Filmmaker Statement

I first came up with the idea for The Backway whilst performing in the West End Production of The Jungle, directed by the award-winning duo, Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Billy Elliot and The Inheritance) and Justin Martin (Prima Facie, The Inheritance and Stranger Things). The Jungle provided an insight into the lives and experiences of 15 refugees during their time in what was previously known as 'The Jungle' camp in Calais, as well as the volunteers who arrived to help. In addition to performing in The Jungle and over the past 15 years, I have gained a deeper understanding of the plight and stories of many refugees and migrants through my professional experience of previously managing the operations of one the largest Human Rights Barristers Chambers in the UK, Doughty Street Chambers. This was mainly through the work that many of the Immigration practitioners were involved in and from my experience of assisting on several immigration cases as a Legal Researcher during my time there. Similarly, my previous role as the COO of one of the largest and most well-known international refugee charities in the world, Choose Love, provided me with first-hand experience and accounts of the lives of many displaced refugees and migrants, particularly after having spent time in refugee camps in Calais, Greece and Izmir Turkey. There is an assumption amongst many refugees and migrants that their arrival in Europe will be met with open arms and kindness, leaving many unaware of the hostile environment and insurmountable hurdles awaiting them upon their arrival in many European countries. This not only causes feelings of exclusion and isolation for many refugees and migrants in foreign countries, but also adds to the constant stress and pressures many of them face to support their families back home, which is one of the topics this film attempts to address. My hope is that The Backway will shine a light on the often forgotten and unspoken stories of those migrants and refugees that do make it to Europe but end up being deported back to their home countries. I also hope to explore the impact this has on the families back home, and how themes/topics such as shame, forgiveness and toxic masculinity often impact how many respond when the gamble does not pay off.