I See You

The scouts

Gattaca-lite designer-baby premise around accepting a daughter with Down syndrome — a subtle sci-fi wrapper on what is essentially an advocacy short. Well-meant, predictable, the kind of New Zealand Film Commission film I check off rather than savor.

A subtle Gattaca premise framing an intimate Down syndrome family drama, with the New Zealand Film Commission backing, is a graceful use of speculative fiction to clarify rather than displace the present. Susannah-Grace Sherriff's casting (an actress with Down syndrome herself, I'd infer) suggests the right ethical instincts.

Seventeen minutes of subtle sci-fi where the designer-baby premise stays in the background and the actual encounter is just a grocery store moment — that restraint is the move. Casting Anne March (likely the director's own family) alongside Susannah-Grace Sherriff for the daughter-with-Down-syndrome role gives the film its specific weight.

Reviews

I See You doesn't attempt to reinvent the filmmaking playbook. Instead, it adopts a relatively traditional approach that keeps the focus squarely on the performances and emotional journey of the characters. The result is a deeply moving short that ultimately delivers a clear and heartfelt message.

Emotionally powerful and visually striking yet intimate, with award-winning cinematography and a core message questioning how we, as a society, define worth — reminding audiences that imperfection is not failure, it's humanity.

Festivals

• Australian Women's Film Festival 2024, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Audience Award
• Whanau Marama: NZ International Film Festival 2024, Finalist
• Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025, Audience Award
• Newport Beach Film Festival
• Naples International Film Festival