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Sundance adds documentary about Jackson's accusers

Published:Thursday | January 10, 2019 | 12:00 AM
This May 25, 2005 file photo, shows Michael Jackson arriving at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, California.

A documentary about two boys who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month.

The Sundance Institute announced the addition of Leaving Neverland and The Brink, a documentary about Steve Bannon, to its 2019 line-up on Wednesday.

A description of Leaving Neverland, says it will tell the story of two men who are now in their 30s and began long-running relationships with Jackson at ages seven and 10, when Jackson was at the height of his fame. The names of the Jackson accusers profiled in the documentary were not released. Jackson was acquitted of molestation charges in 2005.

The film is produced and directed by BAFTA-winning director Dan Reed.

The estate of Michael Jackson is denouncing the documentary, calling it "just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations".

The estate said in a statement on Wednesday that the documentary Leaving Neverland, ''is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson".

The Sundance Film Festival kicks off on January 24 and runs through to February 4.