Documentaries Showcase Two Of The Most Captivating And Elusive Individuals:

Marlon Brando and Warren Jeffs

NEW YORK – January 20, 2015 – Continuing to deliver powerful and riveting documentary programming, SHOWTIME will debut the world premieres of two highly-anticipated films at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Competing in the World Cinema Documentary Competition and available for theatrical release, LISTEN TO ME MARLON, directed by Stevan Riley (Fire in Babylon), unlocks Marlon Brando’s extensive never-before-heard personal audio archive. Also debuting at Sundance is the compelling Warren Jeffs documentary PROPHET’S PREY, directed by Amy Berg (Deliver us from Evil, An Open Secret), which provides a unique look inside one of the largest cults currently operating in the United States, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President, Showtime Networks Inc.

"We are dedicated to showcasing absorbing films about the most fascinating figures in our culture,” commented David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.  “Amy Berg’s brave look into the eyes of Warren Jeffs and Stevan Riley’s incisive rendering of the inner life of Marlon Brando offer lasting portraits of these two culture-moving individuals.”

SHOWTIME is emerging as one of the premiere destinations for documentary programming, developing films under the prestigious SHO: CLOSE UP banner. These documentaries offer an uncensored look at the lives and legacies of some of the world’s most controversial figures. LISTEN TO ME MARLON and PROPHET’S PREY join previous award winning SHO: CLOSE UP films THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY and RICHARD PRYOR: OMIT THE LOGIC.

PROPHET'S PREY is a unique and intricate look inside the world and mind of Warren Jeffs and the FLDS.  The FLDS is one of the largest cults in the United States today. They are shrouded in secrecy and are far reaching.  The film examines at how one man monopolizes tens of thousands of followers despite being imprisoned for life, after being publicly admonished and convicted for unspeakable acts. The people trying to stop this cult are fighting to avoid another Waco or Jonestown while Jeffs is calling for the end of the world, regularly.  The film asks important questions about the future of the FLDS and the safety of the communities who are living amongst its members.  PROPHET’S PREY is written and directed by Amy Berg (West of Memphis) who also serves as an executive producer.  Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Dustin Lance Black also serve as executive producers.  Erica Huggins serves as the documentary’s producer. 

With exclusive access to previously unheard audio archives, LISTEN TO ME MARLON is the definitive Marlon Brando cinema documentary. Charting his exceptional career and his extraordinary life away from the stage and screen; the film fully explores the complexities of the man by telling the story uniquely in Brando’s own voice. LISTEN TO ME MARLON is written, edited and directed by Stevan Riley (Fire in Babylon) and produced by John Battsek (Searching for Sugar Man, Restrepo, The Tillman Story, One Day In September). RJ Cutler (THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK CHENEY) and George Chignell (Ali) serve as producers. LISTEN TO ME MARLON is a Passion Pictures production and is co-produced by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group.  Additionally, the documentary will be competing in the Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Documentary Competition. 

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CONTACTS:

Robin McMillan                                            John Murphy (Murphy PR)         

310-234-5224                                               212-414-0408

robin.mcmillan@showtime.net                  jmurphy@murphypr.com