Toby wharton – held

Live Action , Premiere.

Toby Wharton.

The London-based filmmaker tapped into a core shaking incident from his own past to explore the shame of being a victim. Held features the largely under-represented perspective of the victim of a knife attack, why did you decide to approach it this way? Held explores the trauma and shock experienced in the immediate aftermath of an attack.

I think this tendency towards self-blame after being hurt and abused can be experienced by all walks of life, so I hope this is where our film will resonate universally. How did you find working on a script so closely connected to your own personal experience? The film began as a literal expression of what happened to me, but then so much more was added to the pot when building its narrative.

I thought back to conversations with mates growing up and our relationship towards violence in general — so much posturing!

A teenage boy struggles to accept that he is the victim of a brutal and humiliating attack.

Vulnerability really was another language. Then research, casting, every HOD, helped the story grow and transform. But it was interesting when I began talking with friends about the film, even some family. I never knew this happened to you. For me, the big learning experience has been grappling with the language of realism.

Most of the time we keep things very simple and pure but there are moments when we break that and become more psychologically heightened. I originally approached Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, the executive producer back in and she made a big impression on me.