
This film explores today’s polarisation through the eyes of activists from across the world. One side considers themselves freedom fighters under siege by progressive liberals who must defend against a creeping socialism. The other side feels attacked by a right wing conservatism and is battling to protect democracy, human rights and the mechanisms through which to speak truth to power. Both sides are facing the uncharted waters of living through a climate crisis which looks set to fuel this division further.
This documentary is being made by the team behind the award-winning documentary I Am Gen Z.
In October 2022 the filmmakers were able to spend time with the activists on the Polish/Belarus border who, every day, go out into the forest to give humanitarian aid to the migrants hiding there. Much of the footage you see in the clip above is from our time spent with them and we are grateful to the groups for welcoming us and for their trust. Their dedication is extraodinary and they are tireless in their work. To find out more about them, follow the Fundacja Bezkres and Grupa Granica pages.
Our independent films are only possible thanks to the generous support of individuals who care about human rights.
Liz Smith
Director & Editor
Liz is a British documentary filmmaker and investigative storyteller. Her work is centred around human rights issues and she is interested in what makes human beings tick, and how psychology and environment drive contemporary behaviour. She is the director and editor of the acclaimed feature documentary “I Am Gen Z”, which explores the impact of digital technology on the lives and behaviours of the first generation to grow up with smartphones in their pockets. The film premiered at CPH:DOX in 2021 and went on to have a successful festival run across the world. It won the award for Best Feature Film at The Lower East Side Film Festival in 2022. It has been distributed in Europe, MENA, Australia, North America, Scandinavia, Turkey, Russia and Asia. She is the co-founder and host of “What’s Going On In Your Head”, an ongoing series of live events that explore the secret inner workings of the mind through performance art. The shows reach audiences that would not normally be engaged in dialogue around mental illness. She uses her investigative editorial approach to create an experience that hits deep topics while at the same time remaining entertaining and engaging. She also co-founded and was the creative director of “The Secret Illness“, a creative arts project that explored the realities of living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Chantelle de Carvalho
Producer
Chantelle is a screenwriter and creative producer who began her career in the entertainment industry in the theatre, writing, directing and acting in contemporary and classic works. She moved into film and television, working on features, documentaries and commercials for television corporations and independent film production companies. She formed Coco&Claude Films Ltd to develop and produce a slate of feature film projects and her narrative works include award-winning short films screened at international film festivals and feature films including “The Hatching”, a comedy/beast horror, “The Secret Philosophy”, an art house drama, “Credo”, a supernatural thriller aka “The Devil’s Curse US (Lionsgate US), “Copposites” a body-swap comedy and most recently “I Am Gen Z” a feature documentary directed by Liz Smith which is to be followed by “The Deadline” also directed by Liz Smith.
Dr Leslie Carr
Executive Producer
Dr. Leslie Carr is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been in private practice for over a decade. Her passion is in educating people about mental health, mental illness, and how the mind works so that we can all better understand the human condition. Her work in public psychoeducation has been featured in The LA Times, on Ask Dr. Drew, and at Google among other places. Dr. Carr is on the board of One Green Thing, a nonprofit that’s working to address the climate crisis as a psychological crisis, and she’s the host of a podcast which explores the nature vs nurture debate by episodically explaining how people respond to their environment in complicated ways. It’s called The Nature of Nurture.
Brian Selman
Executive Producer
Brian has had a long and successful business career, largely within technical industries. He has operated at CEO level and as a non-executive director of a number of enterprises, as well being involved in several start-ups. Qualified to masters degree level, he also has the Institute of Directors diploma and is a qualified executive coach. He has lived and worked in four countries and travelled extensively. From this wide exposure he has developed an international viewpoint and has a strong interest in the development of societies and organisations.
Kim Halliday
Composer
Kim is an award winning media composer & multi-instrumental musician working in London. In a 30 year career in music for media, encompassing film, TV, theatre, mixed and augmented reality, he has delivered scores for horrors, thrillers, science fiction, comedies and documentaries. His albums have been described as “Sonic Youth meets Bernard Herrmann” and “Face-Bashing All-Out Guitar Assault”, and his Unpleasantville brand has just received funding from Bristol + Bath Creative R+D to support a music based mixed reality release during Summer 2022. Kim’s latest works, the documentary I Am Gen Z and the semi-autobiographical audio release Desiderium, again demonstrate his endeavour to create music that comforts and disturbs in equal measure. “The way the music in this film blends with the story is a true work of art produced by Kim Halliday.” I Am Gen Z review.