Mark Vicente brings free screening of Narcissist’s Playbook to the National Mall

Filmmaker and NXIVM whistleblower Mark Vicente will host a free screening of his new documentary at the Sylvan Theater on Oct. 25, followed by a discussion with experts. The film, backed by survivors and now translated into 18 languages, examines the tactics of narcissistic abuse and is drawing a global audience after studio and festival rejections.

Why it matters: - The screening puts Vicente’s anti-abuse documentary in one of the country’s most visible public spaces: the National Mall. - The event aims to spotlight patterns of narcissistic abuse for a broad audience, not just psychology or documentary fans. - The film’s independent release shows how survivor-funded projects can bypass traditional distribution after industry rejection.

What happened: - Mark Vicente will host a free public screening of Narcissist’s Playbook: Empathy Not Included on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument. - Vicente will lead a post-screening discussion with experts in the field. - Vicente will be in Washington, D.C. from Oct. 23-25 and available for interviews.

The details: - Vicente is best known for HBO’s The Vow and What the Bleep Do We Know!?. - Vicente spent five years filming across seven countries for the documentary. - The film includes self-described narcissists explaining how they manipulate people. - The film also includes survivors and experts such as Dr. Ramani Durvasula and Dr. Heather Berlin. - Evan Rachel Wood and director Barry Sonnenfeld also appear in the film. - The documentary grew out of Vicente’s own experience as a former NXIVM member. - Vicente became one of the whistleblowers who helped expose cult leader Keith Raniere, leading to Raniere’s arrest, conviction and imprisonment. - Multiple studios and nearly 30 film festivals passed on the film. - Vicente and producer Scott Altomare released the film independently. - Survivors fully funded the project. - The film has been translated into 18 languages. - The documentary is building a worldwide audience through word of mouth. - Interview requests can be sent to laurence@tlcmediaworks.com. - More information is available on the film’s social channels: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Between the lines: - The National Mall screening gives Vicente a high-profile platform for a film that struggled to get traditional backing. - The mix of experts, survivors and self-described narcissists is designed to make the documentary both emotional and educational. - The survivor-funded release suggests the project is being positioned as advocacy as much as filmmaking.

What's next: - Vicente and Altomare will use their Washington visit for media outreach from Oct. 23-25. - The free screening and discussion could expand visibility for the film as it continues to circulate internationally. - Word-of-mouth promotion and translated versions are likely to remain central to the film’s rollout.