Don't Be Prey

Don't Be Prey is a film about Mark Sowerby's Oceans Seven journey

Don’t Be Prey is an edge-of-your-seat adventure into one man’s fight to reclaim his life by taking on the world’s most dangerous marathon swims, the Oceans Seven. Featuring unforgettable characters, raw vulnerability and breathtaking ocean feats, it’s a gripping, uplifting journey of resilience, reinvention and what it really takes to survive.

Directed by Jeff Tseng, written by Steven Sander and Jeff Tseng, starring Mark Sowerby, Tim Denyer, and Steven Munatones, Heidi Sowerby, Bengisu Avci, Jamie Mackay, Paul Leonard, and Joanne Norman, to be released in 2026.

Main Characters

• Mark Sowerby’s life was upended in 2018 when a highly publicised short-selling attack on Blue Sky dismantled his reputation, identity, and self-belief. Turning to the ocean not for glory but for survival. Mark utilises marathon swimming as a mechanism to master fear and navigate the paralysis of prolonged uncertainty. Over the course of a decade, he attempts the Oceans Seven—a grueling odyssey through cold, darkness, and apex predators. By his final crossing, Mark’s journey transcends mere physical endurance, evolving into a profound reclamation of self, achieved only by surrendering control to a team he learns to trust implicitly.
• Tim Denyer is an elite tactician whose uncompromising standards are inextricably linked to personal tragedy. A former channel swimmer, Tim bears the silent weight of having witnessed his own mentor perish in his arms during a crossing – a trauma that cemented his rigid, safety-first methodology. He offers empathy but withholds sympathy, operating within a binary philosophy where unchecked emotion is a precursor to fatal error. Viewing his own redemption through the lens of Mark’s survival, Tim pushes his athlete to the physiological brink, possessing the visceral knowledge of exactly what is required when the ocean turns unforgiving.
• Heidi Sowerby embodies the emotional gravity of the film, carrying the weight of her family while her husband confronts his existential demons at sea. Initially paralysed by the mortal risks inherent in Mark’s pursuit, she evolves from an anxious observer into an indispensable strategist, becoming the only voice capable of reaching him when he descends into a psychological void of suffering. Her arc mirrors Mark’s own transformation; moving from fear to agency, she eventually plunges into the freezing waters herself to guide him home.
• As the creator of the Oceans Seven, Steven Munatones serves as the film’s philosophical conscience. A legendary figure in the sport, he contextualises Mark’s endeavour not merely as an athletic feat, but as a primal dialogue between “human power and Mother Nature”. Steven lives by the ethos of the encyclopedia-bound explorers he idolised as a child, maintaining that comfort is the antithesis of a life well-lived. Having survived a catastrophic heart attack, he brings a poignant awareness of mortality to the narrative, reminding both the audience and Mark that the ultimate victory lies in refusing to become “prey” to life’s unpredictability.

Filmmakers

• Jeff Tseng, Writer/Director/Producer, is the co-founder of PixelFrame, a production company based in Australia. The company’s scope of work includes film production, documentaries, web series, commercials, animation and international production facilitation services. In 2011, he was appointed to the board of the Queensland School of Film and Television and currently serves as the Director of Curriculum at the institute. Several of the projects he has produced have been recognized at international film festivals, including Slamdance, the Vancouver International Film Festival, Sydney Flickerfest,, Taiwan Golden Horse Film Festival, SSFF & ASIA Short Film Festival in Japan, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea, Hollywood Screamfest, and the Brisbane International Film Festival.
• Steven Sander, Writer/Editor, is an Emmy award-winning feature drama and documentary editor. In 2023, he received the Australian Screen Editors award for Best Editing of a Documentary Feature and, in 2024, the Australian Writers’ Guild award for Best Writing of a Documentary, both for Volcano Man. Steven recently cut The Thinking Game, which had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival. Previously Steven won an Emmy for the US feature documentary Of Miracles And Men, part of ESPN’s acclaimed 30 for 30 TV series. His debut feature, New Town Killers, received three BAFTA Scotland Nominations (Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor). Steven also writes and directs and currently combines his work as a feature film editor with commercials and documentary directing.
• Caitlin Johnston, Producer, is a creative producer, whose enthusiasm and desire to completely immerse in the world of filmmaking has given her broad experience across many platforms and productions. Over ten years in the business, she’s coordinated entire departments in blockbuster international productions, co-produced her own low-budget feature film ‘Eight’ (streaming on Amazon Prime – humble brag), produced and directed multiformat promotional campaigns for a wide range of clients … and everything in between. As one of the lead creative producers at PixelFrame, her primary focus is on human-interest factual and documentary content. She’s had the incredible privilege of sharing stories with heart and vulnerability, from people from all walks of life. Her most recent achievement includes producing and directing the 12-part webs series ‘She Made It’, which is fresh on the festival circuit and has already collected numerous accolades.
• Lucas Thyer, Executive Producer, is an acclaimed filmmaker and creative producer with a career spanning more than twenty years. As the co-founder of the Australian production company PixelFrame, he brings a deep passion for storytelling and a commitment to excellence to every narrative he crafts. His distinctive visual style and extensive technical expertise make him a leader in his field. His body of work spans a wide range of formats and genres, with a strong focus on documentary, online content campaigns, and the arts and live performance. Lucas is known for his proactive and grounded approach, infusing each project with his unique creativity, infectious enthusiasm, and energy. His dedication to high-quality storytelling has earned his work recognition and awards at prestigious festivals worldwide, including the Brisbane International Film Festival, Tropfest, the St Kilda Film Festival, and Flickerfest.

External links

• A Conversation with Sian Richardson of BlueTits and Tim Denyer of Red Top Swim
• I Am A Survivor, Getting Through Difficult Times
• Mark Sowerby Talks About Endurance In The Ocean and On Dryland. His Oceans Seven Journey Continues
• A Decade To Destiny. Mark Sowerby’s Solo Challenge Turns Into Triumph and Global Friendships
• Paul Leonard’s First Reactions and Actions in a Shark Attack
• Paul Leonard Swims Around The World With Sharks and Siblings
• Don't Be Prey website
• Don't Be Prey IMDb