The Context

On the 6th February 2023, devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria. The natural disaster gripped the nation and through the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC)’s Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, a whopping £150 million was raised by the UK public - one of the DEC’s most significant fundraising efforts in its 60-year history.

Although one year on the earthquakes were no longer at the forefront of the public consciousness, the ramifications were still being felt by those who lived through the aftermath. We needed to create a film that served as a stark reminder of those still rebuilding their lives, whilst also showing the huge impact the donations had, with the ultimate goal of reinforcing future giving.

The Idea

Released on the first anniversary of the earthquakes, ‘The Locker’ captures the incredible resilience of the affected communities, as well as the vital role public donations played in helping the survivors survive.  

Shot entirely from the perspective of a locker, the film is based on a real neonatal hospital in northwest Syria which received funds from the appeal, helping to keep it running after the disaster.

Authenticity was key in the making of this film, so we had two dialect coaches and a Cultural Director on set. This meant that everything was as accurate as possible, from the wardrobe to the relationships portrayed.