an authenticity to the film. As someone with multiple disabilities, she pushed us to ensure the production was accessible to her needs.
I produced, directed and edited the film, but it was a team effort overall. Everyone fulfilled their roles expertly, and it was the smoothest shoot we've ever run. It's doing pretty well in the festival circuit too, which is a huge plus.
Are there any other projects you’ve been working on recently you would like to tell us about?
We're currently submitting three films to festivals, including Olympian, Outrun the Clouds and The Lost Thing, in the hopes that their exposure will help us acquire funding in the future.
As of right now, we're getting ready to shoot For the Accommodation of the County in September. It’s a short film about a diabetic man who, on waking up on a beach, has to fix his van's battery before the tide comes in.
How did you find your time as an MA Film & Television student at Falmouth and how has it supported the work you do now?
It was great! Working alongside such dedicated filmmakers was incredibly formative and developmental for my work. I love everyone on the course and would jump at the opportunity to cross paths with them again, either professionally or personally.
Our tutors, both Dr Anna Misiak and Nick Manley, were really supportive of us as students. They were always available to lend a hand either academically or in production.
Moreover, the whole team in Falmouth’s School of Film & Television were also incredibly accommodating to our needs; pushing us to ensure safety and protocol on set, while also encouraging us to try new things (as long as we came back with the same amount of kit!)
External links
Learn more about 494 Films on Instagram
Learn more about and support For the Accommodation of the County
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