FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Documentary “Pension Fight Club” Set for World Premiere in Sacramento Amid Growing Calls for Financial Transparency
SACRAMENTO, CA May 05, 2026 –(rpea.com)— The Retired Public Employees’ Association of California (RPEA) is hosting the upcoming red-carpet world premiere of “Pension Fight Club,” an investigative documentary by award-winning filmmaker Doug Orchard. The feature-length film provides a national examination of the systemic financial risks and lack of transparency currently facing public retirement funds, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS).
The screening will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at the historic Crest Theatre in downtown Sacramento.
Exposing Wall Street Secrecy
The 87-minute documentary features the “Pension Fight Club”—a non-partisan coalition of state treasurers, pension board members, trustees, whistleblowers, and union leaders. The group is demanding oversight of the public funds they are legally bound to manage.
While public pensions must be transparent by law, the film alleges that over the past 30 years, Wall Street has increasingly “swept” these public monies into “secrecy accounts” through private equity agreements hidden from fiduciaries.
The High Cost of Demanding Oversight
Members of the coalition detail significant and coordinated backlash for attempting to exercise their fiduciary duties, including:
- Targeted Campaigns: Suspiciously well-funded political campaigns against board members seeking oversight.
- Legal Retaliation: Lawsuits filed by state authorities against those requesting contract reviews.
This premiere arrives as the California Legislature actively considers SB 1319 (The Private Equity Sunshine Act). If passed, the bill would mandate the disclosure of critical performance benchmarking and workforce data for private equity holdings tied to public pension funds.
Event Details & Schedule
- What: World Premiere of “Pension Fight Club” Documentary & Forum
- When: Tuesday, May 19
- Where: Crest Theatre, 1013 K St, Sacramento, CA
- 5:00 PM: Doors Open, Red Carpet & Reception
- 6:00 PM: Showtime (87-minute runtime)
- Post-Film: Q&A featuring director Doug Orchard alongside RPEA leaders Margaret Brown and J.J. Jelincic.
RSVP: Attendance requires you to RSVP. Use this link; https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/rpeaca/pension-fight-club-world-premiere
or Call: 800.443.7732
About the Retired Public Employees’ Association of California (RPEA)
RPEA is dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the hard-earned retirement benefits of California’s public employees. Located at 300 T Street in Sacramento, the association provides a collective voice for retirees navigating modern pension challenges.
Media & Accommodations Contact:
Dev Berger, RPEA Managing Editor and Director of Public Relations
Phone: 916-390-7184 Email: dev1950@att.net