SHaME: Stories of Survival
SHaME: Stories of Survival is a survivor-led documentary film co-produced by SHaME and filmmaker Sophie MacCorquodale.
The 25 minute film follows the stories of four survivors of sexual violence as they reflect on the aftercare they received and call for more awareness and inclusion in sexual violence services. Sophie worked closely with a diverse group of survivors and practitioners to explore the experiences of aftercare for survivors of sexual abuse as well hear the perspectives of individuals and organisations who are providing support for survivors who have previously struggled to access medical and psychiatric services. Going beyond the myth of a single white female attacked by a stranger, the film presents a diverse group of survivors talking about surviving sexual violence and its aftermaths.
The film is a powerful resource that is now freely available to view. It can be used in educational settings as a teaching tool. It is also a very useful training resource for teams in health and social care settings to raise awareness of what it means to live with the impact of sexual violence and how survivors would like to be treated by service providers.
SHaME: Stories of Survival was premiered on Wednesday 29 November 2023 at Rich Mix Cinema in east London. The screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring SHaME’s Principal Investigator Professor Emerita Joanna Bourke, Filmmaker Sophie MacCorquodale, Survivor and Contributor of Music Maddy Brodrick, award-winning speaker Maisha Sumah, and Founder of London Trans Pride Lucia Blayke.
Taking place during the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the evening was an opportunity to celebrate survivors’ stories of survival, raise awareness of the links between sexual violence, medicine and psychiatry, think about what we can learn from centring survivors’ perspectives and reflect on the use of film as advocacy from the perspectives of survivors, activists and academics.
CREDITS
A film by
Sophie MacCorquodale
Made in collaboration with The SHaME Project
Dr Ruth Beecher
Professor Joanna Bourke
Dr Rhian Keyse
Allison MacKibban
Dr Adeline Moussion Esteve
Dr Cora Šalkovskis
Dr George Severs
Dr Rhea Sookdeosingh
Emma Yapp
Contributors
Maddy Brodrick
Maisha Sumah
Sophia Vi
Actor
Greta Bellamacini
Experts in order of appearance
Hera Hussain, CEO and founder, Chayn
Fighting gender-based violence with tech
Lucia Osborne-Crowley, Author and Journalist
I Chose Elena and My Body Keeps Your Secrets
Djanomi Headley-Fulani, Operations Manager, Sistah Space
Supporting African and Caribbean Heritage Women affected by domestic and sexual abuse
Amy Roch, Director of Services and Deputy CEO, Galop
UK LGBT+ anti-abuse charity.
Directed by Sophie MacCorquodale
Producers
Tomiwa Folorunso
Lucia Blayke
Director of Photography
Barbara Van Schaik
Camera Assistants
Recel Wynsley Tonelada
Nacho Guzman
Additional Camera
Judith Chan
Sophie MacCorquodale
Editor
Vera Simmonds
Post-Production Sound
Guldem Masa
Music Supervisor
Maddy Brodrick