I am incredibly excited and honoured to share that ThisAbility has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards!
ThisAbility has been recognised in the Disability Representation – Scripted Feature category, alongside other creators and productions who are using film and television to champion greater diversity, inclusion and representation.
The Inclusive Lens Awards (ILA) celebrate creators, storytellers and productions that are making a meaningful contribution to diversity and inclusion across the film and television industry, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ visibility, disability inclusion and meaningful diversity in children’s content.
To have ThisAbility recognised in this space means so much to me.
When I created ThisAbility, my hope was always to tell a story that would allow audiences to see disability through a different lens. As a Deaf actor and filmmaker, I know how powerful authentic representation can be — not simply seeing a disabled character on screen, but seeing disabled people given the opportunity to tell their own stories, take up space and be represented as fully human.
Being named a finalist feels like a wonderful acknowledgement of that journey.
There is also something quite surreal about receiving this news now that I am living in the United States.
ThisAbility was created in South Africa, and so much of my creative journey has been rooted there. To see the film continuing to receive recognition internationally, even while I am now living on the other side of the world, is incredibly special.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the awards ceremony in person, as I now live in the US. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, 29 October 2026, at the CTICC 2 in Cape Town, during FAME Week Africa.
Although I would absolutely have loved to be there in person, I will be celebrating from afar — and I am incredibly grateful that ThisAbility will be there representing the work and the message behind the film.
The 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards finalists are now live on the FAME Week Africa website, and I am so proud to see ThisAbility included among them.
Being a finalist is an honour in itself, and I want to take a moment to celebrate everyone who helped bring ThisAbility to life. Films like this are never created by one person alone. Every person who believed in the story, contributed their talent, supported the production, or helped amplify its message has been part of this journey.
Thank you to the Inclusive Lens Awards for recognising ThisAbility and for creating space to celebrate disability representation and inclusive storytelling.
Whatever happens on the night, I am already incredibly proud.
ThisAbility is a finalist. And that is something worth celebrating.
