Film4, Channel 4, Rogan Scotland and Screen Scotland have announced the start of production for feature documentary The Secret Of Me (w/t). World sales and distribution will be handled by Dogwoof (Blackfish, Free Solo). This film was commissioned by Film4 and Channel 4 Docs.
Directed and produced Grace Hughes-Hallett (producer of Three Identical Strangers) the documentary lifts the lid on 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. This eye-opening film raises profound questions about secrecy, consent and identity.
The Secret Of Me 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.
Director, Grace Hughes-Hallett comments: “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 >comment: “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 I’m sure audiences will be gripped by this documentary directed by Grace Hughes-Hallett.”
James Rogan, Creative Director of Rogan Productions and Rogan Scotland said: “We are delighted to be working with Grace Hughes-Hallett on her first feature documentary as director, and to be partnering with Film4 and Screen Scotland. From the moment Grace first told us the story at Rogan Scotland, we knew it would make an extraordinary cinematic experience. It's such a shocking and moving tale of a medical scandal and individual identity.”
Mark Thomas at Screen Scotland comments: “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.”
Background
For Further Information please contact:
Film4: [email protected]
Rogan Scotland: [email protected]
About Rogan Productions and Rogan Scotland
Rogan Productions is the multi-award-winning indie behind the BAFTA-winning Uprising, Emmy-winning Freddie Mercury: The Final Act and upcoming Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse. Founded by Creative Director James Rogan (Putin: A Russian Spy Story, 1971: The Year that Music Changed Everything) and Managing Director Soleta Rogan (Subnormal: A British Scandal, Black Power), they went on to launch Rogan Scotland in 2021.
Under the helm of Mark Hedgecoe (The Gamechangers, The Challenger) Rogan Scotland has delivered several critically acclaimed films, including landmark BAFTA Scotland-nominated series Becoming Frida Kahlo.
About Film4
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking, both new and established.
Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award®-winners such as Florian Zeller’s The Father, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite, Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Asif Kapadia’s box office record breaking documentary Amy, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Sarah Gavron’s Rocks, Rose Glass’s Saint Maud, Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch, Chris Morris’s Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin and Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years.
Film4’s recent releases include Molly Manning Walker’s Un Certain Regard prize-winning How to Have Sex, Martin McDonagh’s BAFTA winning The Banshees of Inisherin, Oliver Hermanus’ Living, Florian Zeller’s The Son, Mark Jenkin’s Enys Men and Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning Titane. , Jonathan Butterell’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Rebecca Hall’s Passing, Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, Will Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day, Eva Husson’s Mothering Sunday, Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor, and Jim Archer’s Brian & Charles.
Forthcoming titles include Yorgos Lanthimos’ Venice Golden L`ion winner Poor Things, Jonathan Glazer’s Cannes Grand Prix winner The Zone of Interest, Steve McQueen’s Occupied City, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers and Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding.
About Channel 4 Docs
From the serious (Evacuation, Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime), to the entertaining Frankie Boyle’s Farewell to the Monarchy, Channel 4 Documentaries speak truth to power, get under the skin of the nation and seek to make sense of the changing world we live in.
Many of the award-winning series are investigative at heart, tell difficult, controversial stories and unique in the way that others may shy away from. Banged Up, the social experiment about the prison system, the shocking drama documentary Partygate, A Paedophile in My Family: Surviving Dad and My Dead Body all confront, challenge and encourage conversation.
The genre has a host of successful features docs that create conversation and widespread debate with titles such as Bronson: Fit to be Free?, London Bridge: Facing Terror and the Price of Truth.
Documentaries embrace risk-taking and welcome ideas with innovative stylistic approaches, e.g. lip sync in Married to a Paedophile or AI voice recreation in My Dead Body.
Other outstanding content that has proved a massive streaming success is Evacuation. This three-part series, boasted extraordinary access, giving the viewer the experience of watching a high-tension military thriller, telling the story of the fall of Kabul through the eyes of the British armed forces.
Other examples of premium factual boxsets that have centred on a well-known figures but say something about modern Britain include the multi-award winning Jade: The Reality Star who Changed Britain and the more recent George Michael: Outed and Andrew: The Problem Prince.
In recent past other such documentary features from Channel 4 have included Leaving Neverland our biggest ever factual title of streaming for viewing in the first week. Three Identical Strangers, Lucy The Human Chimp and Dark Horse, as well as the multi-award winning For Sama and Lyra.
About Channel 4
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For over 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.
Through a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with around 300 creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2020, Channel 4 launched its Future4 strategy to become a digital-first public service media company and to continue to deliver significant impact for UK audiences and investment into the UK creative economy.
Across its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is turbocharging its efforts to find, nurture and develop talent across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, Channel 4 is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people, and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions
Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service plus 11 television channels including: Channel 4, E4, E4 Extra, More4, Film4, 4Seven and The Box Plus Network. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 88 BAFTA wins in its history.
About Screen Scotland
Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and tv industry, through funding and strategic support.
Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on Twitter and Instagram