I was so young, I did not really understand any of it.
I feel sad that they would do that to a child.
Family photo.jpg
 

Return From ISIS


A powerful film about one family’s traumatic odyssey.
— THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - Pick of WHAT TO WATCH

The extraordinary story of one family's journey from a small town in America to the heart of the Islamic State group and back.

Filmed over the last four years, journalist Josh Baker investigates the story of Samantha Sally. After arriving in Syria her husband became an ISIS sniper and her young son Matthew, was forced to take part in an infamous propaganda video. Samantha Sally, who is now in prison, describes her life with the terror group and the part she played in buying sex slaves. Her son Matthew, now 13, says he thought he’d never see America again. 


Produced and Directed by Joshua Baker

Senior Produced by Dan Edge and Leo Telling

Edited by Laurence Williamson

Head of Production: Belinda Morrison

Production Manager: Pip Lacey and Ulrike Pflanz

Music by Andrew Phillips

Executive Producers for the BBC: Karen Wightman

Executive Producer for PBS Frontline: Raney Aronson-Rath

Editor for BBC: Rachel Jupp

Managing Editor for PBS Frontline: Andrew Metz


A Mongoose Pictures film for BBC Panorama and FRONTLINE PBS

Won Rory Peck Impact Award for Current Affairs 2021

Nominated for a Grierson Award 2021

Nominated for Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Documentary 2021

Nominated for FPA for TV Documentary Story of the Year 2020

Nominated for aN RTS Television Journalism Award 2022