Seattle, WA- GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE SEATTLE DEAF FILM FESTIVAL!
Eleven different, exciting, and inspiring programs, including five feature-length films, will
be shown at the Seattle Deaf Film Festival, beginning Friday, March 30th, and ending
Sunday, April 1st, 2012, at Kane Hall 120 on the University of Washington campus. It is
the first film festival of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Films are accessible to both deaf
and hearing persons, all subtitled in English.
The festival, presented by Deaf Spotlight, an organization that focuses on Deaf culture,
cinema, performing arts, and visual arts in the Pacific Northwest, promises a full
weekend of films on, about, and for the Deaf community, including feature length and short
films in a variety of categories.
AUDISM UNVEILED opens the Festival at 7 PM, Friday, March 30th and portrays the real
life experiences of Deaf people, from a variety of social, racial, and educational
backgrounds, showing how audism does lasting and harmful damage to the Deaf
community. The film will be followed by a panel discussion on audism.
DINIG SANA KITA (IF I KNEW WHAT YOU SAID), 9 PM Friday, March 30th dramatizes
the story of a deaf dancer meeting a troubled hearing rocker chick in a camp for deaf
and hearing teens. There they find they have more in common with each other than not,
including a love for music. This film will be followed by a reception celebrating the
opening of the festival.
During the ANIMATION shorts, 11 AM, Saturday March 31st, you’ll meet a fascinating
new world created by Deaf animators; a world filled with rich characters from South
Africa to the United States. You will cry at the Moon, laugh with mice, understand the
leaf, and get lost with a lovable alien.
At the COMEDY shorts, 1 PM, Saturday, March 31st, you’ll find the twists and turns of life
in the humor rising out of your heart as you laugh along with these zany characters
created by Deaf minds in these comedy sketches.
THE HAMMER, 3 PM, Saturday, March 31st, is a coming of age drama inspired by the
life of deaf UFC fighter, Matt Hamill, and tells the story of what it takes to be a
champion, on and off the mat. Through sheer determination, he uses his ‘perceived’
disability as an asset, and becomes not only the first deaf wrestler to win a National
Collegiate Championship, but an inspirational force to both hearing and deaf alike.
The struggle of transgendered persons who are Deaf will be screened at PRISM, 5 PM,
Saturday, March 3rd, following the trajectories of two different persons as they seek their
true identities through brave decisions and incredible support from their friends and
families. PRISM will be followed by a panel discussion.
SILENCED, 8 PM, Saturday, March 31st, is a film about the sexual and physical abuse at
a school for the deaf in South Korea. Also known as DOGANI, the film dramatizes a true
story of a teacher of the deaf who uncovers a huge secret that no one will address, and
his attempts to save these children.
Rebel, resist, survive, and come to an understanding in POINTS OF VIEW shorts, 1PM,
Sunday, April 1st, with these extraordinary Deaf persons as they describe themselves as
Deaf persons living in a hearing society.
Feel the wonder and fear in SUSPENSE/DRAMA shorts, 3 PM, Sunday, April 1st as the
intense and witty plots make you think twice about who is safe and where the next
haunt may come from.
Through narratives and flashbacks in SURVIVING THE HOLOCAUST, 5 PM, Sunday,
April 1st, Deaf survivors of the Holocaust share their experiences.
The final film, HEART OF THE HYDROGEN JUKEBOX, 7 PM, Sunday, April 1st, is
followed by a closing night reception. The historical documentary follows the flourishing
of ASL Poetry as a result of a new deaf community in Rochester, NY, and features such
ASL poetry and storytelling luminaries as Ella Lentz, Peter Cook, Pat Graybill, Clayton
Valli, Dot Miles and others.
Sponsors of the Seattle Deaf Film Festival include Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural
Affairs, the University of Washington Department of Linguistics, AccessComputing,
Office of Diversity & Minority Affairs, Association of Disabled Students, and Q Center;
Sprint, ZVRS, ADWAS, Stranger Ticketing, Northwest Network, Reel Grrls and Three
Dollar Bill Cinema.
More information on ticketing, schedule, and details are available at