Brainstorm Media proudly announces the acquisition of the gripping documentary THE LIE: THE MURDER OF GRACE MILLANE, a searing exploration of the headline-grabbing murder of British backpacker Grace Millane. The deal was successfully negotiated by Pip Ngo at XYZ Films and Alex Peters at Brainstorm Media.
“This chilling tale makes for a psychologically fascinating documentary. Lovers of the genre will appreciate the never-before-seen footage as well as Coan’s considerate telling of the investigation and subsequent trial,” says Brainstorm Media CEO Michelle Shwarzstein. We can’t wait to share this film with audiences this Spring.”
THE LIE: THE MURDER OF GRACE MILLANE delves into the tragic case of 21-year-old Grace Millane, whose solo holiday in New Zealand ended in a shocking murder, exposing disturbing attitudes about violence towards women. Director Helena Coan confronts the frightening case of Grace Millane’s murder, exploring regressive societal attitudes towards women that the trial laid bare. Through chilling newly released CCTV footage and interviews, the documentary reveals the heinous crime and the subsequent victimization of Grace Millane, highlighting broader issues of violence against women in society.
“Making a film about someone’s daughter, sister, friend, is not a responsibility I take lightly and my focus throughout this process was to center Grace in her own story. What happened to Grace deeply affected me and the way she was portrayed by some after her death horrified me. This film is an opportunity to tell the truth of what actually happened to her, as well as to show the silent burden that many of us carry with us every day – that this could happen to us too. Using predominantly the unflinching, unquestionable lens of CCTV footage allows the audience to be observers, to sit and watch a night unfold, a night that will feel familiar to all of us – a first date. Watching something so innocent evolve into something so abhorrent is a deeply unsettling experience, but one that I hope raises difficult, necessary questions and challenges our preconceptions about violence against women,” commented Director Helena Coan.
The notion of making a film about the Grace Millane murder first occurred to New Zealand-based producers Matthew Metcalfe and Tom Blackwell of GFC films when they met Detective Inspector Scott Beard, who was in charge of the case, and its public face.
“We were initially cautious about telling this story when approached about it. But after speaking with Helena, who so passionately wanted to tell the story, we felt we had to use the weight of the company to support bringing this story to the screen. To do nothing would be to add to the societal problems the film shines an unflinching light on. The whole team at GFC Films is proud to have gotten behind Helena making such a necessary and timely film,” said producers Matthew Metcalfe and Tom Blackwell of GFC Films.
THE LIE: THE MURDER OF GRACE MILLANE is an unwavering, unflinching victim-centered look at how one shocking murder case highlights the threat that women face in their day-to-day lives and the harmful attitudes about violence towards women that continue to permeate society.
Set to release in Spring 2024, THE LIE: THE MURDER OF GRACE MILLANE will captivate audiences with its unfiltered exploration of a high-profile murder case and the societal issues it unveils. For more information about THE LIE: THE MURDER OF GRACE MILLANE and Brainstorm Media’s upcoming releases, please visit Brainstorm Media’s Website: Brainstormmedia.com.
