Noel Smyth is an Australian based documentary writer, director, producer, cinematographer and editor.

Having worked in the industry for 17 years, he started as an editor and cinematographer before moving into directing and producing. This experience across all stages of production has greatly informed his creative practice that centres around intimate stories of the human condition told through a verite lens.

His debut feature documentary Camino Skies (co-directed with Fergus Grady) won the Doc Edge Film Festival awards for ‘Best NZ Directors’ and ‘Best NZ Emerging Filmmakers’ and was nominated for ‘Best NZ Feature’, ‘Best NZ Editing’ and ‘Best NZ Cinematography’.

His nuanced and empathetic approach to following real life stories comes from a place of curiosity and it is this approach to storytelling that makes him an exciting new voice in the Australian cinema landscape.

Fergus Grady is a producer, sales & distribution consultant who has over fifteen years experience in the film industry.

His debut feature documentary Camino Skies was the second highest grossing NZ documentary of 2019 and won the Doc Edge Film Festival awards for ‘Best NZ Directors’ and ‘Best NZ Emerging Filmmakers’.

He also associate produced West of Sunshine which competed for the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival in 2017.

Sharon has 13 children and 71 grandchildren, some living in the Gloriavale Community, and some who have left. She is mother to John Ready and Virginia Courage and one of the original members of Gloriavale. Sharon is fighting for change from inside the community, becoming a plaintiff in a civil court case in 2020. Despite mounting pressure from the the Shepherds, she steadfastly remains inside the community where her youngest daughter is buried. Sharon is one of the bravest, sweetest, strongest, and most inspiring ladies we have the pleasure to know.

John spent most of his life in Gloriavale, working as a farm manager before he was exiled from the community for challenging the leadership. He is a plaintiff in the civil action case and now he must fight to free his wife and 12 children still inside. With a quiet intensity, he risks losing everything he holds dear to bring the cult to justice. John is a man of integrity, who will stand up for what is right, regardless of the cost.

Virginia is the eldest sister of John Ready. She is a mother of 11 children, currently living in South Canterbury, having left Gloriavale in 2019, fearing for the safety of her children. As a sexual abuse survivor, she must now face her fears and speak up for the sake of future young women who remain inside Gloriavale.  Virginia’s voice is heard at the end of the trailer, saying “You can’t just keep cutting off the tail; you have to cut the head off the snake to kill it.” She is a champion of truth, willing to see the fight through to the bitter end.

Brian Henry is a high profile Auckland barrister who was has joined the fight against Gloriavale and Government agencies who are allowing exploitation and abuse to continue in a remote corner of New Zealand.  He has experience fighting controversial cases such as the Equiticorp trials, the Winebox Inquiry and the RSA murders, and this will be his final case before permanent retirement. Brian shares of his disbelief and struggle to reconcile what he hears from leavers, and the utopian “Christian” front the group promotes.

Dennis Gates was brought out of retirement to join Brian Henry in this epic battle. As well as leading the Civil Action against Gloriavale, they are now neck-deep in the Gloriavale Boys’ and Girls’ Employment cases.  Dennis joined Brian in the Equiticorp trials, the Winebox Inquiry and the RSA murders, showing this pair have experience on their side. Dennis coined the phrase, “Gloriavale has weaponsied their faith”.

Steve Patterson is a man of faith, who can’t sit by and watch injustice. He is a an International Human Rights expert and investigator assisting with a range of cases against Gloriavale. Steve had previous connections to leavers, and something had always bothered him about what he suspected was occurring at Gloriavale. His easy-going manner enabled him to connect with leavers and current members in a way that no one had done before. His commitment to seeing a better future for leavers and current residents is applaudable.

Janina works with Gloriavale leavers and advocacy groups to ensure they are being well represented. Janina’s past profession as a NZ Police Detective involved working with high level and serious offending. Janina has been helping the Legal Team with their various cases, doing the work of a legal investigator and secretary. She is kind, caring, and compassionate, and has an excellent understanding of the issues that Gloriavale people face.

Zion was a senior leader (“servant”) at Gloriavale until he was ousted in 2020 after publicly speaking out against the sexual immorality and poor practices and beliefs inside Gloriavale. He is part of a group of former members trying to bring the Government to account for classifying members as volunteers rather than workers. Zion’s understanding of Gloriavale and its leadership is unrivalled; he is an excellent communicator, and has joined the fight against the evil practices he has seen there.

Marcus is John’s employer, a local dairy farmer and Church leader who lives on the outskirts of Gloriavale and supports those members trying to leave. He juggles the ongoing stress of managing a farm with the ever growing needs of traumatised individuals leaving the community.  His caring nature and experience as a church elder means that he can speak to Gloriavale members on a spiritual level, giving encouragement and insight to the various issues arising from living there.

Liz is the Manager of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, leading a team of staff and volunteers to assist people leaving Gloriavale and resettling on the outside. Her Christian faith drives her to be involved in advocacy and she works with a team of people who have been trying to educate and activate Government agencies to take seriously the reports of exploitation and abuse. It’s been slow and discouraging work at times, but the tide is turning with the efforts of the legal team.