‘Gloriavale: New Zealand’s secret cult’: Dock on notorious religious group’s land sale deal ahead of EFM
Exclusive: Metfilm Sales acquired world rights except for Australia and New Zealand Gloriavale: New Zealand’s Secret CultFergus Grady and Noel Smith’s doc features a notorious Kiwi religious cult.
Metfilm will shop docs to international buyers at the upcoming European Film Market.
Billed as an “observational documentary”. In Gloriavale The infamous Gloriavale examines the widespread abuse within the Christian community and the institutional failures that have allowed it to continue.
Exploring the secret community through never-before-seen home video footage, Grady and Smith follow the Ready family as they wage a ground-breaking legal case against the community’s powerful leaders. Long associated with allegations of sexual and physical abuse, human rights abuses, and fraud, the true extent of Gloriavale’s crimes and the brutality of its leaders are revealed as prepared families lose their homes, their communities, and those they love for a chance. To bring about positive change in Gloriavale.
The film was selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s docs-in-progress program and debuted at the New Zealand International Film Festival before receiving a theatrical release from Limelight Distribution in Australia and New Zealand late last year. The doc is a Forward Media and Grade A Films production. Richard Fletcher is executive producer.
“Noel and Fergus deliver a powerful documentary with extraordinary access to this secret cult. It’s a fitting tribute to the former members’ fight for justice, and we’re thrilled to bring it to market,” said Mitch Clare of Metfilm Sales.
Smith added: “After years of following this heartbreaking story, we are extremely excited to be working with the stellar team at Metfilm Sales to bring Gloriavale to the world.”
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