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.
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FIVE MOMENTS OF INFIDELITY won - Best Film DIGISPAA, Best Film Salento IFF (Italy), Best Australian film Idaho PIFF (USA), and screened at Festivals - Rome IFF, Reel Affirmations FF (USA), London Australian FF at the Barbican and UK tour, Dublin Australian FF (Ireland) , Swansea IFF (UK) , Singapore FFF. The film received further nominations for Best Screenplay, Best Direction and several Best Performance nominations. It had a theatrical release in NZ and DVD release world wide.
Further directing credits include: The making of Five Moments, Second unit on the feature film YOU AND YOUR STUPID MATE, and several scenes while doing Directors' Attachments on both Blue Heelers and City Homicide.
Kate and her sister Charmaine set up their production company Baby Banksia to develop and produce their own projects.
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.
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Gavin's career in film & TV started in 1995 when he commenced a B.A. in Communication Studies. After graduating top of his year he entered the world of broadcast television as an ENG cameraman for PRIME television before moving into the private sector where he started directing, shooting and editing corporate and industrial films.
In 1998 Gavin established his own award-winning video production company, GOOD EYE DEER, which services many local, national and international clients.
His first foray into documentary was working as cinematographer on the critically-acclaimed THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN LOCKOUT, a 1hr documentary for the history channel. Other achievements include working as cinematographer on the multi-award-winning short THE UNSPOKEN ; and working as Director of Photography on the independent feature, BATHING FRANKY, released in June 2012.