A group of friends go on the sailing holiday of a lifetime, altering their lives forever after they cross paths with a struggling fishing boat overloaded with asylum seekers en-route to Australia.
The Australians decide to tow the refugees, but when they wake the next morning the fishing boat is gone. Five years later they learn the truth – someone cut the rope between the two boats, with tragic consequences.
Cinematic, compelling and provocative, the four-part drama will premiere on SBS at 8.30pm Wednesday 7 March and runs for four weeks.
Safe Harbour is helmed by a stellar ensemble cast featuring award-winning actor Ewen Leslie (Rake, Janet King, Top of the Lake: China Girl), acclaimed actress Leeanna Walsman (Seven Types of Ambiguity, Cleverman, Looking for Alibrandi), AACTA and Logie award-winner Joel Jackson (Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, Deadline Gallipoli), Australian making waves internationally Phoebe Tonkin (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, H2O Just Add Water), Hazem Shammas (Underbelly), rising star Nicole Chamoun (Romper Stomper), Robert Rabiah (Tomorrow When the War Began), and award-winner Jacqueline McKenzie (Romper Stomper, The 4400, The Water Diviner).
SBS Director of Television and Online Content, Marshall Heald said:
“Safe Harbour is one of SBS’s proudest achievements – it’s not only a gripping thriller that will keep audiences guessing, but an exploration of the ethical decisions people make under pressure. It combines high concept drama with relatable characters that put a human lens on an issue usually only discussed in news and current affairs programs and political debate.
“Safe Harbour forces us to ask hard questions of ourselves.”
Filmed on location in the underused backdrop of beautiful Brisbane, Safe Harbour is directed by Glendyn Ivin (Seven Types of Ambiguity, The Beautiful Lie) and executive produced by SBS’s Sue Masters (The Principal, Deep Water, The Family Law) and Matchbox Pictures’ Debbie Lee (Mustangs FC, Hyde & Seek, Oddlands) and produced by Stephen Corvini (Better Man, Hyde & Seek). Based on an original concept by Simon Kennedy and Phil Enchelmaier, showrunner and writer Belinda Chayko (Barracuda, Secret City) headed a strong writing team that included Matt Cameron (Sunshine, Secret City) and Phil Enchelmaier (Jar Dwellers).
airs Wednesday nights at 8.30pm on SBS. You can also stream the show anytime at . Join the conversation with #SafeHarbour.
