Featured MEdia
Supply Chains

Title: Chasing Silence
Type: Feature Documentary (In Development)
Genre: Social Impact, Mental Health, Youth, Factual
Length: 90 minutes (flexible)
Release: Targeting Q2–Q3 2026
Production Company: Urban Ripples Pty Ltd
Country of Origin: Australia
Language: English
Status: In development, with confirmed support from The Butterfly Foundation and Black Dog Institute

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Logline
A raw look inside the hidden epidemic of teenagers using eating disorders and self-harm to silence emotional pain — where relief is addictive, and silence is survival.

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Overview
Chasing Silence explores a disturbing global trend: teenagers turning to eating disorders and self-harm as addictive coping strategies to deal with overwhelming emotional distress. Anchored in lived experience and expert insight, the film examines how pain becomes the only language some teens trust — and why systems keep treating the symptoms instead of addressing the cause.

While the film centres on teenage experiences, it is intentionally built to reach parents first — and open the door to watch together.

This is not a recovery story — it’s a wake-up call.

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📊 Key Statistics – The Global Crisis in Numbers
• Australia has the highest per-capita rate of eating disorders in the world
• Over 1 million Australians live with an eating disorder; 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys show signs by age 15
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
• Teen self-harm hospitalisations have doubled in Australia in 10 years
• In the US, ED-related hospitalisations rose 119% during the pandemic
• UK ED service referrals quadrupled post-2020
• Globally, 70% of teens struggling with self-harm or eating disorders never seek help

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🌍 Top 10 Countries Most Affected by Teen Eating Disorders & Self-Harm
1. Australia
2. United States
3. United Kingdom
4. Canada
5. New Zealand
6. Sweden
7. Finland
8. Netherlands
9. Ireland
10. Germany

Across these nations, youth mental health systems are overwhelmed — and teens are increasingly turning to pain when they can’t find words.

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🎯 Target Audience

Chasing Silence is made for parents — but it’s meant to be watched with their teenagers.

The film is designed to bridge a gap that many families don’t know how to cross. It gives parents insight into what’s really going on beneath the surface — and gives teenagers a rare chance to feel seen, not judged.

The goal isn’t just awareness — it’s shared understanding.

This is a tool for conversations between generations that don’t know how to talk to each other about pain, shame, or survival.

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🤝 Impact & Distribution Pathways

We are actively developing an impact rollout that includes:
• Partnered screenings with mental health orgs (Butterfly Foundation, Black Dog Institute)
• Educational versions for high schools, TAFEs and universities
• Community forums, trauma-informed screenings, and guided discussion packs
• Social campaign aligned with R U OK? Day, World Mental Health Day, and Eating Disorder Awareness Week
• Digital outreach with lived experience advocates via TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram

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🔄 Format Flexibility

Chasing Silence is currently being developed as a 90-minute feature documentary, but we are open to exploring an episodic structure if aligned with the right distribution or broadcast partner. Discussions are welcome on how best to deliver the story for maximum impact and reach.

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📍 Current Development Status
• Advanced development stage
• Pitch deck, budget, production schedule, and confirmed contributors secured
• Teaser in early production (expected Q3 2025)
• Targeting financing completion by late 2025, with release in 2026
• Open to international co-production partnerships, presales, and philanthropic funding discussions

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Rights Available
• TV (FTA, Pay-TV) – Worldwide
• SVOD, TVOD, AVOD – Worldwide
• Educational, Institutional, Non-Theatrical – Worldwide
• Festival, Community & Impact Screenings – Worldwide
• Theatrical (limited release) – Available
All rights currently available; open to presales, co-production, and territory-based licensing.

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Target Territories
• Worldwide
• Priority: North America, UK, EU, Scandinavia, Asia-Pacific
• Open to territory-specific distribution deals and co-production partnerships

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Available Materials
• Full pitch deck (PDF)
• Confirmed expert contributors list (including Butterfly Foundation, Black Dog Institute, Alex South)
• Detailed Impact Strategy (education and NGO-focused rollout)
• Note: Proof-of-concept teaser is in production and will be available shortly

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Contact
Tim Elwin
Director & Executive Producer – Chasing Silence
Urban Ripples Pty Ltd
📧 telwin@urbanripples.com
📞 +61 411 727 267