About the Face of Birth
The best movie to empower women in childbirth today.
The Face of Birth is an inspiring look at how wonderful birth can be – when your right to choose how, where and with whom you give birth is respected and protected. The movie also explores the consequences when it is not.
Every woman has the right to be informed about her options and supported in childbirth.
Through an exploration of homebirth, this 87-minute documentary looks at what natural, physiological childbirth really is. Is it a medical emergency waiting to happen, or is childbirth a profound, natural and physiological event that women are designed for?
The most comprehensive film ever made on homebirth, The Face of Birth busts myths about safety; outlines the significance of informed choice; and champions a woman’s right to choose the best and safest birth method for her and her baby.
How far we've come
FEB 2012 - premiered in Melbourne, Australia
Mar 2012 - Australia / New Zealand launch
JULY 2012 - Homebirth in Australia saved from becoming illegal
May 2013 - International Launch
Aug 2013 - now available in 12 languages
Jul 2017 - standing ovation at IMC, PRAGUE screening
CURRENTLY - now available to stream online
A timeless, invaluable birthing resource.
Whether you are expecting your first or child number five, this film highlights the monumental importance of birthing and tells the stories of women who choose to birth at home, in hospital VBAC and in birthing centres.
Making birth safe - vital information from doctors, midwives and health professionals who prioritise supporting women over the needs of our western medical system.
Is safety dependant. on where you give birth (home or hospital)? Or has it more to do with understanding the significance of your choices and being supported by people you trust who respect you?
The Face of Birth makes safe birth accessible to all women. It paints a picture what is safe, and what is not, and the place informed choice has in determining the kind of birth you have.
Filmed over three years across the world, this film features compelling insights from the world’s leading childbirth experts, including the late Sheila Kitzinger, Michel Odent, Ina May Gaskin, A/Prof Hannah Dahlen, Prof Sally Tracy, Rhea Dempsey, Dr Richard Porter, and local supporters of homebirth such as actress Noni Hazelhurst.
The Face of Birth premiered in February 2012 in Melbourne, Australia heralding much needed local maternity reform. It then undertook a 60-stop film tour of Australia and a 25-stop NZ tour, supported by natural childbirth advocates and midwifery professionals.
Now available for personal use, to Stream or download; for institutions to use in libraries, universities, and hospitals, or for practitioners to use in their workplaces under Licence.
Rent or Buy The Face of Birth now
Meet the Filmakers.
Kate Gorman
Kate has worked in the film industry for the last 25 years. As an actor appearing in more than 25 TV programs including City Homicide, Rush, Kath and Kim, Full Frontal and several years on some of Australia’s best loved soaps. 6 six feature films including THE CRAIC and EVIL ANGLES and 25 plays both here and in the UK.
As a writer she has written for, Comedy Inc and Full Frontal, breakfast radio on TTFM as well as receiving development funding from Film Victoria for a feature screenplay which was optioned by a Melbourne production house. She went onto write the screenplay for her award winning film FIVE MOMENTS OF INFIDELITY which she also produced and directed.
Gavin Banks
Gavin’s introduction to the benefits of natural, physiological childbirth started in 2003, when he co-directed THE BIRTHRITE EXPERIENCE, a 1hr educational film about the physiological benefits of upright birth.
Fascinated by the emotional impact of the birth experience on mother and baby, Gavin’s interest in birth continued. Research began into understanding the divide between the realities of modern maternity service provision and evidence-based practice. Gavin met Kate in 2009 when Homebirth was tipped to become illegal in Australia.