Duncan Cowles
Director Duncan Cowles takes us on a journey through male mental health, stigma and taboo in the UK. Part road trip, part coming-of-middle-age tale, Cowles’ laconic humour and frank approach to his subject proves effective in exploring aspects of masculinity that all too often are little discussed. Admitting that he is not always open and intimate in his conversations with loved ones, the BAFTA-winning Scottish filmmaker sets out to define masculinity in the modern age – what makes men tick and, more importantly, coming to terms with all aspects of health, both physical and mental. The questions asked in Silent Men may seem simple, but their answers betray underlying tensions, as Cowles’ subjects make all too clear. The film grapples with being able to express oneself as a man – to become someone at peace with themselves, their life and the ones they love.
Duncan Cowles
Duncan Cowles is a BAFTA Scotland Award winning documentary filmmaker whose short films are often known for their comedic, self-aware and sensitive approach. His shorts have gained significant online exposure through screenings at A-list festivals such as BFI London Film Festival and online platforms such as Short of the Week, Vimeo Staff Picks, BFI Player, BBCiplayer, MUBI, It’s Nice That, TED and numerous others.
Duncan has won a selection of awards at festivals such as Glasgow Short Film Festival, Open City Documentary Festival, BFI Future Film Festival, Hamburg Short Film Festival, Kyiv Short Film Festival, Szczecin European Film Festival, The Smalls and received numerous nominations including being twice shortlisted for Best British Short Film at the London Critics Circle Awards.
In recent years Duncan has been commissioned to write and direct documentaries for Channel 4, STV, BBC Scotland, BBC Radio 4, TED and Adobe. In 2020 Duncan was commissioned to make x6 30minute episodes of his own new documentary TV series ‘Scary Adult Things’ which looks at the struggles of the millennial generation for BBC Scotland and aired in March 2021.
In 2017 Duncan founded his own production company Relative Films Ltd to facilitate the production of his first feature documentary project which he initially took to IDFA Academy before being awarded development funding from Screen Scotland & The Whickers. The film is currently nearing the end of post-production and due to be completed in 2023.
Duncan has also hosted a range of documentary filmmaking workshops for all ages for University of Edinburgh, BFI, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Mental Health Foundation, Glasgow Film Festival, Glasgow Youth Film Festival, Flatpack Film Festival, VIS Vienna Shorts, Screen Academy Scotland and more.
Duncan graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a 1st Class degree and a specialisation in documentary film, winning an Award for Distinguished work by the University upon graduating. He then went on to work for the internationally renowned Scottish Documentary Institute for three years on training programs and feature documentaries such as I am Breathing, Future My Love, Pablo’s Winter, Seven Songs for a Long Life, Donkeyote, Time Trial, Becoming Animal & Nae Pasaran. He also served for five years as part of the programming team for selecting feature documentaries for the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2013-2018.