Neon buys horror film “Enys Men” ahead of its Cannes premiere

Neon acquired the North American distribution rights to Mark Jenkins’ “Enys Men” ahead of the horror film’s premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.

The film, which sounds a lot like The Wicker Man, stars Mary Woodvine and Edward Rowe. Jenkin wore a lot of hats on this one. He wrote and directed the film and served as cinematographer, sound designer and composer. The occupation of the catering truck was probably left to someone else. “Enys Men” was shot on 16mm color negative with a 1970’s Clockwork Bolex camera and post-sync sound to convey, the press release states: “…the feeling of a role never seen before To discover celluloid, which unfolds in a desolate, haunted setting Filmpalast.”

“Enys Men” takes place on an uninhabited island off the British coast in 1973. There, a volunteer embarks on a metaphysical journey that challenges her grasp of reality and plunges her into a living nightmare.

The film is produced by Denzil Monk for Bosena. Johnny Fewings serves as executive producer. Film4 co-financed the film, with Ben Coren and Lauren Dark serving as executive producers and Kingsley Marshall for Sound/Image Cinema Lab.

Jenkin received two BAFTA nominations and a win for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for his previous work Bait.

Neon’s Sarah Colvin negotiated the North American deal with Protagonist Pictures’ George Hamilton, who also represents the worldwide distribution rights.

Neon has a busy Cannes. It will premiere David Cronenberg’s Crimes of The Future, starring Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart and Viggo Mortensen, and Brett Morgen’s look at David Bowie’s career, Moonage Daydream.