Language Of Water

Aim

This film explores the experience of sound and silence in the water through photographer Lily Bertrand Webb's experience as a surfer.

A deaf surfer. A sister's questions. And a different way of experiencing the sea.

Help us bring this intimate, six-year journey of sound, silence and sisterhood to the screen.

What does the ocean sound like when you can't hear it?

For deaf photographer and surfer Lily Bertrand Webb, the sea is experienced in a way most of us may never have considered. But it took a simple realisation from her sister, Bellaray, to open up a conversation about Lily's world that had never truly happened before.

Language Of Water is an intimate documentary about deafness, communication and our relationship with the natural world. Filmed over six years by filmmaker Joya Berrow, the film follows Lily's relationship with sound and silence, from childhood experiences to the realities of surfing and swimming, and into the profound changes of new motherhood.

Now, we're raising £5,000 to help us bring this deeply personal film across the finishing line.

A story that began with a question

Bellaray's curiosity about her sister's deafness was sparked by a simple but profound realisation: Lily surfs and swims without sound.

It was a moment that opened up a world of questions. What is the experience of being in the ocean when you cannot hear it? How does Lily understand sound, silence and the world around her? And how do we truly communicate with the people closest to us when their experiences are different from our own?

Bellaray, a writer and director, and Joya Berrow, a filmmaker, began exploring these questions with Lily. In a family of communicators, art became a way to make space for the conversations that had been waiting to happen.

What began with a question has become a film about listening differently, seeing differently and discovering how much there is to understand about one another.

Six years in the making

Joya has followed Lily's relationship with sound and silence over six years, creating a film that has been able to evolve alongside Lily's life.

Shot almost entirely on 16mm film, Language Of Water embraces a considered, tactile visual language that reflects the intimate nature of Lily's story. Only the underwater footage was shot digitally.

At the heart of the film is the relationship between image and sound. Lily, a photographer herself, reflects on how she communicates with the world:

“Maybe that is why I am a photographer… because it's how I communicate with the world.”

When asked what sound is, her response is equally revealing:

“I don't know… you tell me what sound is?”

These questions sit at the centre of the film. Rather than trying to offer easy answers, Language Of Water creates space for curiosity, vulnerability and discovery.

With an original score by CJ Mirra, the film develops its own language of sound, carrying the viewer through the emotional landscape of Lily's experience.

Why we're crowdfunding

We have been incredibly fortunate to receive support from Finisterre's Women Of The Sea Fund, which has helped make this film possible.

But we've always wanted to give this story the time, care and creative attention it deserves. Shooting on 16mm and developing an original score have been important parts of that vision.

After six years of filming, we're now working to bring everything together into the strongest film we can make.

We're raising £5,000 to help us complete the edit and bring Language Of Water across the finishing line.

This is a small, independent film made possible by the commitment of a group of women and the communities around them. Every contribution will help us take the next step towards sharing Lily's story with an audience.

Be part of the journey

Our premiere is at the London Surf Film Festival on 7 November, and we're excited to begin sharing the film with audiences.

Rewards 

We're offering a selection of rewards, including limited-edition photographic prints by Lily Bertrand Webb.

The prints above are available in three sizes, with limited editions of 10 small prints, 5 medium prints and just 3 large prints. There is also a one-off print available (see below), that is museum size and shown in the film itself!

Whether you'd like to own a piece of Lily's photographic work or simply help bring the film to life, we'd be hugely grateful for your support.

See the work in greater definition

Battery Rocks, 2026

Mousehole, 2026 

The Gorse Horizon, 2026

One off print featured in the film (Cornwall, 2020), Museum size, 72 x 48 inches

If this story resonates with you, please consider making a donation and sharing the campaign with someone who might connect with it too.

Thank you for helping us bring Language Of Water into the world.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 18th November 2026 at 7:57pm