The BBC is collaborating with a production company known for advocating migrant rights to develop a feature film centered on the experiences of an undocumented food delivery driver. The project, tentatively titled Papers, draws inspiration from Matar, a 20-minute short film created by Deadbeat Films that highlights challenges faced by asylum seekers working illegally in the UK.

Matar, released in 2023, depicts the story of an asylum seeker who operates as a delivery driver while living in a shared house and facing racial discrimination. The narrative culminates in the character’s detention after fleeing a police check due to lack of legal documentation. The film’s epilogue criticizes the UK government, accusing it of initiating a series of measures undermining the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. It is associated with the “Lift the Ban” campaign, led by Refugee Action, which advocates for permitting asylum seekers to work legally while their applications are processed.

The short film was directed by Hassan Akkad, a Syrian refugee, and is based on the experiences of Ayman Alhussein, a Syrian filmmaker who entered the UK under similar circumstances. Alhussein has publicly criticized UK immigration policies, describing how migrants are often portrayed negatively in media and public discourse.

Last year, the Home Office reported a record number of arrests involving undocumented migrants employed in Britain. Concerns have also been raised about migrants housed in taxpayer-funded accommodations earning income through food delivery services.

In preparation for the new film, some members of the production team have participated in workshops facilitated by Counterpoint Productions, a charity that seeks to influence public narratives on immigration through popular culture. Counterpoint has received over £400,000 in funding from Arts Council England over the past five years and is part of a network of organizations supported by various foundations aiming to reshape immigration-related narratives.

A BBC spokesperson stated that collaborating with charities for research and perspective is standard practice across the media industry. The corporation emphasized that it maintains strict editorial guidelines to ensure impartiality and that all projects commissioned by BBC Film comply with these standards.

Deadbeat Films was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.