Overview
A new documentary exploring one man’s decades-long fascination with UFOs and unexplained phenomena is set to premiere this autumn, offering a portrait of Malcolm Wilson, the former owner of the Gordale Scar campsite in Malham. The film, Malcolm’s Subject, traces Wilson’s life at Gordale House Farm, where he has lived since 1962 and ran the popular campsite until its closure in 2023. Directed by Blackpool filmmaker Anton Arenko, the project aims to document not only Wilson’s interest in UFOs, but also the community he has built around that interest in recent years.
A local figure with a long-running interest
Wilson is described as a familiar presence in the Malham area, and Arenko said he became intrigued by the depth of his subject’s commitment to the topic. “I got to know him and I found his interest is UFOs fascinating,” the filmmaker said. He added that Wilson is involved with a UFO group in Todmorden and regularly hosts CE5 and stargazing events on his land at Gordale Scar. CE5, short for “close encounters of the fifth kind,” refers to organized group attempts to initiate contact with extraterrestrial life, and has become a cornerstone of the film’s narrative.
Arenko first met Wilson while working as a location marshal on the Harry Potter television production, which filmed at Gordale Scar in October 2025. Because access to the site required Wilson’s permission, the encounter gave the filmmaker an opportunity to learn more about the man behind the campsite and the enduring curiosity that has shaped his life. According to Arenko, Wilson’s retirement from camping management was prompted by age rather than disinterest: he said Wilson told him he “wasn’t getting any younger,” and that the campsite had effectively “taken over his life.”
Documentary focus and community outreach
The film goes beyond Wilson’s personal beliefs to examine how he has sought to connect with others who share similar interests. Arenko said the documentary captures Wilson’s efforts to build community, including a distinctive outreach tactic in which he leaves post-it notes around Skipton inviting people to call him for a conversation about UFOs. That approach, the filmmaker suggested, reflects Wilson’s desire to reach beyond the campsite and find people with whom he can discuss the subject openly.
Over six months, Arenko said he got to know Wilson and members of the wider UFO community before deciding to move ahead with the project. Although he initially considered seeking funding, he ultimately chose to finance production himself in April, citing the time-sensitive nature of the film. He was joined by cinematographer Iain Cash, with whom he previously worked on the documentary End to End. Filming took place over several days, with the team later describing the resulting footage as strong enough to support a festival run.
Funding push ahead of autumn premiere
Despite the completed filming, Arenko is now seeking additional funding for post-production, including sound, music and colour grading. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help cover those costs, and donors are being offered a thank-you credit in the finished film. The director said he hopes to polish the documentary to a standard that will allow it to reach festivals and broader audiences.
The premiere of Malcolm’s Subject is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at the Regent Cinema in Blackpool as part of Film Vault Presents’ 10th anniversary. Arenko also said he would like to arrange a screening in Skipton, bringing Wilson’s story to the local community that has long known him. For now, the project stands as both a character study and a snapshot of a small but active UK UFO network, anchored by a man whose curiosity has continued well into retirement.
