A documentary that seems to be bypassing the film-festival circuit altogether

The Boston Globe reported this morning on the premiere of “The Gloucester 18,” a documentary about the supposed “teen-pregnancy pact” among high-school girls in that Massachusetts fishing town, and what’s notable is that the film did not premiere at a film festival but in a rented theater, and in association with The Massachusetts Alliance on teen pregnancy.

The filmmakers’ Facebook page also notes coverage in local media and on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox Network talk show.

Now, the filmmakers may have tried to get into festivals; it’s possible that this approach only came after other more-traditional strategies. But it’s getting coverage and interest anyway, it would appear.

As film festivals get more choked with entries, and as many lean toward more-trendy topic matter such as the environment, this may be an example of self-distribution that takes advantage of local interest and of the potential use of the film as an event-driver: The screening of the 67-minute film included a panel discussion.