Oscar-nominated documentarian Amy Berg was afraid that the world premiere of her latest nonfiction film, “An Open Secret,” at DOC NYC last November would be its last. “We get one screening,” the director said at the festival. “Maybe we’ll get distribution. It’s not very likely.”
Her skepticism was due to the film’s sensitive subject: sexual exploitation of children and minors in the film industry. Michael Eagan, the actor who filed, then voluntarily dismissed, a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse against powerful director Bryan Singer, is one of the doc’s main characters. (Singer and his two fellow defendants claimed that Eagan was looking for a payday.)
Against the odds, “An Open Secret” has secured a distribution deal. Rocky Mountain Pictures has scheduled a 20-city theatrical release starting June 5. The film will also travel to Cannes, where it will be screening for overseas buyers.
In addition to Eagan, the documentary’s interviewees include Corey Feldman and Todd Bridges.
“I am pleased that ‘An Open Secret’ will finally have an opportunity to screen for a larger audience,” Berg commented. “It’s an important film about an extremely important issue.”
[via Deadline]
