Girls on Fire (Sancta Maria College, New Zealand, 2023) is a short film that explores the friendships, learning and small victories of teenagers navigating school life while living with intellectual or congenital disability. Rather than presenting a single story, it offers glimpses of group moments, hobbies and the nervous excitement that comes with new challenges. The result is a warm, respectful portrait of motivation, achievement and the power of peer support. Screened in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, Girls on Fire complements the programme by highlighting young creators and participants whose abilities and everyday experiences deserve to be seen and celebrated.
Anne is my best friend. Maddie is my best friend. We met in primary in 2011. We've been friends ever since. I think my friendship with Anne builds me up and lifts my confidence. We help each other try out new things. Today we're going to try something new. I've never done a fire dance before but we wrote some feelings down in our diaries. Dear diary, today I am feeling both excited and nervous because the drama will be fun. That is why I am feeling excited. I am feeling nervous because I will hurt myself with the fire. I am happy and excited because it is something new. I am nervous because I don't know what is going to happen. What are some of your guys' hobbies? I like musicals, different types of TV shows and movies and musicals and also I like history. I like watching movies and I like doing like games and having fun with sports. Try and keep it there. How still can you be? That's it. Try and be so still it doesn't move at all. It's important to be strong and fast. If you can't focus, you can't control yourself. Go! Make sure it's a straight leg. Up and back. When you lift your foot make sure it's a straight leg. Up and back. Don't let it go. That's it. Let's do it again. together. Awesome. You can go down. That's easy. You'll be on the bottom of the bed. One hand in front of you. This hand is like the front of the tree. It doesn't go to the back. It goes down to the bottom of the group. How high did you go? I don't know. Watch out. Watch out. Watch out. Watch out. Oh my God. I hit him. How did you guys feel after the fire dancing on Wednesday? Um, we really had fun and we enjoyed the dancing. I was nervous but we did it together. It makes life a lot easier. Keep an eye on Mika. Don't place it down or it's going to burn your hand. Wait. Go.
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Girls on Fire
by Sancta Maria College - SCHOOL DOCUMENTARIES
