“Can’t You See?” Enters Post-Production — A Groundbreaking Documentary Challenging Society’s Blind Spot on Accessibility
[Durban, South Africa] – The short documentary Can’t You See?, directed by Nokwanda Sithole and co-written by Nokwanda Sithole and Shakila Maharaj, has officially entered post-production. The 10-minute social impact film confronts society’s visual bias and makes a compelling case for Audio Description (AD) as a fundamental human right.
Seen through the lived experience of pioneering accessibility advocate Shakila Maharaj, the film challenges long-held assumptions about blindness while exposing the systemic exclusion faced by blind and visually impaired communities in an increasingly digital and visual world.
Tagline: Through the Mind’s Eye
A Documentary With Urgency and Heart
Can’t You See? asks a bold and necessary question:
Can society claim to be inclusive if it continues to ignore the access needs of blind people?
Blending personal biography, activist narrative, and innovation story, the film combines experiential soundscapes, poetic visuals, vérité footage, reenactments, and stylized sequences to immerse audiences in a perspective rarely centered on screen.
At its core, the documentary delivers a powerful message:
Audio Description is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
From Personal Experience to Global Impact
The film traces Shakila Maharaj’s journey from navigating inaccessible digital spaces during COVID-19 lockdown to becoming a leading force in accessibility advocacy. A Columbia University graduate, founder of DAISY South Africa, and pioneer in Inclusive Tourism and assistive technology innovation, Maharaj has transformed personal experience into systemic change.
Through initiatives such as AD movie clubs, accessible broadcasting efforts, and the development of inclusive digital platforms, her work has redefined what participation and representation mean for blind communities.
“They said there was no space for us. I created one.”
Now in Post-Production
With principal photography complete, the film is currently in the editing phase, where its layered narrative is being shaped and refined.
