News / television
Netflix commissions documentary about aspiring Bristol Paralympian
A documentary about a Bristol horse rider’s goal to compete for Team GB in the 2024 Paralympics has been funded by Netflix.
Tegan Vincent-Cooke is a Black woman with cerebral palsy and dystonia from Fishponds, whose story will be told by Ngaio Anyia and Aodh Breathnach.
Anyia and Breathnach are among ten winning filmmaking teams awarded Netflix’s inaugural UK Documentary Talent Fund.
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The fund supports emerging documentary filmmakers, with each team receive up to £40,000 to create a documentary short film.
A mentorship programme will provide access to a network of industry figures, with the final films shown across Netflix’s social channels with the potential for further development in the future.
“For me, this story has so much wrapped up inside it but the key themes are control and identity,” Anyia told Bristol24/7.
“Anyone from a marginalised background knows society tries to tell you who you are on a daily basis – where you belong, how you should live, what you can achieve.
“Anyone from a ‘diverse’ background knows what it is to have your voice taken away, your experiences questioned and minimised. It is not easy to feel confident in a society that tells you you are less than.
“Tegan is a disabled, gay, Black woman from a lower socioeconomic background putting herself in a sport and a community that was not built for her.
“The strength it takes for her to not only go into those spaces but excel in them is remarkable – but it shouldn’t be.
“This story is important to tell not only because it raises awareness of just how hard Tegan has to work to get on the same starting line as her peers but also the resilience it takes for her to keep control of her own identity and be seen for who she is, not who others decide she is allowed to be.
“I never thought I’d have a chance to try my hand at directing something of this scale, and I’m excited to begin a new adventure.
“I’m very thankful to Netflix for the opportunity, and can’t wait to work with my producer and close friend Aodh Breathnach to bring Tegan’s incredible story to people’s screens.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPXvjq2jVYs/
Kate Townsend, director, original documentaries at Netflix, added: “We were so impressed with the richness of applications received and the originality demonstrated across the board, and want to extend our congratulations to this year’s deserved winning teams.
“It’s such an exciting glimpse into the future talent of UK documentarians and we look forward to collaborating together to empower each team to fulfil the potential of documentary filmmaking.”
Main photo: Netflix UK
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