Deaffest will be returning in 2022, we will be announcing the dates in the near future.
Meanwhile, film submission is now open for Deaffest 2022!
Next stop is Warwick Arts Centre on Saturday 30th October 2021.
Doors open 10am, Day time fee is £5 (16 years and under free) and there will be a variety of events happening throughout the day, including film screenings such as RTS Nominee CBBC Snaps: ‘FreeStyle’. Following this, there will be a Q and A session with the talented Deaf 14-year-old Jasmine Wilkins, who wrote and featured in her own monologue ‘Freestyle’ along with production teams Threewise Entertainment, Bursteardrum & Zebra Uno Ltd.
BSL Zone proudly presents the premiere of ‘This is Deaf: LGBTQIA+ Life’ and Deaffest is working in partnership with MASSIVE to screen BAFTA & Oscar Award winning feature film ’Sound Of Metal’.
“MASSIVE is the place where youth culture and cinema collide. Their mission is to give young audiences the chance to see some of the most exciting films of the year before anyone else, celebrating British filmmaking talent in front of and behind the camera.” – MASSIVE
Tickets are FREE for this screening, but places are limited so tickets coming soon.
There will be workshops where you can acquire new skills. These will be on a first come first serve basis and bookings can be made at Warwick Arts Centre reception on the day.
Further details about the workshops and film programme will be released soon – keep following us on social media!
The weekend of the 17th September, 2021 saw the return of our Cornwall Mini Deaffest for its 2nd festival at Cornwall College, St. Austell.
We kicked off on Friday with an informal social gathering in Charlestown.
On Saturday, at Cornwall College we had stalls, children’s activities and workshops delivered by Devon & Cornwall Police and John Smith & Donna Mullings. We also had a tombola event along with 5 film screenings.
Devon & Cornwall Police, who sponsored the event, kindly brought along a Lotus police car, motorcycle and a working police car for us to try out. Not only that, but we had the opportunity to sit in a fire engine, lucky for us there were no fires in the vicinity! We are very grateful for their precious time and continued support.
Councillor Andrea Lanxon, St. Austell’s Deputy Mayor spent time browsing and gave a presentation before the film screenings. As St. Austell’s Mayor, Councillor Richard Pears could not physically attend the festival he still found time within his busy schedule to send us a video message, we are always so grateful for both of their support and guidance.
Cornwall Mini Deaffest focuses on showcasing arts and films for the Cornish Deaf and hard of hearing community arranged and hosted by Cornish Deaf and hard of hearing people. It is a place for everyone to come together and enjoy themselves and to show those new to the Deaf world that we have such a rich community.
Evening entertainment took place at the Britannia Inn in Par with our infamous Deaf Comedian John Smith along with actress Donna Mullings, what a great act they are!
We are delighted to have been able to achieve another CMD festival, which was arranged in a short period of time after being postponed. The feedback received after the weekend has been extremely positive and a great experience was had by all. The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and the weekend provided an opportunity to inspire by showcasing deaf talent.
On Sunday, to join the fight against plastic pollution, we took to Carlyon Bay to do a beach clean in support of Surfers Against Sewage. You can find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/Cornwall-Mini-Deaffest-2021-111460100464789
Thank you to everybody that came and to those who made it happen. Roll on the next one!
Watch out for Deaffest’s PC Willrich & PC Stratton
Deaffest & Vertigo Releasing are proud to present an exclusive interview with ‘Sound of Metal’ cast member Riz Ahmed and Director Darius Marder, interviewed by Deaffest Co-Founders Nikki Stratton & Marilyn Willrich.
Deaffest were privileged to interview Riz and Darius via Zoom where they discussed the ‘Sound of Metal’, which was released at cinemas on 17th May 2021.
So, grab your popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show.
We were delighted to see Paul Raci as Joe in the film. You may recognise him from his performance with Beethoven’s Nightmare at Deaffest 2015!
Deaffest want to say a big thank you to Riz Ahmed and Darius Marder for taking part in the interview. Also, thank you to Vertigo Releasing for collaborating with us and making it happen!
