Birth Time - the documentary

Three women embark on a mission to find out why an increasing number of

mothers are emerging from their births physically and emotionally

traumatised. Their discoveries expose the truth and lead them to join the birth

revolution and forge a movement that hopes to change the face of maternity

care in Australia and across the developed world.

Narrated by Zoe Naylor

Directed and produced by Jerusha Sutton, Zoe Naylor and Jo Hunter

IN CINEMAS NOW

https://au.demand.film/birth-time-documentary/

For actress and activist Zoe Naylor, the birth of her second child in 2016 was a revelation.

With Jo Hunter as her midwife, and Jerusha Sutton as her doula/birth videographer, Zoe

emerged from the birth feeling transformed and with a deep sense of healing, an

experience vastly different from her first birth.

Connected by their shared experience, Zoe, Jo and Jerusha began to research behind the

scenes of Australia’s maternity system, which sees over 300,000 new babies born each

year, with all but 12,000 of these births taking place inside our hospitals.

They found that despite the access to world-class medical care that hospitalisation

affords, this is not leading to better outcomes for mothers and babies.

In fact, through discussions with medical professionals and academics around the country,

it became increasingly clear that something was very wrong – with birth trauma rampant

(according to Dr Rachel Reed, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery and Midwifery Discipline Lead

at the University of the Sunshine Coast, one in three women in the developed world

describe their birth as traumatic), talk of a national postnatal depression epidemic, and

skyrocketing intervention and caesarean rates (three times the figure proposed by the

World Health Organisation).

Motivated to make a positive change, for the future of all women and their families, Birth

Time: the documentary, and global human rights movement Birth Time were conceived

and delivered.

Birth Time takes a deep dive into what birth looks like for women in the developed world,

asking the question, “What would it take for women to emerge from their births physically

well, and emotionally safe?”

Realised over four years of ongoing research and evidence gathering, the film opens with

the home birth of Zoe Naylor’s second child, Beau; follows other women throughout their

pregnancies and births; and interviews Australian women and their partners from all walks

of life to hear their birth stories, gaining an insight into what women experience during

the births of their babies.

Global experts – including midwives, obstetricians, academics and lawyers, back up their

experiences, questioning how and why our broken system fails women, their partners and

the caregivers working within it.

Whilst two inspiring indigenous midwives – founders of the Birthing on Country initiative,

share their thoughts on the importance of bringing culturally sensitive care to pregnant

and birthing indigenous women.

Throughout these interviews a theme emerges, an idea astonishing in its simplicity backed

up by global evidence - One Woman, One Midwife.

If all women could choose to work in partnership with one midwife who provided them

with continuity of care throughout their entire pregnancy, birth and postnatal period,

more women could emerge from their births physically well and emotionally safe, inspired

and empowered to connect with their child and tackle the challenges of motherhood.

Birth Time: the documentary explores the trauma that is inflicted on women as they go

through an experience which should be amongst the most joyous of their lives, and

through the insights of experts, evidence AND women's stories, looks at how we can do so

much better for women, their babies and their families.

We emerge with a picture of hope and love, showing the real possibility that women in the

developed world CAN emerge from their births feeling physically well, and emotionally

safe.

Birth Time: the documentary has already broken box office records for Demand Film and won 22 international film awards.

But it doesn’t stop there!

Zoe, Jo and Jerusha say, “Birth Time: the documentary is not just a film, it’s an evocative

initial catalyst for mobilising the masses, as part of a greater education hub and resource

Birth Time: the movement. Through the Birth Time platform, we hope to educate,

inspire and motivate young women, pregnant women and people, mothers, partners

grandparents, family, birth workers, midwives, doctors, policy makers, politicians,

organisations and corporations to be the voice for change. When we improve women’s

experiences around birth, we change the world!”

Zoe, Jo and Jerusha are joined in their mission by Olympian, youth leader, motivational

speaker, entrepreneur and mother of two, Selina Scoble, who is helping them take their

message to the world with her experience in online businesses.

BirthTime: the documentary is currently screening in cinemas around the country and

beginning to be screened in NZ before rolling out to UK, Canada and USA.

Go to www.birthtime.world for more details.

#OneWomanOneMidwife

#ItsTime

#BirthTime

#BreakTheBirthSilence

#MeTooInBirth

Media Enquiries:

Tracey Mair, TM Publicity | 0 4 1 9 2 2 1 4 9 3 | traceym@tmpublicity.com

Media Assets:

Stills, press kit, trailer link, Birth Time media assets

Film Festival Awards to Date:

Golden Gate International Film Festival | Award Winner | Best Documentary Feature

CKF International Film Festival | Award Winner | Best Directors | Best Feature

Documentary

Cinema World Fest Awards | Award Winner | Best Documentary Feature

New York International Film Festival | Award Finalist | Best Documentary Feature

Cyrus International Festival | Semi-Finalist + Jury Mention | Best Women’s Issue Film

Changing Face International Film Festival | Award Winner | Best Documentary Feature

Weyauwega International Film Festival | Winner - Gerold Award | Best Documentary

Feature

Paris Lift Off Film Festival | Official Selection

Justice Film Festival | Official Selection

Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay | Official Selection

Motion Picture Film Festival | Award Nominee

New Filmmakers New York | Semi-Finalist | Best Documentary Feature

Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival | Official Selection

Peachtree Village International Festival | Official Selection

Los Angeles Lift Off Film Festival | Official Selection

Santa Monica International Film Festival| Social Impact Award – Best Documentary Feature

Seattle Film Festival | Award Nominee

Toronto Independent Film Festival | Semi-Finalist

Spotlight Documentary Film Awards | Winner Gold Award | Best Documentary Feature

Vancouver International Women ’s Festival I W inner I Best Documentary Feature