SurvivorsUK has launched a powerful new film, ‘SAFE’ which looks to the story of men who have survived sexual violence.  

The film, created by multi-award-winning director Dan Lowenstein, follows three men at different stages of their life who share the same story of abuse.  

ITV’s Emmerdale actor Bhasker Patel portrays one of the men, alongside actors Vic Zander and Isaac Money. 

Produced in conjunction with MediaTrust and the City Bridge Trust, the film aims to increase awareness of sexual abuse experienced by boys and men whilst also empowering them to seek out support.  

1 in 6 men have had unwanted sexual experiences. An estimated 12,000 men are raped every year and 76,000 are sexually abused or assaulted. Yet, just 4% of men will ever tell someone and even fewer seek support.   

SurvivorsUK provides specialist support to cis and trans men, boys, and non-binary people who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, at any time in their life. 

Meka Beresford, Digital Communications Officer at SurvivorsUK, said: “Working alongside Dan, House of Create, the Media Trust and the incredible actors on this project was such a joyful experience. Dan truly poured his heart and soul into creating a film that accurately depicts the experiences of so many survivors of sexual abuse. 

"We hope this film will go far in helping people to understand the impact that sexual violence can have on men, whilst also highlighting that support services like SurvivorsUK exist.  

Whenever sexual violence features in the media, and particularly in powerful films like this, it can empower people to come forward to speak out about their experiences and seek support. We hope that anyone seeing this video during Sexual Violence Awareness Week and beyond will feel less alone in their experience and empowered to speak out.” 

House of Create Director Dan Löwenstein said: “It was an absolute pleasure working with The Media Trust and Survivors UK on this film. I really wanted to highlight the Survivors as hero’s but also be true to what they felt and how they experience their trauma. 

"The film needed to be real and honest in order for the message to be understood by the viewer. Having access to case studies provided by SUK was a real education for me, I was able to empathise with the Survivors and get a small understanding of what they went through. 

"What became clear whilst reading the case studies was how much SUK do to support the survivors. I used the case studies as the foundation for the script to make sure the dialogue was as authentic as possible.  

"I was fortunate enough to cast some incredible actors - Vic Zander, Isaac Money and Bhasker Patel. They all gave their truth to this film which translates so powerfully on screen.  

"Finally, I have to mention how incredible my team were on this. Alex Bender a renowned DoP always gives each project 110% bringing in £1000’s worth of kit and crew, our set builder Jimi Howell Collecting secondhand set from Birmingham and driving it to London to make sure we kept in budget. 

"Our Art department working creatively to make sure we didn’t stretch the budget too much. It all came together in this production. I feel we have done such an important topic justice and I really hope this film raises awareness in a positive yet truthful way.” 

Michaela Lowe, Creative producer for Media Trust’s Volunteer Films, said: “This impactful film is part of the Media Trusts’ Volunteer Films Scheme; an award-winning project that pairs talented directors with frontline charities, producing for them an impactful short film for free. The project is made possible by funding from London based funder, City Bridge Trust. 

"Media Trust are hugely proud to have been part of this film, and enormously thankful for talents and hard work of both Survivors UK and Director Dan Lowenstein (he really did go above and beyond for the project). They were a great team from the start and much of the film’s success is due to their skill at working closely together.  

"We hope the film allows SurvivorsUK to spread awareness of the power and impact of their work far and wide.” 

A preview of the film can be seen here