Defendant 5

Team

Writer/Director Heidi Douglas

Producer Ruth Cross

Executive Producer Simon Nasht

Partners

ABC TV, Al Jazeera English, Screen Australia, Screen Tasmania, Metro Screen

Format

29 mins documentary (ABC)

25 mins documentary (Al Jazeera)

Status

ABC broadcast December 2014, Al Jazeera broadcast March 2015

Links

Young filmmaker Heidi Lee Douglas goes to Tasmania to make a documentary about the destruction of the island’s ancient forests. As anti-logging protests escalate, Heidi crosses the line from filmmaker to activist. Logging giant Gunns Ltd reacts to public pressure by suing Heidi and 19 others for $6.4 million for allegedly conspiring to destroy the company’s business. When Heidi discovers Gunns wants to use her footage as evidence to support its claims, she faces a moral dilemma. Heidi’s response is to turn the camera on herself to document her personal struggle as she goes into battle against a corporation out of control.