The cast and crew of a new movie shot in Bermuda have been given an exclusive preview of the film.

The 100-strong team behind Maternal Secrets were told before the special screening that worldwide distribution rights for the film had recently been bought by MarVista Entertainment.

The film stars Emmy award-winning Kate Mansi, Top Gun star Kelly McGillis, Real Housewives of New York star Luann D’Agostino, Brooke Burfitt and several Bermudians, including Owain Johnston-Barnes, a news reporter at The Royal Gazette, Terlena Murphy and Chardonne Paynter.

The movie, directed by island film-maker Lucinda Spurling and originally called Babymoon, also showcases many of Bermuda’s resorts and attractions.

Ms Spurling said: “It will always be Babymoon to everyone who was on the crew. We have a finished film and we have a distributor.”

She added the film would be a “calling card” for the newly established Bermuda Film Commission.

The thriller features a young couple who come to Bermuda on their “babymoon”, the last holiday before the birth of their first child.

But the trip takes a dark turn when the expectant father goes missing.

Girlfriend Aubrey searches for answers and learns his estranged mother is on the island and knows more about the disappearance than she will admit.

The special screening took place at Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on Thursday night and producer Brooke Williams shed more light on why the name of the film had been changed from Babymoon to Mother of All Secrets and finally Maternal Secrets.

Ms Brooke explained: “Most people still don’t know what Babymoon means and it isn’t indicative of the genre of the film.”

She added the final change from Mother of all Secrets to Maternal Secrets was based on how the film’s title would read when translated into other languages.

Ms Brooke said Bermuda was a beautiful location for filming.

She added: “It shoots really, really well and it helps the film stand out from the rest.”

Ms Brooke said the film would be submitted to a range of film festivals and more local screenings are planned.