Mark Jenkin becomes Falmouth’s first Distinguished Professor

Filmmaker Mark Jenkin has been conferred as a Distinguished Professor of Film Practice at Falmouth University, becoming the first member of staff to achieve the title.

Mark is a BAFTA award winning filmmaker who's worked at Falmouth University as an associate lecturer for over a decade.

In his role as Distinguished Professor, Mark will continue to collaborate with academics and students on teaching programmes and research as part of the Sound/Image Cinema Lab, in a capacity that sits around his professional practice commitments. He will deliver masterclasses, attend film screenings and continue to give feedback on student work.

Mark will also serve on an industry panel, offering advice and guidance in relation to curriculum development and design.

The title of Distinguished Professor is conferred upon a small number of eminent individuals in recognition of outstanding achievements in scholarship or professional practice. 

Mark’s career achievements have had an enormous impact on Cornish culture, as well as to the standing and profile of Falmouth University. He has worked at the University for over a decade, teaching cinematography, narrative and experimental filmmaking within a number of departments and supervising student projects in the School of Film & Television.

In 2019 Mark released Bait, which earned him a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. The film went on to become the most successful Cornish film ever at the global box office, and a significant breakout arthouse hit. It was distributed by the British Film Institute, played 380 screens over a six-month period in the UK, and grossed £532,000 at the UK domestic cinema box office.

Mark’s last five films - including the feature films Enys Men (2022), Bait (2019), Happy Christmas (2013), the featurette Bronco’s House (2015) and the short film Hard, Cracked the Wind (2019) - involved students, graduates and staff from Falmouth University in a range of capacities.

This has included paid creative trainee positions in professional roles, student and graduate work placements and experience, and student and staff set visits.

Falmouth University has been involved in Mark’s productions by way of its innovative Sound/Image Cinema Lab. The Lab provides the majority of production funding, production resources and festival/release support for filmmakers willing to engage with its Filmmaker in Residence scheme. The scheme offers the opportunity to make a feature film in return for working with a majority student crew.

Mark’s contribution to the Cinema Lab has resulted in professional-level learning experiences for many undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as graduates and staff. These experiences have accelerated these individuals’ professional development, giving them hands-on experience of working on film sets.

Externally, Mark will continue to serve as an advocate of the Sound/Image Cinema Lab and the School of Film & Television to further strengthen industry connections. He will build upon the Lab’s existing connections with the BFI, Kodak, production companies, filmmakers, film festivals and distributors. 
 

Find out more about Falmouth’s School of Film & Television