FILM director Peter Cannon never broke six swimming world records or donned the red and yellow lifesaving uniform.

He never felt the odds against him while battling Down Syndrome to achieve these accolades.

But this inspiring true story will be the Wyndham Vale director’s feature film debut.

Peter said the project started about 18 months ago with a script loosely based around surfing.

This changed after he met Ty Belnap at the Australian Down Syndrome Association.

Ty is a lifesaver at the Mooloolaba Surf Club on the Sunshine Coast.

He has a haul of medals from the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships but he was looking for another challenge.

Peter said the talented young man was keen to act in a film as he had performed on the stage before.

He joked that there was no-one else more suited for the lead role.

The director said he hoped the movie would educate people and help dispel some of the myths that accompany the chromosome disorder.

“People with Down Syndrome are often misunderstood and treated as if they are incapable and disabled, when they are in fact truly extraordinary people who make a wonderful contribution to society,” Peter said.

“Guaranteed to have the audience laughing and crying, the movie shows not only the problems and cruel ignorance he faces on a day to day basis, but also the way he touches people’s lives.”

The 30-day shoot on the Sunshine Coast will start on 10 April.

“Just Like U” will boast an all-Australian cast including Tania Zaetta, Julie Dickson, Nicholas G. Cooper, Ian Westley and Ozzie Devrish.

Peter is aiming to have the 100-minute film premiere at the Cannes or Sundance film festival.