The Imagina section hosted the world premiere of the short film I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash, introduced by its director, Mark Jenkin.
Shot on an analogue Super 8 camera, the emotionally charged film resembles a diary entry. Jenkin crafts an associative mosaic of images and sounds, shaped by the spontaneity of the film material and the impulsive rhythm of spoken thought. “I always carry a camera with me. You’ll probably see me running around with it tomorrow. Keep an eye out, you might end up in my next movie. “First I shoot, then I edit, and only then do I write,” he explained, describing a creative process driven by curiosity and a constant search for unexpected connections.
“I’m a pretty boring person, I’m always thinking about movies. I film whatever draws my attention. I often invent my own stories in the off-screen monologue. But the facts about my favourite films are real.” Cinema plays a central role in this experimental piece. Set against a backdrop of aesthetically grainy, mostly people-less footage, Jenkin layers film trivia and references, revealing a personal relationship to cinema history. Among the most influential films in his life is Big Wednesday, a coming-of-age story set in the world of surfing and youth. “I’m obsessed with that movie. I relate everything around me back to it,” he admitted.
The footage for I Saw the Face of God in the Jet Wash dates back to 2000. Jenkin decided to shape it into a finished work a month after completing one of his feature films. After posting a short clip to Instagram, he was encouraged by an enthusiastic response, including a message from Imagina section script editor Viktor Palák, urging him to complete the full film. The unexpected interest rekindled his excitement for the project.
