The BBC is making a film on a refugee delivery driver as an “activist producer” is seeking to “change the narrative on asylum seekers”.
Studio Deadbeat Films is producing the film with the working title “Papers”, with those working on the feature having attended “narrative-change” workshops funded by the British taxpayer.
In past projects, the creators have previously accused the Government of driving a “wave of attacks” on asylum seekers’ rights.
The new project has taken inspiration from Matar, a 2023 short film, which follows the story of an asylum seeker in Britain who came face-to-face with a “hostile immigration system”.
In the production, Matar works illegally as a delivery driver, with the film recounting his life residing in an HMO, until a police raid culminates in his arrest.
The lead character failed to have the legal papers to live in the UK after fleeing an immigration detention centre.
The short film, directed by a Syrian refugee, concluded with an epilogue that directly takes aim at the Government and accuses Whitehall of failing to support refugee rights.
Released three years ago, the 20-minute-long production was connected with an initiative whipped up by the Refugee Action charity, called the “Lift the Ban” campaign.
Studio Deadbeat Films is producing the film with the working title ‘Papers’
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Now, Deadbeat Films has reiterated the importance of driving “narrative” change as they continue to create the upcoming release.
Those working on the “activist” film have been liaising in workshops led by Counterpoint Productions.
As its mission, the charity seeks to “support and create transformative art by, with, and about migrants and refugees so their stories shape our culture and help change how we see displacement”.
Over the past five years, the charity has pocketed £400,000 of taxpayer cash from Arts Council England.
The controversial Question Time episode was based in Dover and exclusively focused on the topic of migration
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BBCA BBC spokesman said: “The BBC has full editorial control over all its content. It is common practice across the media industry to engage with charities, among others, for research purposes and to help understand different perspectives when working on programmes or news stories.
“However, the BBC has strict guidelines to ensure impartiality and editorial independence, and all films greenlit by BBC Film are made in accordance with those guidelines.”
Last month, the BBC fell under fire after it emerged two asylum seekers who appeared on an episode of Question Time had been coached by charity campaigners.
In the episode, filmed on December 5 in Dover, the audience featured two men who had crossed the Channel in small boats.
The BBC previously told GB News that all those on the panel were informed “the day before the show that there would be people in the audience who had been through the asylum system”.
But it was later revealed the two men were placed in the audience and had been coached beforehand by the migration support charity Imix.
Even on its children shows, pro-migrant charities, including Imix and Heard, were revealed to have worked behind-the-scenes to shape the narratives of programmes for youngsters.
Campaigners met with producers of the CBBC comedy Pickle Storm, aimed at children around seven years’ old, as part of efforts to “impact the framing of migration” in programming for young audiences, The Telegraph said.
The programme depicts Pickle, a young alien escaping persecution on her home world, who settles in a British town, where her family encounters cultural misunderstandings.
The BBC said the charity involved held no power over editing or production decisions, describing consultation with external experts as standard industry practice.
GB News has approached the BBC and Deadbeat Films for comment.