A Calf of Man film like no other

A Calf of Man film like no other

Fri, 21 Mar 2025

Culture Vannin is proud to announce the release of Meayll - Yn Cholloo, a captivating short film inspired by the Calf of Man. This project marks the final completion of Culture Vannin's special 40th Anniversary Grants initiative, celebrating a significant milestone in supporting Manx culture and creativity.

Meayll - Yn Cholloo, a meditation on timelessness and transition, is an evocative work that blends original music, field recordings, and visual storytelling to capture the unique heritage and atmosphere of the Calf of Man. Developed by Gyp Buggane, Juan Maddrell and Joff Whitten, the film was inspired by and recorded on the Calf of Man.

A journey through music, memory, and place, this approach effectively brings out the essence of sense of place — the way a location feels, its history, and its meaning to those who know it intimately. The result is a beautifully crafted short film that intertwines music, voices, sounds and visual elements to reflect the Calf of Man's atmosphere and significance.

Commenting on the project, Joff Whitten said:

“As a team we can proudly declare this is the first ever recorded music made on the calf of man!” He went on to say, “Celebrating Manx life, culture, heritage and interests is imperative to enabling a positive island – Culture Vannin are at the heart of this.”

This is the final grant completed from the special 40th anniversary grants awarded in 2022. The year marked the 40th anniversary of the Manx Heritage Foundation Act, which created the Manx Heritage Foundation charity that is known as Culture Vannin today.

Chris Thomas MHK, Chair of Culture Vannin, expressed his excitement for the film's release:

“This perfectly embodies the spirit of our 40th Anniversary Grants — innovative, thought-provoking, and deeply connected to the Isle of Man’s unique culture, and we are delighted to share it with the public.”

The film can now be viewed online via the Culture Vannin website or YouTube. Images are also available on the Culture Vannin Flickr page. The music of the film is available from the Meayll BandCamp page.

Yn Cholloo: A film by Meayll