Decult Documentary

Decult is a pioneering conference that addresses the pervasive harm inflicted by high-control groups in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

By giving cult survivors a voice and bringing experts from various fields together, Decult 2024 is creating a unique opportunity for mental health professionals, government departments, law enforcement and first responders to offer better support and prevent cultic harm in the future. This thought-provoking event will be a forum for those who left their communities to connect with others and feel heard and seen. If you have seen docuseries like Escaping Utopia, The Vow or Escaping Twin Flames, you will probably be aware of how pervasive cults and high-control groups can be, and how difficult it can be for survivors to leave and connect with their wider community.

As this is the first cult awareness conference of its kind in Australasia, we will be filming a documentary, creating a resource that can long outlive the conference. This will include interviews with authors, educators, counsellors, academics and survivors, sharing their expertise and personal stories. It is our hope that audiences will view the documentary and not only see how the conference came together, but also gain a deeper understanding of harmful dynamics in cult-like groups and how to support cult leavers better. 

HOW DOES YOUR DONATION HELP?

Your donation to our campaign will assist us in creating a short documentary film of the Decult Conference 2024 and its speakers (around 20-30 minutes in duration). We will also be creating 2 additional 2-minute short-form recaps of the Conference to be used via the Decult social media channels.

Our funding goal allows us to cover the basic costs of creating the documentary and recaps (transport, filming, production tasks, marketing fees). Every contribution to our campaign helps us to not only share the inaugural conference with a wider audience, but to also share the stories of survivors in a meaningful way. We also have a stretch goal, which will assist in providing additional creative crew and also go towards the Decult Charitable Trust, raising further awareness and allowing for more events in the future.

OUR TEAM

Robyn Jordaan: Director / Producer / Editor

Robyn Jordaan is a passionate director, producer and choreographer based in Otautahi. Her work explores constrictions on the human experience, navigating trauma and grief. Striving towards connection, dialogue and safe experimental experience. Jordaan has been recently screened at Academy cinemas for her work with Kyah Dove, To Cut A Mermaid's Tongue 2022 and Good evening books with Inside the Vessel 2022. Jordaan has performed throughout Aotearoa (NZ), Europe, Germany and Iceland. Her past choreographic work includes: Two Crones and a Desert 2022 at the Christchurch Town Hall as a part of Tiny Fest, The Vision 2021 with Olivia McGregor at the Christchurch Art Gallery with funding from Christchurch Creative Communities, as well as solo works: Otolith 2019 and Detta I 2019 at NES art residency in Iceland. Jordaan's film practice engages with content through not only a storytelling lens but also a somatic relationship to body and space. Jordaan looks for approaches of understanding that we may not have had before.

Caleb MacDonald: Director / DOP / Colourist / Editor

Caleb MacDonald is a Director of Photography and colourist from Otautahi, New Zealand. MacDonald has worked extensively in camera departments on a variety of international feature films, including Z for Zachariah (2015), The Changeover (2017), and Stray (2018). More recently he has had exhibitions in New Zealand and Australian national galleries, as well as screenings at TED Vancouver (2024). MacDonald is passionate about leveraging new technologies to find fresh and compelling ways to tell stories.

www.decult.net