Photojournalist Barat Ali Batoor had an insatiable passion to reveal the truth about his people, not knowing that his most significant story would soon be his own. Barat Ali Batoor was just 9 years old when he stumbled across a camera. He began documenting the truth about the experiences of his people, the Hazara, who ...
Documentary Australia
In Focus: An Impact Documentary and campaign bringing awareness to the plight of asylum seekers stuck in Indonesia

GOAL
$30,000
Field of Interest
- Arts and culture
- Social inclusion and justice
Target Population
- General population
- Asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and people from CALD backgrounds

Walkley Award Winning Hazara photojournalist Barat Ali Batoor first won international acclaim in 2011 for his powerful photo essay exposing one of his country’s darkest secrets. But his work made him a target and Batoor was forced to flee along an asylum seeker route taken by thousands before him. Shot and produced entirely by Batoor, this documentary is a moving insight into the work of photographers committed to bringing audiences the truth.
He is joined by producer Leeanne Torpey who has a background in refugee advocacy and journalism and was the impact producer on the War On Waste (ABC, Dir Jodi Boylin), Big Deal (ABC, Madman, Dir,. Craig Ruecassel), Magda’s Big National Health Check (ABC, Dir. Rob Innes) and Ithaka (ABC, Bonsai Films, Dir. Ben Lawrence).
They are joined by award winning director shooter Cathy Scott, AACTA award-winning director, writer, producer and composer Joseph Nizeti and AACTA nominated producer Alex Mitchell.
Project Summary
Photojournalist Barat Ali Batoor had an insatiable passion to reveal the truth about his people, not knowing that his most significant story would soon be his own.
Barat Ali Batoor was just 9 years old when he stumbled across a camera. He began documenting the truth about the experiences of his people, the Hazara, who have long been persecuted, but he never expected the greatest story to be his own.
He first won international acclaim in 2011 for his powerful photo essay exposing one of his country’s darkest secrets. But his work made him a target and Batoor was forced to flee.
Batoor’s film provides a personal, authentic and unique perspective.
We see the dangers and risks as he searches for a safer life. We feel what it is like to risk your life with never before seen footage on the wide open sea.
Batoor finds love, fatherhood, and safety but he is haunted by the memories of thousands of Hazara stuck in Indonesia. He returns to reveal the truth but instead he finds his own: a stark lesson about class and the power of photography to make change.
This is a personal, authentic and unique film.
We see footage that has never been captured before, a real account of what it is like to risk your life on the open sea.
Batoor finds love, fatherhood, and safety but he is haunted by the memories of thousands of Hazara stuck in Indonesia.
He returns to reveal the truth but instead he finds his own: a stark lesson about class and the power of photography to make change.
This documentary is a chance to uplift storytellers with lived experience of migration, while developing an emerging director and bringing awareness to the plight of asylum seekers stuck in Indonesia. Batoor brings a unique insight into being a photojournalist in the midst of that experience. He asks: what is journalism? And what price is worth the risk?
Project Outcomes
Migration is one of the biggest challenges of our times, and it’s one that is set to get worse with climate change. We need more stores, of all kinds, and preferably from people with first hand experience to bring the reality of conflict and migration to life.
Batoor has an amazing photographic eye. His camera seems like an extension of his soul. Quiet and meticulous, he is drawn to the heart of drama but his footprint on a scene is so minimal he effortlessly captures each frame. It is an amazing art. It’s no wonder he has won so many awards.
This documentary is a chance to uplift storytellers with lived experience of migration, while developing an emerging director and bringing awareness to the plight of asylum seekers stuck in Indonesia. Batoor brings a unique insight into being a photojournalist in the midst of that experience. He asks: what is journalism? And what price is worth the risk?
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $65,000
FUNDING
Funding source | Amount |
---|---|
Private philanthropic funders (unconfirmed) | $10,000 |
Post Lounge (confirmed) | $10,000 |
Shark Island (confirmed) | $15,000 |
Funding Gap (unconfirmed) | $30,000 |
EXPENSES
Expense item | Amount |
---|---|
Writers room | $15,000 |
Sizzle | $10,000 |
Proof of Concept Scene | $15,000 |
Producer + Director Labor | $20,000 |
Design | $5,000 |
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