🎬 Deaffest is a British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) qualifying festival.
For the 2026 BIFA Awards, Deaffest is listed as a qualifying festival for both British Features and British Shorts (Section A).
If your film screened at Deaffest 2026 (8–10 May), that screening may satisfy the festival qualification requirement for BIFA eligibility, provided your film also meets all other applicable BIFA eligibility requirements for the relevant award category.
We’re proud that Deaffest continues to support filmmakers and creatives by providing a recognised platform that can support eligible British films on their journey towards BIFA consideration.
Find out more about BIFA eligibility and the upcoming deadlines. You can view the full list of qualifying festivals here.
Last month, Deaffest Co-Founder & Festival Director Nikki Stratton and Festival Producer Lou Parrott travelled to Italy to attend the Itinerant Deaf Cinema Festival, held from 22 – 24 May in Venice. The festival offered a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Deaf cinema, connect with fellow industry professionals, share knowledge, and experience the rich culture of the city.
The long weekend began with a visit to the heart of Venice, including a memorable gondola ride through its iconic canals. Later, the festival’s Opening Ceremony took place at the Auditorium Cesare de Michelis at Museo M9, featuring welcome speeches and a captivating Visual Vernacular performance by Nicola Della Maggiora.
The evening continued with screenings including ‘Le Fobie del Guardrail’ by Marco Capelacci, a selection of international competition shorts, an out-of-competition late-night screening, and an opening party.
Saturday’s programme featured Sign: Festival Stories, held in the Sala Orizzonti at Museo M9. The session brought together representatives from Deaf festivals to share experiences, challenges, and perspectives. Nikki concluded the event by presenting Deaffest, the UK’s leading Deaf-led film and arts festival, offering insights into its mission, development, and impact.
This was followed by Deaf Cinema, a seminar led by Daniele Le Rose, who delivered a fascinating exploration of Deaf cinema history. The presentation charted the evolution of Deaf filmmaking over the years – including a mention of Deaffest in 2006 – and highlighted many significant moments in Deaf cinema history.
Attendees then took part in Ritmi Visivi (Visual Rhythms): Cinema Through Deaf Art, an interactive workshop led by Fabio Zamparo, Anna Chiara Carlet, and Nicola Savoldi, exploring cinema through movement, rhythm, and Deaf visual culture.
Meanwhile, Nikki joined fellow International Competition Jury members Daniele Le Rose and Nicola Della Maggiora to deliberate on the festival’s award selections.
The evening returned to the Auditorium Cesare de Michelis for further screenings and a discussion led by Fabio Zamparo, during which jury members reflected on Deaf cinema today and its future. The Awards Ceremony followed, where the juries shared the perspectives and criteria behind their decisions.
Congratulations to the award winners:
Ritmi Visivi Award: ‘Glass Cage’ – Directed by Jules Dameron
Mention Award: ‘The Deliverance’ – Directed by Bim Ajadi
Audience Award: ‘The Power of Goodbye’ – Directed by Audrey Sangla
The evening concluded with a humorous performance by Maurizio Scarpa (Pallina Rossa), followed by networking and celebrations in the courtyard of Ca’ di Mat.
Sunday saw a further programme of screenings and events, including The Online Roundtable: International Deaf Cinema Manifesto.
Led by filmmaker and founder of Angry Deaf People Productions, Charlie Ainsworth, who authored the manifesto, the discussion brought together Deaf filmmakers and industry professionals to explore the future of Deaf cinema and its visibility within the wider film industry. Participants gathered in the Sala Orizzonti, while others, including Deaffest Co-Founder & Festival Director Marilyn Willrich, joined remotely.
The roundtable provided a rich and thought-provoking discussion around the creation of a shared manifesto for film festivals and industry professionals. The manifesto advocates for Deaf people to have greater control over how Deaf stories are told in cinema and seeks to strengthen Deaf-led representation across the industry. Find out more about the manifesto here.
A huge thank you to the Itinerant Deaf Cinema Festival, and especially Artistic Co-Directors Fabio Zamparo and Anna Chiara Carlet, for inviting Nikki and Lou to be part of such an inspiring and valuable weekend. The festival created space for meaningful exchange across Deaf cinema, bringing together filmmakers and practitioners to share practice, perspectives, and emerging ideas. Deaffest looks forward to continuing to support collaboration internationally!
Check out the video for highlights from the weekend.
On Monday 23 March, the Deaffest team enjoyed an inspiring visit to the Braidwood Trust School for the Deaf in Birmingham, connecting with the next generation of D/deaf storytellers and creatives.
The morning began with an assembly presentation, where the team introduced Deaffest 2026, sharing the festival’s theme and the opportunities for young people to get involved. It was a highly engaging session, with pupils actively participating and being encouraged to see themselves as future contributors to the creative industries.
The visit continued with a media-focused workshop for students interested in film, media, and digital storytelling. Through open discussion, participants explored creative career pathways, shared their interests and experiences, and considered how they can develop their skills and ambitions within the industry.
As part of the session, students were introduced to the Deaffest Online Cinema, showcasing how audiences can discover and access films created by D/deaf filmmakers and creatives. The workshop also featured an exclusive screening of the Deaffest 2026 promotional video, which opened up a wider conversation about the growing presence of artificial intelligence within the creative industries. Students explored what AI is, how AI-generated elements were used within the promo, and the opportunities, limitations, and ethical considerations surrounding its use. The discussion encouraged critical thinking about emerging technologies, including their potential impact on creativity, filmmaking, and the wider world, while highlighting the importance of informed and responsible decision-making.
The visit highlighted Deaffest’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging D/deaf talent, championing representation on screen, and creating pathways into the film and creative industries.
Deaffest would like to thank Braidwood Trust School for the Deaf for the invitation and warm welcome, and for providing the opportunity to engage with such enthusiastic and inspiring young creatives!
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