EXCLUSIVE: Film4, Channel 4, Rogan Scotland and Screen Scotland are underway on feature documentary The Secret Of Me (w/t), we can reveal.
World sales and distribution will be handled by UK firm Dogwoof, which will begin discussing the project at the upcoming EFM. The film was commissioned by Film4 and Channel 4 Docs.
Directed and produced Grace Hughes-Hallett, producer of hit 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers, the film’s central subject is being kept under wraps but according to the filmmakers the movie will explore “a medical scandal that started in America in the 1960s and exploded into the public eye in the 2000s. The consequences for thousands of young children would be devastating. For one young student, it would change her life forever.”
The filmmakers continued: “The Secret Of Me (w/t) follows a college student arriving at university, where a chance revelation uncovers an extraordinary secret her doctors and parents have kept from her all her life. She embarks on a journey to find out the truth about what happened to her when she was born. Her search to understand who she is leads her to a radical experiment on a pair of identical twins and a terrible lie.”
Dogwoof, which will have four films at this month’s Sundance Film Festival, previously released doc hits Blackfish, Free Solo and Three Identical Strangers in the UK.
Director, Grace Hughes-Hallett commented: “I’m very excited to help our contributors tell this extraordinary story – and to weave it into a film I hope will leave audiences with their jaws on the floor and a newfound understanding of a subject that deserves all of our attention.”
Ben Coren, Head of Development at Film4 and Sacha Mirzoeff, Senior Commissioner Documentaries at Channel 4 added: “The Secret Of Me (w/t) uncovers a medical scandal that had devastating implications for many people. It’s incredibly important to shine a light on these traumatic events and we’re sure audiences will be gripped by this documentary directed by Grace Hughes-Hallett.”
Mark Thomas at Screen Scotland said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Film4, Channel 4 and Rogan Scotland on Grace Hughes-Hallett’s new feature documentary. The Secret Of Me (w/t) is a highly compelling and deeply moving story of truth, tragic deception, and identity that we are sure will resonate strongly with audiences. The film demonstrates the scale and creative ambition of premium theatrical feature documentaries that are being made and supported in Scotland.”
Sundance hit Three Identical Strangers, the story of triplets separated at birth, was nominated for three Emmys and made more than $13M at the box office in 2018.