Title | The Right to Race |
Agency | Hungry Man |
Campaign | The Right to Race |
Advertiser | ON Run |
Brand | ON |
Date of First Broadcast/Publication | 2023 / 6 |
Business Sector | Sneakers / Athletic Footwear |
Story | The 30-minute film centres around the special relationship forged between Dominic and his Swiss coach, Markus Hagmann—a relationship born from a shared love of running. Lobalu's struggle to be recognized by World Athletics as an international contender representing his home country takes centre stage as negotiations continue with the sport's governing body. Never letting up the pace, the film deftly captures the disappointment, determination and incredible physical prowess of an athlete who is at the top of his game - yet unable to compete. More than this, it challenges us to reconsider notions of national identity and belonging - powerful issues which were given a human face at the film’s premiere at Cannes Lions, personally attended by Bullock, Hagmann and Lobalu himself. |
Philosophy | Marking its world premiere at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Swiss sportswear brand On has launched The Right To Race, a powerful original documentary recounting Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu’s remarkable journey from a stateless refugee to become an elite athlete. Released on World Refugee Day (June 20), the film also raises wider questions about the importance of identity, representation and belonging, by celebrating and highlighting humanity’s untapped potential. What does it mean to have an identity - not just as an athlete but as a human? That’s the question that has propelled refugee and long distance runner Lobalu from a war-torn region in South Sudan to the snow-filled slopes of Switzerland - where he is fighting for the right to race and represent his new country on the world stage. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Richard Bullock in association with Hungry Man Productions, the new film deploys archive footage compiled from as early as 2017 to tell the story of Lobalu’s quest to represent Switzerland at the World Athletics Championships, where - despite being an elite competitor challenging the world’s best - he is currently excluded from official Refugee teams and has to wait up to 10 years before being eligible for citizenship in Switzerland. The Right to Race is Bullock’s third collaboration with On, having written and directed the brand’s previous short films including RUN: The Athlete Refugee Team Story and the award-winning animated production Black Ice. A writer/director whose longform films have run on the National Geographic Channel, Eurosport and the BBC, Bullock built up an award-winning legacy in advertising before focusing on directing full time. He was a former Executive Creative Director at 180 Amsterdam and worked with leading agencies such as Chiat/Day/Mojo, Hunt Lascaris TBWA, Cliff Freeman & Partners and Lowe Howard Spink. Alongside its world premiere at Cannes Lions, The Right to Race was broadcast in 53 countries on Eurosport 1 on World Refugee Day during Prime Time. The film will also be shown during relevant sporting events, such as the World Athletics Championships 2023, and available on Discovery+ streaming services throughout Europe. Produced by On and Hungry Man Productions, The Right to Race can now be seen at http://righttorace.com. |
Media Type | Branded Content |
Length | |
Market | Australia |
More Information | http://righttorace.com |
Production Company | Hungry Man |
Writer/Director | Richard Bullock |
Director of Photography (DOP) | Robert Farley |
Executive Producer | Feliciano Robayna |
Executive Producer | Matt Buels |
Producer | Hannah Stone |
Producer | Gessica Giulini |
Production Assistant | Sophie Campbell |
Additional camera | Guillaume Laurent |
Additional camera | Peter Eastgate |
Additional camera | Jordan Maddocks |
Additional camera | Luke Scully |
Additional camera | Richard Bullock |
Editor | Peter Barton |
Editor | Philip Horn |
Assembly Editor | Liam Riley |
Assistant Editor | Harry Learoyd |
Post Production | The Editors |
Executive Post Producer | Nicoletta Rousianos |
Post-production Supervisor | Grace Rouvray |
Music / Sound Design | Heckler Sound |
Music Composer | Dustin Lau |
Sound Supervisor | Bonnie Law |
Music Editor | Johnny Green |
Re Recording Mixer | Dave Robertson |
Sound Editor | Nick Keate |
Sound Assistant | Jack Okeby |
Title Animation | Machines of Loving Grace |
Title Animation | Brett McManus |
Colorist | Matt Fezz |
Color Assist | Sam Holman |
Online Artist | Matt Edwards |
Public Relations | Elliott Stares |
Public Relations | Jessica Hartley |
Featuring | Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu |
Featuring | Markus Hagmann |
Featuring | Fabian Weiderkehr |
Featuring | Guillaume Laurent |
Featuring | Marc Spescha |
Featuring | Jackie Brock- Doyle |