the defenders

when talented bahrain refugee footballer hakeem al-araibi steps off the plane in thailand he finds himself surrounded by police with an interpol arrest order. what unfolds is the gripping true story of an heroic whistle-blower who, after speaking out about his own torture, sets off a revenge plot involving three countries, two royal families and the world's most powerful sporting body, fifa.


director - matthew bate
field director - mandy chang
producer - alice burgin
producer - gal greenspan
field producer - justin edmund-white
main unit dop - alex cardy
london unit dop - oscar partridge
production company - sweetshop & green
gauge - arri alexa mini large format
lens - arri master primes

format / feature documentary
official selection - 2023 sydney film festival