Filmmaker of ‘The Voiceless’ to give presentation, screening of documentary
Award-winning filmmaker Vanessa McNeal will host a free public screening of her 2017 documentary “The Voiceless” at the University of Maine on Oct. 24 as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The internationally recognized film highlights the intersection of culture, masculinity and social taboos in its exploration of the impact of sexual violence on five male survivors.
At 5:30 p.m. prior to the screening in 100 D.P. Corbett Business Building, McNeal will talk about the making of the film and her personal experience with sexual violence. For more information about the event, or to request a reasonable accommodation, call 581.3494.
McNeal first identified a need to focus on the trauma and resiliency of male survivors of sexual abuse after experiencing the shockwave created by “We Are Survivors,” a short film focused on the story of a male victim of sexual violence.
“The Voiceless,” a one-hour documentary, received an Award of Merit at Indiefest 2017 and was recognized as an official selection at the 2018 Denton Black Film Festival. McNeal won the 2017 YWCA Woman of Tomorrow award and the 2018 STATEment Maker award from Iowa State University in the Entrepreneurial Spirit category, an honor that recognizes early personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to society. She was honored as a Best Director at the 2017 Newark International Film Festival, and is currently filming a documentary investigating the sex trafficking industry in Iowa.
Screening of “The Voiceless” and McNeal’s public presentation are offered with support from the Division of Student Life; College of Education and Human Development; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Honors College; Rising Tide Center; UMaine’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and Partners for Peace in Bangor.