Nothing Gentle in the Shadows

Nothing Gentle in the Shadows (2024)

Nothing Gentle in the Shadows tackles the stigma and silence surrounding sexual violence against men and how their masculinity is questioned by authorities and society when it is brought to light. This documentary details three male sexual assault survivors from diverse backgrounds who share their harrowing experiences of what they went through, emphasising that sexual violence can happen to anyone, regardless of race, gender, or age. Through their stories and the use of symbolic imagery, the documentary revisits spaces that allows the viewers to delve into the lives of the survivors.

• Runtime: 20 mins
• Country: Malaysia
• Film Language: English, Malay
• Subtitle Language: English, Malay

CONTENT WARNING: The film may contain content that could cause discomfort for some viewers.

Directors

Joshua Inberaj

Hailing from the birthplace of Bah Kut Teh - Klang, Joshua Inberaj found solace in the world of theatre, which quickly became a refuge for him and an avenue for self-expression and storytelling. Joshua has used theatre as a medium to create discussions about social injustice and now he aims to use film as a platform to speak out. "Nothing Gentle In The Shadows" will be Joshua's debut as a filmmaker.

Laura Low

Laura Low has been directing commercials for seven years. Her latest short film, You’re Happy, It’s Okay, had its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival. It is currently making its international festival run and has already been selected for the Busan International Short Film Festival, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, ShorTs International Short Film Festival, and many more.

Previously, her short film script, You’re Happy, It’s Okay was selected for ShorTS Pitching Training 2021 in Italy. She is a recipient of the Micro Film Fund from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia in 2021. Her second short film script, Totality was selected for the Make It Short Category at FEST New Directors New Films Festival 2022 in Espinho, Portugal, and it won the Distribution Award. Her feature film project, Muka-Muka, is currently being developed at the renowned Busan Asian Film School (AFIS).

Laura was also selected by Samsung in 2022 to direct a 30-second fashion film, The Epic Strut, using the Samsung Galaxy S22 mobile phone. The film went on to be selected for the prestigious Canadian Fashion Film Festival, where it was nominated for “Best Director,” “Best Commonwealth Fashion Film,” “Best Brand Film,” and “Best Editing.” 

She is interested in telling stories that explore human resilience, women's empowerment, youth culture, and social issues. She is currently exploring untold Malaysian stories and cultural landscapes.

This event is part of FreedomFilmFest 2024, which is organised by Freedom Film Network (Pertubuhan Perfileman Sosial Malaysia), a non-profit society dedicated to the development and promotion of social justice and human rights films.

For more information, head over to our website freedomfilm.my