2022 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

In a region where most women have grown up to feel that swimming is not for them as a result of cultural sensitivities and swimwear that isn't considered appropriate, we wanted to change the perception of water as where women can feel free. The film features 4 iconic women, each known for overcoming personal and social barriers and proving that they are all more beyond the surface. We started with an anthemic poem written by Asma Elbawadi, a social activist famous for changing the rules of international basketball to allow athletes to wear hijabs. Over the poem narrated in her own voice, we see the four women embracing water and finding their freedom with adidas's new inclusive full-cover swimwear.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Driven by the belief that sport belongs to all, adidas began a movement of change to ensure that everyone had access to performance wear. The range is designed to support the needs of those who find the category offers limited choice when it comes to swimwear. The Beyond the Surface campaign, part of Watch Us Move - adidas’ broader initiative to create more space for women in sport - celebrates the power of water and its ability to defy restrictions, bring renewal and accept everyone unconditionally.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the direction. Do not name the director.

Every shot in the film is inspired by the poem written by athlete and activist Asma Elbawadi. Each phrase is visualized through four iconic women embracing the waters and using their movements to embody the feeling of freedom that swimming imbibes in everyone. From the ripples left behind by Dareen, the amputee athlete racing by, or the bubbles rising from Asma as she dives deep, the water is used as a living character in the film to make every viewer feel what the women on screen are feeling - the realization that they are more than what the world sees.