Why We Made the Documentary

Small Boats: The Border Conundrum is a documentary that explores the significant differences in perception between the British and French on the issue of small boat crossings in the Channel.

The idea emerged when our production team recognised that most existing coverage of small boat crossings heavily favours the British viewpoint. Our aim was to rebalance the conversation by examining both British and French perspectives equally—revealing misunderstandings and misconceptions that have clouded public discourse on both sides.

Uniquely, we chose not to interview migrants themselves, as their experiences have already been widely documented elsewhere. Instead, our interviews focus on journalists, academics, NGOs, industry professionals and politicians who bring extensive expertise to the debate. You can meet our interviewees on the interviewee page.

From eighteen hours of insightful conversations, we’ve crafted a 40-minute documentary designed to challenge assumptions, stimulate thoughtful discussion, and encourage mutual understanding between the two nations.

Ultimately, we hope Small Boats: The Border Conundrum will inspire audiences on both sides of the Channel to listen more closely and engage more constructively on this highly emotive issue.

We would also like to thank our main sponsor, The University of Brighton, whose financial support made the production of this documentary possible.