Power of The Current - Short Doc Film

SEE TRAILER

Following the intriguing and brilliant Sofia Brizio on the highs and lows of what could be her final year as an amateur para-swimmer.

Join us as we get a glimpse into the world of Italian Amateur Para-swimming and tackle topics from disability discrimination to Identity and belonging.

We aim to have the film ready for Screenings and film festivals by September.

Discover the Power and Grit behind Italian Amateur Para-Swimming through the lens of amateur national gold-medallist, Sofia Brizio.

Uncover how the sport can Transform a life, the nuances of disability discrimination in Italy, and a compelling love of the water.

Due to prejudice towards her cerebral palsy Sofia moved to the UK for better opportunities, but her passion for swimming makes her return back to Italy every season to compete. With a hole in her left lung and a worsening condition she fears that this may be her last competitive year but she is determined to break her own records and to continue going against the current.

Learn more on our website: Power Of The Current Website

SWIMMING, SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS

Sofia was born with Spastic Diplegia, a form of Cerebral Palsy that impacts her coordination and motion. The congenital neurodevelopmental disability has left her with limited movement from the waist down, difficulty walking and damage to her left lung, but despite it all she goes against the current and swims.

Sofia has been competing at a national level with her local team in Italy since 2010, winning over 6 gold medals, 5 silver and 4 bronze.

The passionate 26-year-old has left her life in Italy to start anew in Wales. Settling in Cardiff, Sofia has found independence and a new career. However, the move has taken her away from her swimming team and where she normally trains, but she is determined not to leave the water.

We join Sofia as she restarts her para-swimming passion in Wales with the guidance of Welsh Para-Swimmers and goes on a journey of discovery and reflection on the transformative power that the current has had on her life and the lives of other para-swimmers.

Through archive of Sofia’s swimming competitions, showcasing her swims from childhood to the current day, actuality of her home in Bergamo to her life in the UK, and Master interviews with Sofia, her family, Italian and Welsh Para-swimmers, we learn the stories and experiences of Sofia and other Para-swimmers who found their power in the current.

This film will highlight a powerful story of overcoming struggle and finding passion, emphasising the need for sport and its impact on mental and physical health and well-being.

THE TEAM

Alexia Barrett - PRODUCER/CO-DIRECTOR

Anna Fumagalli - CAMERA OPERATOR/ CO-DIRECTOR

Sofia Brizio - TALENT 

Matt Clark - EDITOR

Duncan Birnie - CAMERA OPERATOR

Kaitlin Brock - ARCHIVE/EDIT ASSISTANT

Georgina Bobb - CO-PRO & PRODUCTION MANAGER https://boldbrave.productions/

Caterina Giovanetti - UNDERWATER CAMERA

Jenny Lord - SAFETY SUPERVISOR

Juanee Scott - RUNNER

Luke Crichton - MUSIC

FORMAT & STRUCTURE

THE FILM IS SPLIT INTO THREE MAIN PARTS 

1) SOFIA'S STORY

Sofia started swimming at 2 years old, after being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Through archive material, we see Sofia's childhood, her Parents show us photo albums from their picturesque home in the village of Bergamo and explain her diagnosis and how the swimming started. Despite the support of her parents and the sport, Sofia explains in her interview that she faced discrimination for her disability, discrimination that led her to leave Italy... “I didn’t see a future for myself there”. We see Sofia in her new life in Wales, hanging with her friends and then at her new job as a Teaching Associate. In her spare time, Sofia goes to the pool to swim. Determined not to lose her swimming roots she is training to go back to Italy to compete in her potentially last season.

2) THE POWER OF SWIMMING

Through UGC and filming at her competitions we see Sofia returning back to Italy and competing in her last Italian national para-swimming season. In-between these competitions Sofia is in Wales training with notes from her coach and an intense desire to better herself. Whether it is raining or snowing, no matter what Sofia is at her local pool training, but it is taking a toll. Juggling her career and her dream is difficult, the stress of teaching and failing her PHD application are just a few life events that take a toll on Sofia.

As Sofia competes in this national season, the tension is high. Can she make the goals that she has set for herself or leave her last season with disappointment? Through interviews with Sofia, Family, Friends and coaches we learn about disability discrimination in Italy and the power and grit it takes to be an amateur and compete. With archive of articles and an interview with a disability discrimination expert we view the dark implications of lack of access and infrastructure and how that is affecting the success and future of Italian para-athletes.

3) SOFIA'S NEXT STEPS

With some final farewells to her Italian team we see Sofia return to Wales continuing her life and make a final decision on whether this will really be the end of her para-swimming career or if there is some fight left in her for another go.

INTERVIEWEES and ACCESS

We have full access to Sofia Brizio and her Family including her first coach, Gloria and her Italian Para-Swimming Team members and her friends in Cardiff.

We are looking for an Italian Disability Discrimination expert to interview.

FILMING TECHNIQUES/KIT

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