Meet the Team Behind
A Place Called Welcome
Meet the people behind the project. The team was drawn to the heart of this often untold story, wanting to help bring
a genuine perspective to life. That passion and commitment to powerful, human-centred storytelling shine through in the film.
From filming, to production, to scripting, we want to show what hope, community and welcome really look like in today's world.
Noah Bakour
DIRECTOR
A Syrian refugee filmmaker and visual artist based in the UK tells stories rooted in lived experience, dignity, and human connection. His work spans documentary and socially engaged filmmaking. Noah's work has been recognised across the film, arts, and social-impact sectors in the UK.
Karen Walsh
PRODUCER
An award-winning producer and director with experience across documentary, factual television, and socially engaged storytelling. Her work is known for combining strong narrative structure with sensitive, ethical approaches to real-world subjects.
Christopher Stitchman
EDITOR
A versatile editor with 16 years of experience across broadcast television’s creative and technical disciplines. Specialising in crafting compelling and emotionally resonant stories, his work spans documentary, factual entertainment, natural history and true crime, delivering to leading broadcasters such as Netflix, BBC, Disney and National Geographic.
Anya Sitaram
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
An award-winning journalist and executive producer with extensive experience across international documentary filmmaking. She has overseen hundreds of broadcast documentaries for major global platforms, including BBC, PBS, Discovery, National Geographic, and Al Jazeera
Phil Chappell
CINEMATOGRAPHER
A UK-based cinematographer specialising in visually rich factual and documentary storytelling. His work is known for its naturalistic style and cinematic attention to everyday detail. Phil's years of experience bring skilled visual craft to the film, supporting its poetic and observational tone.
Claire Ash Wheeler
PRODUCER
A UK-based community organiser and co-founder of Sanctuary Community Holidays, supporting refugees and asylum seekers since 2018.
A former teacher, Claire brings a complementary perspective to the film, that of someone who has chosen to welcome others and who continues to reflect on responsibility, care, and solidarity.
Crew Quote