Format: 90 minute documentary, 2D animation

​

Logline: A filmmaker, fixated on psychology, starts making an animated documentary about the autistic experience, but almost immediately his ethics and intentions are challenged by the autistic interviewees. Together, they re-conceive the film as a collaborative exploration of neurodiversity, which forces him to confront the shame of his schizoaffective diagnosis.

​

Why it matters: The Neurodiversity Movement is in a similar position to Gay Pride in the 1970s, when activists fought for their identities to be accepted and respected rather than pathologized and “cured”. Many autistic activists have no desire to “cure” their autism, and say their suffering stems from prejudice and lack of understanding. As activists fight to stop therapies they compare to torture, and block research aimed at eradicating new generations of their peers, they are building community among autistic individuals and saving lives through suicide prevention. The Neurodiversity movement understands autism, ADHD, bipolarity and many other conditions as natural variations among humans that should be accepted and celebrated. Taking inspiration from biodiversity, the core argument for neurodiversity is that it is good for humanity, because it would be bad if we all thought the same. Our species is most adaptable and inventive when we have different types of brains confronting the world's problems. There is an urgent demand for a film that can share this vital perspective with as broad an audience as possible.

​

Synopsis: Alex, an animator with a history of psychosis and schizoaffective disorder, sets off to make a film about autism – a condition he knows very little about. Determined to move beyond the "medical model" of disability, he recruits a diverse group of autistic collaborators and sets about visualizing their internal worlds. These range from Georgia, who views her alienation through a surreal, Lynchian lens, to Sumita, whose mindscape is a chaotic jumble. However, the production fractures when Caroline, an autistic community organizer, challenges Alex’s right to tell this story. She accuses him of replicating the kind of extractive exploitation he sought to avoid. The documentary deconstructs itself, shifting from an observation of autism to a "making-of" meta-narrative about the ethics of representation. As Alex cedes editorial control to his subjects, they turn the lens on him, forcing him to confront his own neurodivergence. Divergent Minds is not just a film about autism; it is a visual manifesto for the Neurodiversity Movement. They collaborate on a method to depict invisible mental phenomena in animation–sensory differences, the double empathy problem, and the beauty of divergent thinking. The film reaches far beyond "raising awareness" toward radical acceptance and joyful celebration.

​

Why this film will succeed: Neurodiversity entered the zeitgeist in recent years as better public awareness led people to recognise autistic and ADHD traits in themselves, their loved ones, and their communities. While about 1 in 50 people are autistic, when each subgroup is added together, about 25% of the world population qualify as neurodivergent. Each of these individuals would personally benefit from the work of the Neurodiversity Movement, while their friends and family would do well to learn more about it. Just as Crip Camp highlighted Disability Rights, Divergent Minds will introduce the Neurodiversity Movement to a wider audience. Moreover, by making this film ethically, we can ensure that neurodiversity activists and influencers, who have incredible follower numbers, can confidently stand behind this film.