The Fight

For 20 years, Australia has sacrificed the basic principle of a democracy: you cannot lock people up without a trial and a sentence. Australia has overseen the long – term incarceration of hundreds of people seeking asylum and refuge. It has divided the nation.

Feature documentary, The Fight, takes us inside the stories of people behind this policy.

This film, coupled with an extensive impact campaign, tackles the misinformation about asylum seekers, refugees and stateless people, providing much needed public interest journalism presenting the moving, emotional and complex moral nature of their experiences. Asylum seekers, refugees and stateless people have long been presented as illegal to mainstream Australia. Several elections have been won on policies that dehumanise and create division, this film is an opportunity to build insight and understanding.

Emotional, and deeply human, this film reveals that our democracy is very much at stake.

We should have a separation of judiciary and legislative powers, but it’s clear we do not.

The impact campaign will inspire Australians to re-assess bias towards people in detention, and motivate people to fight for laws that create a fairer Australia.

THE FIGHT will be instrumental in Australian organisations and individuals re-assessing bias towards people in detention, and inspire people to fight for laws that create a fairer Australia.

6 out of 10 Australians voted “No” in the Referendum for Indigenous People to have a Voice to Parliament. We are using this data as a broad framework to identify where we should target screenings and impact campaign activities for the feature film, interpreting the “No” vote as a signal that these communities are resistant to refugee narratives.

Specifically the impact campaign aims to:
1. Facilitate screenings followed by a Q&A sessions
2. Coordinate a media campaign, with a focus on social media
3. Coordinate a targeted education program using clips from the film
4. Contribute to the sustainability of Human Rights for All (through mailing list sign ups, donations, increased profile)

Human Rights For All is a well established and connected organisation, and they have a large network of people in detention, funders and partner organistions who can be activated to amplify change. Many detainees have been engaged in the process of making the film, they have been given the right to opt out at all times, and their safety is a constant priority for the legal firm that represents them. Impact Producer Leeanne Torpey has a wealth of experience working with screenings at the electorate level. She used to head up communications at not-for-profit the International Detention Coalition. She has extensive networks in Australia.

The impact campaign is designed to create a pathway for audiences to get involved. Across the six target audiences, the impact campaign has the capacity to deepen engagement in our democracy. Discussion guides, education toolkits, and engagement with MPs is a tangible way we can measure our achievements. But ultimately re-engaging communities in our political system, and providing inspiration, is what this film has the potential to do. It’s hope we all need at this time, when trust in our political system is at an all-time low. The film will raise the profile of Human Rights For All’s work, increasing referrals, donations, and other relationships to ensure the sustainability and expansion of the law firm which is at the heart of ensuring our democracy is functioning as it should be.