Cinetic Media has acquired the North American sales rights to "Manhunt," a Canadian drama set to have its world premiere in the main competition at the Locarno Film Festival, where it will compete for the top Golden Leopard prize. The deal matters because it positions a high-profile festival contender in the North American market, while sales agency Aspect Ratio has separately taken on the film's international rights.

"Manhunt" is the second feature from director Wayne Wapeemukwa, whose debut "Luk'Luk'I" won best Canadian first film at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017. Inspired by real-life murders that took place in Canada in 2019, the film follows two young men on a road trip through Canada's northern frontier, using the true-crime premise as a parable to explore loneliness, masculinity and colonial themes. It stars Harris Lowe, Landon Tunold, Bianca Foscht and Dilara Foscht, and is written by Anna-Lena Theobald and Wapeemukwa. The Locarno Film Festival runs from 5 to 15 August.