Dying Breed documentary in Cornwall at the Falmouth Poly

Dying Breed was first released in 2017 and enjoyed a successful run at the Newlyn Filmhouse, before widespread distribution elsewhere in Cornwall, other parts of the UK, and abroad.

It played to packed houses at the International Documentary Festival at Leipzig, Germany, where it was shown as part of the main programme.

Made by Newlyn documentary film maker Mick Catmull, Dying Breed is a record of 12 months spent filming on three small West Penwith cattle farms.

The late Ivan Rowe with a Red Ruby heiffer and calf

Disaster struck a year after the film’s release when copyright issues concerning some of the music used in the film forced its withdrawal from distribution.

Now, thanks to a grant from Creative Kernow’s Cultivator fund, copyright issues have been resolved and a new version of the film, with specially composed music by Neil Reed, was launched at Newlyn Filmhouse in May.

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Director Mick Catmull said: "Audiences were still clamouring to see the original version when we had to withdraw it from circulation, so I’m over the moon that we’re able to put it out there again.

"If anything, the central concern of the film, the decline of the small family farm, is more relevant today than when it was originally made and I’m really chuffed that Creative Kernow have seen fit to support it."

Director Mick Catmull with Rospannel farmer Bernard Hocking

The farmers featured are the late Ivan Rowe from Boscean, near St Just; Bernard and Rosemary Hocking from Rospannel, near Crows-an-Wra; and Geoffrey Giles from Kerris, near Lamorna.

The new version of Dying Breed will be shown at Falmouth Poly Cinema on June 23 at 7.30 pm.

Director Mick Catmull will be on hand to introduce the film and take questions afterwards.