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Esponda Productions, Vesuvio Entertainment, Rocky Mountain Pictures and Disarming Films are pleased to announce that AN OPEN SECRET, Amy Berg’s exposé of the alarming, and unchecked level of child sexual abuse in Hollywood, will have a 20-city US theatrical release beginning June 5, and will also have its international premiere at the 2015 Marché du Film in Cannes, next month. As a World Market Premiere, this will be the first time the film will be screened for international buyers and the first public showing of the film since its critically acclaimed screening at the New York Doc Fest in November 2014.

The film’s Cannes Marche screening, to be held at 18:00h on May 19 at the Olympia 8 theatre, located at 5 Rue de la Pompe, 06400 Cannes, precedes the long-awaited theatrical release of the film, scheduled to begin June 5 in Denver and Seattle, and widening to at least 20 key cities in the weeks following initial release.

AN OPEN SECRET, directed by Oscar^®-nominated director Amy Berg (WEST OF MEMPHIS; DELIVER US FROM EVIL), is a shocking look at the lives of these children and at the system that essentially funnels them towards sexual predators without any oversight or regard for their safety. The children the film follows, now all young adults, were exposed to some of the biggest names in the film industry, which has created a groundswell of controversy.

Executive producers Gabe Hoffman and Matthew Valentinas were inspired to research the topic of child sex abuse in Hollywood after learning of Cory Haim's death from a drug overdose, and that he was an abuse victim, something not discussed until the last few years of his life. The pair reached out to Disarming Films to conduct extensive investigative research on the topic, and the overwhelming results compelled the pair to move forward with a documentary about the subject, and Amy Berg was the perfect person to tackle this sensitive issue. They moved forward with the film with the goal of donating any profits to support victims of child abuse.

“This is clearly one of the most controversial, and most important films of 2015 and sheds light on one of the dirtiest secrets in Hollywood,” said Greg H. Sims, CEO of Vesuvio Entertainment, which is distributing the film in partnership with Rocky Mountain Pictures.

Randy Slaughter of Rocky Mountain Pictures says, “We’re pleased to bring AN OPEN SECRET to filmgoers across the US. Since its festival premiere last fall, the public and the media have clamored for us to bring this film to theaters, and now we are answering their call.” Slaughter and longtime partner Ron Rodgers have overseen the theatrical release of dozens of major feature films, including 2016: OBAMA’S AMERICA, whose $34M box office made it the second-highest grossing political documentary ever released.

Comments director Amy Berg, "I am pleased that An Open Secret will finally have an opportunity to screen for a larger audience. Its an important film about an extremely important issue."

Media were galvanized in their response to an early cut of the film screened in New York in November 2014. Indiewire said, “Amy Berg’s ‘An Open Secret’ is a devastating exposé of Hollywood’s sexual abuse problem…the director takes a bold, incendiary look at a topic many people would rather avoid.

The Hollywood Reporter informed that AN OPEN SECRET is “…a sober look at accusations that lend themselves to sensationalism…Berg’s film is very tightly focused… with any luck it will encourage other victims to speak up, and enlighten the parents of showbiz aspirants about the industry’s dangers.”

Flavorwire said, “[AN OPEN SECRET is]…quietly horrifying, as it details the trauma and the abuse of power inflicted on young men with stars in their eyes…. it’s the type of work that should have the power to effect change in laws for child actors, and open up the eyes of parents who push their kids toward stardom.”

Finally, Variety proposed, “If Berg can find a distrib[utor] willing to brave the forces that have silenced this open secret for decades, the documentary should find avid [audiences] worldwide.”

Finally, a reception follows the invitation only screening at Cannes, details of which will be announced shortly.

AN OPEN SECRET Credits
Esponda Productions presents AN OPEN SECRET in association with Vesuvio Entertainment and Rocky Mountain Pictures. A Disarming Films production, AN OPEN SECRET is directed by Amy Berg, and produced by Amy Berg and Katelyn Howes. Cinematography is by Jenna Rosher. Executive producers are Gabe Hoffman and Matthew Valentinas; Co-producers, Peter Clune and Alex Riguero. Directed by Amy Berg. Written by Amy Berg and Billy McMillin and Lorien Haynes. Editors are Bill McMillin and Phil Thangsombat; Music is by Gary Lightbody and John McDaid; Sound Designer/Re-recording mixer is Garrett Montgomery. Genre: Documentary; Running Time 97:43: Rated R