The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay, directed by Dan Simpkins, follows the lives of underground mine explorers in Cornwall and the impact of their shared passion on men’s mental health.
The film has been selected for the Kendal Mountain Festival and has been submitted to more than 20 festivals.
Mr Simpkins said: “Cornwall is where I’ve always felt most creatively connected.
“This documentary is about more than a hobby—it’s about the complexities of masculinity, the search for purpose, and the importance of community.
“Focusing on the extraordinary lives of everyday people.”
(Image: The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay)
The documentary follows the Carbis Bay Crew, a group of working-class men who find camaraderie and a rare space for reflection in the depths of abandoned mines.
Far from being thrill-seekers, the men use mine exploration as a form of escape and emotional support.
Pat, a member of the group, said: “I’d like people to take away that the reasons for these strange pastimes might be far more complex than you originally might imagine.
“The documentary is now like a time capsule; we’ll all be able to look back on a snapshot in time.
“None of us are getting any younger and we’ll have this beautiful record.”
(Image: The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay)
The film was inspired by Mr Simpkins’ own experiences with mental health struggles and was produced in partnership with MANUP?, an organisation that encourages men to speak openly about mental health.
Dan Somers, CEO and founder of MANUP?, said: “The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay captures what we see at MANUP?
“That real connection doesn’t always happen in a therapy room.
“It happens in the quiet, the risk, the humour between men who feel unseen.
“Projects like this don’t just raise awareness, they show men they’re not broken—they just haven’t been heard yet.”
The documentary was shot over two years, with Mr Simpkins spending weekends travelling from London to Cornwall and eventually relocating for three months to film the crew.
It will screen at the Kendal Mountain Festival on Friday, November 21, during The Underground Session at Kendal Town Hall Assembly Room.