"De Waarheid" (intl: Unspoken Truth), the debut short film by director Irmo Stijnberg, is primarily a workplace drama. But for those who look beyond the plot, it's a portrayal of the stuttering experience.

As a person who stutters, Stijnberg brings a unique authenticity and perspective to the storytelling in his film, while Director of Photography, Belal Abhar, enriches the narrative style, inviting audiences to explore their collaborative vision.

Timothy, a young passionate graphic designer, faces the daily challenge of stuttering. One unfortunate day at the graphic design firm he works at, HR calls Timothy in for a meeting where he is blindsided by sexual harassment accusations from a female client, specifically the client's assistant, Sofie.

In earlier moments we witness how Timothy excels in his job. However, his enthusiasm is dampened by a colleague named Jonah, who, though initially seen as friendly by Timothy, gradually reveals envy towards Timothy's success as time progresses.

As we continue the meeting with HR, we see Timothy struggling to defend himself and how challenging it can be to be taken seriously as a person who stutters in a world primarily geared towards fluency, speed and profit. At a pivotal moment, we even get a glimpse into Timothy's thoughts, allowing us to experience the inner reality of stuttering: how it feels when his thoughts race faster than his speech and how much energy it costs to speak. However, Timothy's pleas for clarification and attempts to seek it seem to fall on deaf ears.

Speaking is a fundamental human trait, so much so that freedom of speech is enshrined as one of the primary laws in most civilized nations. But what happens when you're fundamentally unable to speak or struggle due to a stutter?

While writing provides an alternative, it doesn't fully capture the essence and immediacy of spoken communication. This limitation profoundly impacts one's freedom of expression and sense of humanity. This challenge is often overlooked, yet addressing it is essential to upholding the freedom to let all our voices be heard. By fostering understanding and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to speak and be listened to, we can truly uphold the spirit of free speech.

Declaration of the Right to Stutter

The declaration, which you can read below, insists that it is time to end this assumption that people who stammer should stop stammering.

It calls upon everyone in a position to do so (the media, employers, organisations, etc) to make space for people who stammer. "We want to be seen and heard on TV; we want our stammer to be accepted when we go for interviews, order coffee or make a complaint, so that we stammer and be given the space to do so."

Declaration of the Right to Stutter
Signed by 89 international organizations.

As someone who stutters I have experienced similar situations to those portrayed in this film, which had a long-lasting negative impact on my mental well-being. I grew frustrated with others defining the experience for me. In communities of people who stutter there are countless stories about how their stuttering is misunderstood and misrepresented. Motivated by this, I decided to write, produce and direct a short film in which I aim to realistically depict the physical and social struggles and discomfort of stuttering.

Hopefully this film serves as a catalyst for broader conversations about stuttering and contributes to a more inclusive and compassionate portrayal of our experiences. I hope to inspire those who stutter and to challenge viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the human experience.

director, writer, executive producer Irmo Stijnberg director of photography Belal Abhar producer Moreno Koning assistant director Bernard Kuiper, Mick Verkerk gaffer Wim de Jong assistant camera Sem Berger, Youran Kock set sound recordist Remo Kuhlmann, Medina Sharapova production assistant Ferrie Lehman makeup & wardrobe Sen Lenderink locations manager Jeroen Scholten editor Irmo Stijnberg assistant editor Mick Verkerk composer Fayez Saraya colorist Boudewijn van de Velde sound designer Remo Kuhlmann digital compositor Anthony Clifford

In this section you will be able to download all necessary information and promotional materials.

Press Kit (Dutch) Press Kit (English) Stills