Break the Silence: Reproductive & Sexual Health Stories
Break the Silence features raw, powerful, intimate interviews with 18 transgender and cisgender women about their personal sexual & reproductive health histories. Women from a diverse range of backgrounds candidly recount their histories of sex ed, early sexual experiences, abortion, birth control, relationships, gender transition, menstruation, STIs, gynecological exams, sexual assault, pregnancy, pleasure, and much more. Break the Silence challenges social taboo with unflinching candor, courageous vulnerability, and often great humor.
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Willow O'FeralDirector
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Haptic PicturesProducer
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Brad HeckProducer
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:59 minutes
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Completion Date:February 1, 2018
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:HD
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Middlebury New Filmmakers FestivalMiddlebury VT
United States
August 26, 2018
Official Selection -
Mendocino Film FestivalMendocino CA
United States
June 3, 2018
Official Selection -
Green Mountain Film FestivalMontpelier VT
United States
March 25, 2018
Official Selection -
Machina Arts/Community ScreeningKeene, NH
United States
August 31, 2018 -
Oddfellows Hall/Community ScreeningMendocino, CA
United States
February 24, 2018 -
Next Stage Arts/Community ScreeningPutney
United States
November 29, 2018 -
Marlboro College/Community ScreeningMarlboro
United States
November 8, 2018 -
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARDLa Frontera Queer Film Festival
United States
June 28, 2019
Brownsville, TX
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Willow O’Feral is an award-winning director, producer and cinematographer of two feature documentary films 'Break the Silence: Reproductive & Sexual Health Stories,' and 'Arming Sisters,' about Native American women survivors of sexual assault working to restore tribal sovereignty, recently awarded a Vision Maker Media grant. Her documentary 'Break the Silence' was awarded the 2019 Best Feature Documentary at La Frontera Queer Film Festival, and also the Choice Champion Award by Planned Parenthood of New England. Willow was a Fledgling Fellow at the 2018 DX Investigative Film Festival in Washington DC, and she is a member of New Day Films, the longest running distribution cooperative for independent documentary filmmakers. Willow has worked on independent feature narrative films as 2nd Unit Cinematographer, Stills Photographer, and in the Art Department, and co-directed the short-form documentary ‘Mike Seeler: Biohacker,’ for BRIC Media in NY.
I made 'Break the Silence' because it’s a film I wanted to see. I wanted to hear women’s voices: raw, direct, courageous in their vulnerability, liberated from the everyday oppression and silencing that happens around our sexual and reproductive realities. I want a future where all people are free from sexual violence and gendered oppression; a future where all people have access to comprehensive, accurate, pleasure-based, queer-and-trans-inclusive sexual education, and comprehensive universal sexual and reproductive healthcare. I believe storytelling is the most effective way to change hearts and minds, and 'Break the Silence' is a powerful argument in favor of that bright future.