Beneath the Surface

A world champion swimmer reveals the hidden truth driving her success, while preparing for her next challenge, the Commonwealth Games. 

We need your support to tell this story on Loading Docs’ award-winning short documentary platform. 

We want to inspire and challenge audiences with this young athlete’s remarkable untold story. 

THE FILM 

The victim of a hit-and-run and feeling alienated because of her culture, Tupou Neiufi has every reason to be angry. Deep in the pool she harnesses that emotion to prove herself on the world stage. She is defying the odds but the battle for equality continues.

Tupou made her Paralympic debut at just 15 years old, and won gold in backstroke in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Now she wants to prove her success wasn’t a one-off, as she throws everything at training for the Commonwealth Games. 

Beneath the surface, Tupou escapes into another world. Now, she is ready to speak out about just how much she has overcome to be a world champion. This is a story about the power of sport to break down barriers. But it will question whether those barriers should exist in the first place. 

Tupou’s story will inspire you, but challenge you as well. Join us by donating to this compelling short documentary.

THE TEAM 

Director Gill Higgins has been a television journalist for 25 years, working for the BBC, TVNZ and Greenstone TV. She is joined by co-producers Vea Mafile’o, an award-winning filmmaker and founding member of PISA (Pacific Island Screen Artists), and Sarah (Cess) Stewart, an experienced TV journalist and communications specialist. 

The team shares a strong passion for authentic storytelling that empowers marginalised voices. We are excited to be supporting Tupou to tell her story. 

THE TARGET 

As part of the Loading Docs initiative, we need to raise a minimum of $3,500 through Boosted - but we want to more than double that amount. We want to do justice to Tupou’s story, by spending as much time filming with her as possible, and using beautiful underwater and drone footage, which is expensive!

Once we reach our minimum target, it will unlock funding from Loading Docs. But, this is an all or nothing campaign. If we don’t reach our target, we get nothing! That’s why we need your help. 

Loading Docs is an award-winning short documentary initiative to develop New Zealand filmmaking talent. Loading Docs is funded by NZ On Air with support from NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho. 

Thank you for your support. 

Mālō 'aupito

Gill, Vea and Cess 

THE FILMMAKERS

Gill Higgins - director - is passionate about telling stories that might change how people think. She’s worked with the BBC, TVNZ and Greenstone TV, in news and long-form current affairs. She also spends a lot of time on the sports pitch, as a keen player, coach and helping to provide opportunities for children of all abilities. She’s excited to work on a project that tests how the power of sport might help create a better society. 

Vea Mafile'o - producer - is a mother of 3 boys, based in South Auckland. A freelance award-winning Director/Producer, she has filmed extensively throughout the Pacific and worked in the Film & TV industry for over 20 years. Founding member of PISA (Pacific Island Screen Artists), she is passionate about Moana Pasifika storytelling, the arts, nurturing Pasifika digital creators and empowering the marginalised voices in her community, seeking systemic change and equality.

Sarah (Cess) - producer - is happiest telling people stories that open a door to a different world and allow you to walk in someone else’s shoes. She is the media advisor for the charity KidsCan, where the stories she unearths shine a light on inequality in society, and inspire people to support children in hardship. She has two decades’ experience as a TV reporter and producer in New Zealand and the UK.

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Special thanks to Jeremiah Tauamiti for editing the crowdfunding video and to Raymond Sagapolutele for taking the photographic portrait of Tupou Neiufi.