A Dundee mother and her autistic daughter feature in a new documentary to be screened in the city next month.
The short film, Swan, sees Scottish director Lindsay Brown follow Sami Bremner and her daughter, April, soon to turn 16, as they traverse the everyday difficulties that living with autism brings.
For April, independence seems an impossible dream because of the challenges of living with profound sensory and learning difficulties.
The film is made locally and earned a BAFTA Scotland nomination for best short film last year.
It will be shown at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) on Saturday February 18 and will also feature an in-depth discussion panel involving Sami, Lindsay Brown, producer Anne Milne, and Jasmine Miller, principal of New Struan School, which caters for pupils across the autism spectrum.
The showing is part of Scottish Encounters, DCA’s new stranAnne Milned of programming that highlights emerging Scottish screen talent.
Lindsay Brown said: “The mother-daughter relationship can be fraught with tension as much as love.
“The Bremners’ story in Swan is guaranteed to touch your heart, and I feel privileged to have been trusted into their lives to allow people to share part of their journey.
“Bringing their local story home to Dundee to be screened lets friends and family share in the onward road of not only the film, but everyone involved in it.”
Alice Black, head of cinema at DCA, said: “With Scottish Encounters, DCA plans to showcase the range of films being made today in Scotland.
“Our next event, the BAFTA nominated short documentary Swan, followed by a panel discussion on the issues around autism and education, is the perfect example of the kind of talent and commitment in the industry that we should be proudly celebrating.”
The event is free but ticketed, with donations to New Struan School welcomed on the door.