Interpretation

In this engaging documentary, filmmaker MJ Kiego interviews Deaf parents of CODA children, who describe their feelings towards dealing with the barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds while trying to parent. This unique and often underrepresented perspective on the CODA experience is both enlightening and refreshing.

As an important pioneer in the movement for Deaf rights in France, Jacques Sangla was responsible for ushering in a new era of access for the French Deaf community by advocating for sign language, equal access and television programming for the Deaf. His filmmaker daughter Audrey examines his legacy in this engaging portrait of one of France’s most important figures in modern Deaf history.

The large Sedláček and Půlpán family in the Czech Republic consists of two amicably divorced Deaf parents and their hearing children, known as CODAs. Focusing on their 16-year-old daughter Jolanka, this insightful documentary presents a fresh perspective from a modern family in central Europe.

5-year-old CODA Amanda is a precocious child who is celebrating her birthday with a family dinner. When her Deaf parents start arguing, however, she has had enough. Short and sweet, this cheeky short packs a good punchline.

Aubrey brings her girlfriend Kat to meet her family for the first time at an intimate family dinner and is met with hostile disapproval. During the evening, tensions rise, and the toxic dynamic reaches a breaking point.

Raina, once the only Deaf and Disabled person in her film school, reconnects with her ex-boyfriend and former college Teaching Assistant, Sebastian, and soon it becomes clear the ways in which ableism had a hand in their relationship’s trajectory. Writer/Director Darian Slattery shines as Raina in this unique story that challenges expectations surrounding disability representation with humor and insight.

Following the loss of his fiancé, Jason struggles to process his haunted emotions. This touching drama takes a creative approach to remind us that grief is different for everyone and that real love is never forgotten.

When a long-distance relationship is put to the test, cracks begin to show. This thought-provoking short explores the complexities of toxic relationships in the modern world of technology.

Set in 1986, this riveting drama centers on Jeremih, a Deaf black painter who must navigate a tense racially charged confrontation with police on the very night his art is being celebrated. Filmmaker Chantay Taylor’s storytelling aims to rewrite the narrative of how black men are seen in history (and on-screen) and illustrate that there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to a diverse community and their art.

This beautifully crafted documentary short paints a vivid portrait of Ruaridh Lever-Hogg, a Deaf artist from the Scottish Highlands. As Lever-Hogg describes his creative process and personal background, we gain a better understanding of how his Scottish Highlands identity has informed his work.

Deaf British actor/performer David Ellington performs his powerful poem “Liberty” that draws on visual vernacular, sign mime and BSL to explore topics of equality, freedom, division and unity. Ellington’s commanding presence takes center stage, bringing life to his compelling original work.

Kitty O’Neil (1946-2018) was a racecar driver, stunt legend, and daredevil. Known as “the fastest woman in the world,” O’Neil broke the land speed record in 1976. The first woman to join with Stunts Unlimited, the leading stunt agency in Hollywood, O’Neil was also a stunt double for the iconic stars of both The Bionic Woman (Lindsay Wagner) and Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) on television. And she also happened to be Deaf.

A Deaf woman scientist is experimenting with quantum physics in her lab on New Year’s Eve 1987. When she discovers a portal through time and space, she decides to use her scientific powers in unexpected ways. This funny and unique story from filmmaker Paul Sprangers is a delightful surprise.

Futsal is a variation of soccer played mainly indoors on a hardcourt, and Lucindha Lawson recently made history as the first Deaf Asian woman to win gold for England in the European Women’s Deaf Futsal Championship. In this conversation with Deaf TV host Deepa Shastri, Lawson discusses how she navigated a difficult childhood to become the thriving athlete she is today.

Through examining Fini Straubinger, an old woman who has been deaf and blind since her teens, and her work on behalf of other deaf-blind people, this film shows how the deaf-blind struggle to understand and accept a world from which they are almost wholly isolated.

Neapolitan Hard of Hearing filmmaker Rosario Liotta explores how the Deaf community in Italy has mobilized against the outdated terms of “deaf-mute” and “deaf and dumb.” Both creative and informative, this impactful film reminds us that words matter, and change is possible.

This powerful narrative drama centers on Patrick, a Deaf man who has been incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital for 36 years after being wrongly diagnosed as a schizophrenic. With the help of a Deaf social worker who understands his dilemma, Patrick appeals for his release.

Three different storylines are skillfully woven together offering three unique perspectives on the Deaf experience: a young Deaf woman struggles to connect with her hearing boyfriend; a Deaf man has an argument with his mother, complicated by an interpreter who wants to take sides; and a Deaf woman encounters barriers during a job interview despite her excellent qualifications. This nuanced film based on real-life experiences challenges viewers to think and engage in meaningful discussion.

The filmmaker, a Deaf Muslim woman, recounts the communication barriers she faced while giving birth to her second child in a hospital during the COVID crisis. Sahera’s story is an impactful lesson on the importance of access within the healthcare system.

Deaf Australian man Barry Priori was a thriving teacher, adventurer and tireless advocate for sign language and Deaf culture throughout his life. Having experienced oppression and language deprivation from his hearing family, Priori made it his mission to empower his fellow Aussie Deaf community and educate the world around him.