The animation has been made by director and animation lecturer at York St John University Richard Jacobs and his wife Rebecca in memory of their son Isaak who was stillborn in 2020.
The couple say their motivation for making the film, 'For Isaak', was that they felt there was lack of resources to help them emotionally through the tragedy. According to the pair, most support they were offered provided useful facts and information.
- Learn more about bereavement leave here
'We hope that ‘For Isaak’ speaks to those who have experienced baby loss and articulates something of the complexity of the emotions parents and siblings feel,' said Jacobs.
'We want to say something about the need to mourn a loss but also to celebrate a life. We also want the film to open a wider conversation around baby loss and to start to normalise the discussion in places it has not previously existed.'
His wife Rebecca added, 'When you lose a baby, you start a battle to secure and cement your child’s place in the world. It is important not only to mourn a loss but to try and celebrate and share their life.
'Finding ways to mark Isaak’s time here is incredibly important to us, and we want to people to know of him and share his name. I think this is a core motivation for making the film.'
'Stillbirth and baby loss are sadly still taboo.'
The six-minute-long film is made using 2D animation and shows the impact stillborn death has on a family.
It is being backed by baby loss support charities, including Tommy’s, Sands and Petals.
'Stillbirth and baby loss are sadly still taboo and all of us at Petals welcome anything that helps to begin conversations on this important topic,' said Petals chief executive Karen Burgess.
- The film is launched in York next month before a wider release, including online, later this year.
