Vertigo Releasing has announced the acquisition of Censor, which we will be releasing theatrically in the UK and Ireland on July 2nd.
Irish distribution company Wildcard Distribution will handle the Irish cinema release when cinemas reopen this summer.
Censor is writer and director Prano Bailey-Bond’s feature debut, and stars IFTA winner and BAFTA nominee Niamh Algar (Calm with Horses, Raised by Wolves).
Bailey-Bond’s psychological horror garnered critical acclaim after its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival in the Official Selection, and had its European Premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.
In response to the acquisition news, Bailey-Bond said: “It’s amazing to be partnering with Vertigo Releasing – an established champion of incredible independent cinema who have worked with directors I hugely admire – Jennifer Kent, Taika Waititi, Nicholas Winding Refn, Spike Lee, Babak Anvari… I’m so thrilled they will be bringing our film “home”, to cinemas across the UK”.
Set in Britain, 1985. Censor follows film censor Enid (Algar), who discovers an eerie horror that speaks directly to her sister’s mysterious disappearance. She resolves to unravel the puzzle behind the film and its enigmatic director – a quest that will blur the lines between fiction and reality in terrifying ways.
Steeped in glorious 1980s aesthetics, Censor is a bloody love letter to the VHS ‘video nasty’ horror classics of the past. “Censor is quite simply one of the best UK debuts in years,” said Vertigo’s CEO, Rupert Preston. “We could not be more excited about unleashing it on UK audiences this summer and working with Prano on this film.”
Censor is produced by Helen Jones of Silver Salt Films, with legendary horror writer Kim Newman serving as Executive Producer alongside Andy Starke (Rook Films, producer of Sightseers, Kill List, and In Fabric) and Ant Timpson (Timpson Films). Naomi Wright, Lauren Dark, Ollie Madden, Daniel Battsek, Mary Burkeand Kimberley Warner also serve as Executive Producers.
Alongside Algar, the film also stars Irish actor Michael Smiley (Jawbone, Kill List), Nicholas Burns (Ghost Stories, Nathan Barley), Vincent Franklin (Gentleman Jack, Bodyguard), Sophia La Porta (Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral, Been So Long), and Adrian Schiller (Victoria, The Last Kingdom).
George Hamilton of Protagonist Pictures, who is handling world sales on the title added: “We are thrilled for CENSOR to be one of the first films out of the gate as cinemas reopen in the UK. Our friends at Vertigo repeatedly proved last year that UK audiences are hungry for the genuine cinematic experience and CENSOR is just the ticket!”
Censor was developed by the BFI, Film4, Creative England via the BFI Network, and Ffilm Cymru Wales, and was funded by the BFI and Ffilm Cymru Wales, both awarding National Lottery funding, and by Film4, with support from Kodak Motion Picture and Cinelab London.
Censor is scheduled to release in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on July 2nd.