ShAFF: Wild Swim & Water Films 2 U

For wild swimmers and outdoor plungers, the second of two sessions showing the best new water-based adventure films from around the world.

1. Plunge 8 minutes

   Plunge tells the story of Katie who found empowerment, friendship, and healing by plunging into frigid waters of the sea. As her voice relates to us the physical and mental struggles that have plagued her for decades, her animated form darts confidently through kelp forests on the ocean floor. She tells us about her strong community and the tremendous physical benefits of cold-water swimming. Through Katie’s story this beautiful, animated film addresses themes of isolation, connection, mental health & wellbeing and empowerment.

2. Untethered 80 minutes

   Melanie Barratt, a gold-medal winning Paralympian, swims tethered to an elastic bungee in a small pool on her own. But, after 20 years of fitting personal goals around motherhood, new ambitions are burning - she’s desperate to try open-water swimming. Being blind, the only way to do this is to ask for help, but asking for help is a complex and often controversial issue for disabled people. Melanie has always hidden her disability because of social stigma and internalised ableism, but the lure of new adventures is greater than the shame she feels. What happens next surpasses all expectations as she not only finds community, but also an increasing pride in her identity as a disabled woman. With the support of her ‘Ironfish’ friends, she not only learns to swim in open water but enters the record books by becoming the first blind woman to swim the English Channel.

   Note that this session will screen in accessible formats for d/Deaf and blind/partially sighted audiences. Films will have Audio Description (with film audio) playing through the cinema sound system and open captions on screen.