Growing Pains Short film

Hello! My name is Leanne Dunstan, and I am an actress and filmmaker. I’ve created a short film, Growing Pains, which centers around postnatal depression, identity crisis, and suicide attempts. This is a story I’ve been passionate about sharing for a long time, and I recently felt a nudge from God to actually create it. So, I took a leap of faith, and now I’m here!

THE VISION

My desire is to run two events. The first will be a charitable event aimed at gifting mothers who have gone through or are currently navigating the same challenges explored in the film. The goal is to break the taboo surrounding the difficulty of motherhood and encourage open discussion. I want this film and event to create a space where mothers feel welcomed to share their experiences and are well-informed about where to seek help when issues arise. The event will begin with a screening of the film, followed by a group discussion about the experience of motherhood and the trials and challenges we face. This discussion will be facilitated by myself and a mental health professional. We will provide information about where mothers can turn in times of crisis, what constitutes a crisis, and coping mechanisms. I hope this event will help me partner with other organizations to hold similar workshops in and around Hertfordshire & London.

The second event will be a public screening of the short film, open to the public, held at a cinema in London.

Why This Film?

This film and its topic are very close to home, and I know that many other women have found themselves navigating the same experience. However, I never heard anyone talk about it (at least not in my experience!). I never understood why, so I felt passionate about giving a voice to this experience in the only way I know how—artistically!

Where Is The Money Going?

Your donations will go toward venue hires ( Currently looking at Rio Cinema & Genesis Cinema), goodie bags, catering, and staff hire for both events.