The UK's leading Deaf Film & Arts Festival

May 25, 2012

Message from Deaffest’s first Patron: Richard Griffiths

Announcement of Deaffest’s first Patron: Richard Griffith

Richard Griffiths accepted the invitation to become a Patron of Deaffest in
February this year.

He would like to have been with us at Deaffest but his time is fully committed as he has just opened in The Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito at The Savoy Theatre, to rave reviews.

However, he has sent this message:
‘I am sorry that I cannot be with you for this year’s Deaffest. I was very pleased to accept the invitation to become a patron as I believe that the idea of encouraging Deaf people to make films is excellent. To my mind,since film is essentially a visual mode of expression, a Deaf film maker faces exactly the same challenges as anyone else and I would expect a film made by a Deaf person to be at least as good as anyone else’s. I am sure this is true of the films that the organisers have accepted for Deaffest this year. Please accept my good wishes for a successful festival.’

Richard Griffiths in the National Theatre’s Habit of Art, 2010

May 18, 2012

Deaffest 2012

That time of the year is upon us again; Deaffest will be here again next week!

When? Friday 25 – Sunday 27 May

Where? Light House, Wolverhampton

What’s happening at Deaffest this year?

Lots of things!

Free film screenings with films from all over the world
A 1950s theme to commemorate the Jubilee celebrations
Deaffest Fair with stalls and activities for families
A seminar for filmmakers
Young Deaffest Awards
Ben Steiner Bursary Evening with comedy acts from John Smith and dancing from Def Motion and the announcement of the Ben Steiner Bursary winner (tickets required)
Keep Calm and Carry on Signing Party with more entertainment including Visual Vernacular, dancing and burlesque (tickets required)

Download the program http://ow.ly/aZJEn or browse the Deaffest website to find out more about what’ll be happening at Deaffest.

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25, May, 2012
Message from Deaffest’s first Patron: Richard Griffiths
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18, May, 2012
Deaffest 2012

May 21, 2012

SignMedia Workshop & presentation

SignMedia will be back at Deaffest this year with presentations and workshops.

SignMedia Workshops

Saturday 26 May

10 – 11am & 2 – 3pm

Join our Presenter’s Masterclass!

Learn from the best with Louis Neethling and Clive Mason as they share their experience of presenting from both sides of the camera. Our experienced director and TV professional will also discuss the filming of the SignMedia project and give you the chance to try the learning resource yourself.

This workshop is aimed at Sign Language users who work, or want to work in the Media.

Places are limited. You can sign up at the Deaffest stand on Saturday or email geaperkins@wlv.ac.uk by 3pm on Thursday 24th May.

SignMedia Presentation

Saturday 26 May

4:30pm

SignMedia is an exciting collaboration between Deaf media professionals and teaching experts in the UK, Austria and Italy. Meet members of our Austrian and UK team as they present the challenges and opportunities of the media world in their country and discuss the potential of the SignMedia learning resource.

*This project has been funded with the support of the European Union and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education Arts and Culture (BMUKK). This publication reflects the views only of the authors and the Commission as well as the BMUKK cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”

Posted by deaffest on May 21, 2012 in News, Programme, Filmmakers.

Deaffest 1950’s style!

To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Deaffest 2012 will be celebrating in 1950’s style!

We’ve got flags and bunting, live rock and roll, stunning burlesque, even traditionally made jam and cakes! So take a step back in time with us to that golden era and commemorate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

Staff and participants will be putting on the vintage glamour (on Saturday you can get an alluring 50’s hairstyle from Deaf stylist Angelina), so join us in your best 50’s frocks girls (not forgetting that all-important frilly underskirt!) and guys – well, just do your best…

Of course it’s not compulsory to dress up but we hope you will. We look forward to seeing you in all your 1950’s chic!

Diamond Jubilee facts:

The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2 June 1953. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.

Posted by deaffest on May 16, 2012 in Uncategorized.

Ben Steiner Bursary weekend course

The next stage of the Ben Steiner Bursary is here! The participants will visit Light House this weekend to participate in the Ben Steiner Bursary weekend course.

The course will be conducted by the acclaimed Deaf director, John Maidens. The course will provide an in-depth overview of the filmmaking process. To find out more about the Ben Steiner Bursary course and John Maidens, visit our page about the Ben Steiner Bursary weekend course.

After this weekend the Ben Steiner Bursary participants will begin filming their pitches for the Ben Steiner Bursary. The winning pitch will be chosen by a judge panel consisting of Philip Bloom, Samuel Dore, Louis Neethling and Nikki Stratton. The winner will be announced on Saturday 26 May at the Ben Steiner Bursary Evening at Deaffest.

We’re looking forward to meeting all the participants and having a look at what they’ve been working on!

Posted by deaffest on April 20, 2012 in Ben Steiner Bursary, Filmmakers, News.