Following its world premiere on the black carpet at the Melbourne International Film Festival this week, Australian documentary Left writing hook has announced a nationwide cinema release for October 24th.
The documentary will be shown in Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne as well as at Cinefest Oz in WA through distributor Bonsai Films.
The documentary, which aims to “restart the conversation and rewrite the perception of sexual abuse,” was directed by Shannon Owen (Miss South Sudan Australia), in collaboration with boxing coach and trauma survivor Donna Lyon, who also serves as the film’s producer, and Australian and New Zealand production company Sweetshop & Green.
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Left writing hook explores how the physicality of boxing combined with the emotional power of creative writing can create a space for survivors to release their memories, reclaim their bodies, and imagine a new life. It follows seven survivors of childhood sexual abuse who answer a call to participate in an experiential recovery program that addresses both the physical and emotional effects of the trauma. The program begins as an eight-week workshop and soon becomes a multi-year journey.
Donna Lyon, trainer and producer, has experience in producing films about difficult topics. She was producer of notice (2020), Michael Bentham’s acclaimed independent film about allegations of child sexual abuse.
Lyon said: Left writing hook was a huge and overwhelming process, but it changed my life. We are building a community of empowered survivors and I am so grateful for the strength and vulnerability of the film’s participants.’
“We have an incredible amount of support in our community,” said Lyon, “and I hope that the Left writing hook The charity we have created will help realise our vision and help survivors and their families heal and recover.”
Producer Gal Greenspan of Sweetshop & Green said of the documentary: “We are so happy Left writing hook with Shannon and Donna. It’s an incredibly powerful work and so important to destigmatize conversations about sexual abuse. We believe in the power of film to inspire change and this film will definitely do that.’
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Shannon Owen, the film’s director, said: “The film is ultimately an uplifting journey, even though at its core it is about the issue of childhood sexual abuse. As the incredible participants in the film remind me, this film is about showing other survivors that they are not alone.”
“It is also a call for societal and systemic change so that together we can shift responsibility away from the child and adult victims and ultimately build a society in which we no longer accept the shocking statistics of childhood sexual abuse. Sharing these stories and opening a dialogue is an important step in that direction.”
Production credit: Left writing hook is a Sweetshop & Green production. Major production investment by Screen Australia. Funded with support from VicScreen, Mindaroo Pictures, the University of Melbourne and the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund. Bonsai Films is distributing the film in Australia.
Left writing hook premiered on August 14 at the opening gala “Premiere with Purpose” of MIFF 2024. It will be in theaters from October 24, 2024.
