They Said I'd Never

About this Short Film

They Said I'd Never, by Mahinawa Specialist School & Resource Centre (New Zealand, 2019), looks at themes of childhood and adolescence, congenital and intellectual disability, mobility and inclusion. The film sits within school and sport contexts, and raises questions about perception and viewpoint without simplifying people or experiences. Quiet and respectful in tone, it highlights the everyday achievements and relationships that matter to young people and their communities. Presented in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival, this work complements the programme’s aim to show the abilities, experiences and contributions of people with disability, and to prompt audiences to rethink assumptions about capacity and belonging.