The riveting true story of the arrest, trial and imprisonment of Australian war correspondent Peter Greste – a pawn in the brutal war on truth.

Based on the true story of Australian war correspondent Peter Greste’s imprisonment in Egypt in 2013, The Correspondent is a gripping biographical thriller, a story about the brutal war on truth. While working for Al Jazeera, Greste (Richard Roxburgh) arrives in Cairo to cover for a colleague over Christmas. The political temperature is high as Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s military takeover of the Egyptian government is all but complete. Greste, a veteran of Middle East conflict, is alert but not alarmed – but he’s unaware of the depth of Sisi’s hatred of his current employer, for its reporting of the coup. From the moment he steps foot in Egypt, a plan is set in motion to arrest Greste and his crew. What unfolds is a descent into a Kafkaesque nightmare in which Greste is seen as collateral damage.

Directed by Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Boxing Day), Greste’s memoir The First Casualty forms the basis of Peter Duncan’s exceptional screenplay. Since 2005 more than 1700 journalists have been killed worldwide in connection with their work. In 2023 alone, 779 journalists were jailed for doing their job and 547 remain detained in 45 countries.

Peter Greste will be a guest of AFF, alongside director Kriv Stenders, lead actor Richard Roxburgh, producer Carmel Travers and other special guests to be announced. Join them at the AFF 2024 Opening Night Gala to mark the world premiere.

Opening Night Gala times:
Red carpet — from 5:15pm
Screenings — staggered from 6:15pm
After party — Hindley Street Music Hall