A controversial film on the LDS Church and gay marriage has sold out five screenings at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival — making it one of the most popular and highly anticipated entries of the festival.

Focused on the 2008 passage of California’s Proposition 8, the documentary has struck a nerve with accusations that a “Mormon front group purchased passage” of the constitutional amendment, which narrowly overturned the state Supreme Court ruling that allowed gay couples to marry.

The film follows the stories of many LGBT citizens seeking marriage equality and never-before revealed Mormon efforts to stop them. The stories of Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones, two gay Mormon men, are the marquis players in 8:TMP. Barrick is the direct descendant of Mormon polygamist Fredrick G. Williams.

Watch the trailer here:

Filmmaker Reed Cowan, a 1997 USU graduate in broadcast journalism who wrote, directed and produced the film, has encouraged supporters to contact Sundance about adding more showings. 8:TMP is narrated by Oscar winning filmmaker Dustin Lance Black.

Activists on both sides of the gay marriage debate are expected to demonstrate at each of the film’s Sundance screenings, beginning with the world premiere on January 24.

More information about the film can be found at its website here, and on its Facebook page.

Tags: Film, LDS, LGBT Rights, Marriage Equality, Mormons, Proposition 8, Religion, Sundance, Utah

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment