salt

“Salt” is an intimate and artistic exploration of the role that sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as salt has played throughout filmmaker’s Alice Ward’s life.

“Sodium chloride is vital for all life. It is the primary salt in seawater and an essential component within our bodies. From her mother noticing her skin was unusually salty at birth which led to a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis to Alice becoming the first woman in Ireland to start shooting in the water to capture surfing from a female perspective. “SALT” is an artful portrayal of the primal relationship with salt that has profoundly influenced Alice in her personal and professional life.

Salt was the 2024 winner of the Finisterre x LSFF “Women of the Sea Film Fund”. The pitch was selected from a shortlist of 50 films from around the globe.It was also supported by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.

Salt runs for 12 minutes, bringing together hundreds of hand-printed cyanotypes in a beautiful animation, combined with stunning cinematography and stirring narration and interviews.

It explores themes of empowerment, motivation, and intuition, offering a compelling insight into the lives of people with chronic and lifelong illnesses.

‘Salt’ has already garnered attention winning ‘Best International Short’ at the London Surf Film Festival and ‘Best Film’ the Irish Surf Film Festival in November 2024.

Directors Statement

Born in Dublin on the 15th July 1995. One of the first things my mother noticed was how salty my skin was. Little did she know that this was a tale tell sign for Cystic Fibrosis. Even though she flagged it with the doctors it took seven months for them to diagnose me with Cystic Fibrosis and during that time I was not expected to live. CF is a life threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. It’s caused by a faulty gene that affects the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. From the moment I was born salt has played an integral role in my life.

Despite being an extremely sick child where a lot of my life revolved around daily medication routines and long hospital stays, I had a very happy childhood surrounded by nature and the great outdoors. During my teen years I found myself becoming enthralled by both surfing and filmmaking. From there my intertwining journey of filmmaking and the ocean began.

I am now an award winning filmmaker who became the first woman in Ireland to start swimming out to shoot surf from the water. I have been driven by the need to share stories of other women and their innate relationships with the ocean from a cold water context.

I was compelled to create this film for three significant reasons. Firstly, I want to demonstrate to individuals grappling with serious illnesses that their conditions need not always dictate their lives, and they possess capabilities beyond their doctors prognoses.

Secondly, I aim to illustrate the positive impact that immersing myself in the ocean has had on my health.I surf and swim with my camera all year around, embracing the harsh Irish winters and cold water. It has made me tough and resilient, both mentally and physically. The ocean has become one of my most important medicines.

Lastly, I am motivated to empower women to embrace the role of storyteller behind the lens.My journey into surf filmmaking was propelled by the lack of female representation in the Irish surf scene.

I hope that ‘Salt’ inspires and empowers anyone who might be in a similar position to me.