Silent Men is the debut feature-length documentary from BAFTA Scotland winning Scottish filmmaker Duncan Cowles.

The film had its WORLD PREMIERE at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2024 in the International First Features Competition June 13th, and was awarded a Special Mention by the jury. The film also came 6th in the audience votes from over 115 films.

The film was picked up for UK distribution by Cosmic Cat and screened at over 60 selected cinemas across the UK from 19th November 2024, including select preview screenings that October. See updated list of screenings here.

The film has been awarded the Best Feature Documentary Award at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, and been long-listed for BIFA award for Best Debut Feature Doc Director & the Raindance Maverick Award.

Silent Men was picked up for world sales and distribution by Dutch based agent Film Harbour.

The film had its International premiere at PÖFF Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn, Estonia in November 2024, closely followed by its Irish premiere at Cork International Film Festival.

Awards

WINNER – Special Mention – International First Feature Competition, Sheffield Doc/Fest 2024
WINNER – Best Feature Documentary – Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2024
LONG-LISTED – BIFA, Best Debut Director Feature Documentary, 2024
LONG-LISTED – BIFA, Raindance Maverick Award 2024

Official Selection

06/24 – WORLD PREMIERE – Sheffield Doc/Fest (UK)
11/24 – INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE – PÖFF Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia)
11/24 – IRISH PREMIERE – Cork International Film Festival (Ireland)
11/24 – ITALIAN PREMIERE – Rome International Doc Fest (Italy)
03/25 – CZECH PREMIERE – One World Film Festival (Prague)
04/25 – CROATIAN PREMIERE – ZagrebDox (Croatia)
06/25 – GERMAN PREMIERE – Dokumentale (Berlin)
10/24 – Folkestone Documentary Festival (UK)
10/24 – Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (UK)
11/24 – Aesthetica Film Festival (UK)
01/25 – First Fortnight Festival (Ireland)
04/25 – Flatpack Film Festival (UK)

Reviews

• The New Scientist – Silent Men review “A personal investigation into the crisis of men’s mental health”
• GQ – Silent Men listed on GQ’s Best Documentaries
• ★★★★ – The Scotsman review – Silent Men
• ★★★★ – Loud & Cleared review – Silent Men
• ★★★★ – FilmHounds review – Silent Men
• ★★★★★ – The Brig review – Silent Men
• ★★★ – The Times review – Silent Men
• ★★★ – The Morning Star review – Silent Men
• Snack Mag – Silent Men review
• TaxiDrivers.it – Italian Review of Silent Men
• Letterboxd reviews

Interviews

• BBC News – Silent Men film asks why so many still struggle to open up
• The Guardian – ‘I couldn’t tell my parents I loved them’: documentary-maker Duncan Cowles on giving silent men a voice
• Recorded Q&A of Duncan Cowles & Simran Hans at Bertha Dochouse
• Duncan Cowles on BBC The Nine talking about Silent Men
• The Skinny – Manly Tears: Duncan Cowles on Silent Men
• PÖFF TV – Video interview with Duncan Cowles at Black Nights Film Festival, Estonia
• BBC Radio Scotland – Arts Mix, Len Pennie with Duncan Cowles Carys Davies, Niall Campbell
• Duncan Cowles – BBC Radio Ulster The Culture Cafe
• Duncan Cowles on BBC Radio Scotland Morning Show talking Silent Men
• Duncan Cowles on BBC London radio talking about Silent Men
• Duncan Cowles on BBC Radio Leeds talking Silent Men
• Duncan Cowles on BBC Radio Devon talking Silent Men
• The Scotsman Feature with Duncan Cowles – Men Don’t Talk: Taking on the epidemic of male silence
• Sunday Post – Interview with Duncan Cowles on Silent Men
• ‘It’s been a moving experience’ – Why can’t men tell their dads they love them? – The Herald Interview with Duncan
• The Herald – New documentary to be released on International Mens Day
• MH Foundation – Conversation with Duncan Cowles & Clare Prenton
• The Skinny – Mental Health Festival preview
• IDA Documentary Magazine – Interview with Duncan Cowles on Silent Men
• Silent Men – The Culmination of a decade of Short Filmmaking – Interview with Directors Notes
• Strength in Vulnerability – Interview with Aesthetica
• Cinetopia Radio Show – Interview w/Duncan Cowles
• Delightful Docs Podcast – Interview w/Duncan Cowles

Industry News / Awards

• BIFA Long-listed for Best Debut Feature Documentary – Variety
• BIFA Long-listed for Raindance Maverick Award – Hollywood Reporter
• Screen Daily – Silent Men acquired by Cosmic Cat for UK-Ireland distribution and Film Harbour for world sales
• Screen Scotland – Silent Men secures UK Distribution & World Sales
• Silent Men wins Best Documentary Feature Award at Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
• Deadline – Silent Men receives Special Mention at Sheffield Doc/Fest
• Sheffield Doc/Fest 2024 Lineup Announced – Cineuropa

Synopsis

Why do so many men struggle to show their feelings?

Part therapy, part road trip, BAFTA award winning filmmaker Duncan Cowles asks men how they open up in order to directly address his own difficulties in being intimate and open with his loved ones.

With profound honesty and deadpan wit, SILENT MEN intertwines awkward conversations and the filmmaking process, asking what makes men tick, and more importantly, how to come to terms with all aspects of health, both physical and mental.

Exploring aspects of masculinity that all too often are little discussed, this film opens the door for other ways of being, communicating and healing, as well as attempting to define masculinity.

Credits

Completed: Spring 2024
BBFC: 12A
Director: Duncan Cowles
Producers: Rebecca Day, Sandra Leeming, Duncan Cowles
Editor: Erika Iesse
Music: Richard Luke
Exec Producers: Mark Thomas, Jane Ray
Production Company: Relative Films Ltd
Supported by: Screen Scotland, The Whickers
Story Consultant: Alan Berliner
Edit Consultant: Alice Powell
Colourist: Jon Bruce
Sound Mix: Keith Duncan
Additional Editing: Shaun Glowa
Additional Music: Bella Askew

Contacts

Official Film Website: silentmenfilm.com
World Sales & Festivals: info@filmharbour.com
UK/Ireland: info@duncancowles.com
Official Instagram: @silentmenfilm
Official Facebook: @silentmendoc