Fight or Flight – Short Film

Fight or Flight is a short film project about a female boxer—a true champion at heart—with misophonia, a condition where certain sounds trigger an uncontrollable fight-or-flight response. She finds herself in a situation where she can’t simply walk away or use her brutal skills to stop someone who’s deliberately producing a triggering sound.

About the Project

The idea for Fight or Flight was born several years ago, when the director Ilya Malov first encountered the condition known as misophonia, which quite literally means “hatred of sound.” Misophonia is a condition where everyday noises: chewing, coughing, clicking a pen—don’t just annoy, they trigger an intense emotional and physical reaction. The body shifts into fight-or-flight mode, as if facing a real threat. Until the term itself emerged in 2016, very little research had been done, and many dismissed those who suffered from it as simply overreacting.

What drew Ilya to it as an artist is that misophonia already contains its own built-in drama. On the surface, it’s invisible and easy to dismiss; inside, it can feel like a violent storm. That contradiction fascinated him: how do people live with this, surrounded by everyday sounds? How do they cope, adapt, survive? The more Ilya spoke to people, the more he realised its hidden universality: almost everyone has a sound that makes their skin crawl. But misophonia goes much deeper. It’s a constant inner battle between love and rage, between not wanting to hurt those close to you and being consumed by uncontrollable fury.

That tension struck Ilya as both a profound human struggle and a creative challenge: how do you visualise the hatred, fragility, and loss of control this condition can cause?

From this question, Greta was born. A professional female boxer. A fighter. Fierce and uncompromising on the outside, yet fragile, vulnerable, and endlessly human within. Brutal in her craft, but fighting the hardest battle inside her own mind.

Working with the gifted writer Max Sabbattini, Greta’s story grew into something layered and alive. When the script was finished, it quickly drew the interest of remarkable actors who saw in it not just a film, but a character and a theme worth fighting for. With an extraordinary cast now in place, we are ready to bring Fight or Flight into production.

This is where we invite you to step into the ring with us. If Greta’s story, or the theme of misophonia, speaks to you, if you, too, believe in telling stories that reveal the hidden battles many endure, please consider supporting our film.

Meet the Director

“I’ve spent years working as a professional editor, shaping stories for global brands, as well as for artists such as Lindemann (award at Berlin Music Video Awards 2020) and Hilltop Hoods—whose recent music video I cut was officially selected at the Toronto International Music Video Festival. I’ve also edited a full-length feature film (awards at Lucca Film Festival (Italy)), which gave me invaluable experience in the rhythm and structure of long-form storytelling.

Editing has been my school of filmmaking. It taught me how to build emotion, pace, and meaning through images and sound. But now I’m ready to take the next step: directing. Fight or Flight is the project where I bring everything I’ve learned to the table—my eye for detail, my understanding of story, and my passion for creating emotionally powerful cinema.

This film is not just another project for me—it’s the start of a new chapter as an artist, and I’m excited to share that journey with you.”

— Ilya Malov

Our Creative Team

Cast:
Isobel Kilmartin • Jack Hayes • Sal Galofaro • Iggy Gvozdic • Ehsan Bayatfar

The Film

Why We’re Fundraising

We are aiming to raise 10,000 AUD to make this film with the quality and vision it deserves.

We already have partial funding from a grant and our own savings, but filmmaking at this level requires more resources.

Your contribution will directly support:

We are also planning to submit Fight or Flight to national and international film festivals, ensuring the story reaches audiences worldwide.

No contribution is too small, and every act of support brings us closer to making this vision a reality. ❤️

Disclaimer:

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.

(Photos below are from rehearsals)