Barbara’s documentary film King for A Day is a cinematic take on the Cornish folk tradition known as the Obby Oss or Padstow’s May Day. Screening across Cornwall, London and Devon, it was one out of twelve films per year to be selected worldwide by US distributor Documentary Educational Resources. The film became part of Barbara’s film-by-practice PhD research at Exeter University where she received a scholarship and completed in 2023. Additionally, in 2023 the work was recognised with a Gorsedh Kernow Creativity Award.
During the programme, Barbara also completed production and editing on her first feature documentary, Gentle, Angry Women, funded by the BFI, Cultivator and supported by Canon UK. Creative UK have enabled Awen to access relevant external Exec Producer expertise to take the film closer to its completion.
With support from Creative UK mentoring, Awen was able to secure Growth Hub Business Development funding to develop a new slate of feature documentaries.
“It was very valuable to be part of the opportunity, and great to meet other businesses in the creative sector and meet external mentors. Finding good film/media contacts is vital for Cornwall-based companies.”
Barbara Santi, Co-Founder
Awen are currently developing a slate of commercially viable short and feature-length documentaries which are at different stages.
New 3-year projects with partners are being developed and financed.
Aiming to launch their first feature doc.
Awen would like to pursue Innovate UK Govt grants as well as alternative sources of funding to continue employing external expertise on a freelance basis.