Bibby Boys documents the stories of the men seeking asylum aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge and the local community that rallied around them.

Over the course of a year, photographers Theo McInnes and Thomas Ralph embedded themselves in Portland, gradually forming close relationships with both the men onboard and the Portland Global Friendship Group. What began as observation became deep connection—witnessing everyday acts of care, resistance, and resilience that rarely make headlines.

Set against the stark, windswept landscape of a marginalised coastal community, the film captures a moment of unexpected solidarity. As the men endured indefinite asylum delays, hostile conditions, and mounting political pressure, local volunteers stepped forward—offering friendship, support, and a refusal to turn away. In return, the men gave everything they could.

We hope Bibby Boys stands as a testament to the men’s enduring spirit in the face of a system that often neglects their humanity and as an example of what new forms of community in times of polarisation and global displacement.