GUARDIANS OF THE STRAIT

Director Claire Jager / 2017 / Australia,Turkey

More than 50,000 container ships pass through Istanbul's perilously narrow Strait of Bosphorus every year, most of them filled to overflowing with oil. It's an eco-catastrophe waiting to happen, but a resolute group of residents are doing everything they can to save their legendary waterway.

Cutting directly through bustling Istanbul, the Strait of Bosphorus is one of the busiest trading routes on Earth, with a new cargo ship or supertanker entering its congested, chaotic waters every 10 minutes. The oil they carry is the lifeblood of Europe, but with human error, crumbling vessels and the Bosphorus' own treacherous currents at play, it's only a matter of time until disaster strikes.

From acclaimed documentary-maker Claire Jager comes Guardians of the Strait, a fascinating exploration of the almost unknown and unregulated issue of maritime traffic and its potentially disastrous consequences. Focusing on the small army of journalists, activists and fishermen battling to keep the Bosphorus safe and pristine, Guardians of the Strait is a documentary of cinematic ambition and style that tells an urgent, captivating and necessary tale.

Director Claire Jager and Producer Samantha Dinning will be at both sessions to introduce the film and take part in a post-screening Q&A.

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