Excitement is building around the news that production is underway for ‘Retreat’, a Deaf thriller featuring an all-deaf principal cast. The film is written and directed by Ted Evans, a name well-known to Deaffest audiences!
The thriller is connected to Ted Evans’ short film ‘Retreat’, which he developed and directed through Deaffest’s Ben Steiner Bursary scheme, an award he won in 2013.
The Ben Steiner Bursary, launched in 2009, was created in memory of the late Ben Steiner, a British Sign Language interpreter, Senior Lecturer, and a passionate, talented individual deeply committed to the Deaf community. Renowned for his love of the arts and his dedication to supporting Deaf individuals in the film industry, Ben left behind a lasting legacy.
The Bursary was established to provide D/deaf aspiring filmmakers aged 18 and over with the opportunity to produce a film and showcase their work to a broader audience. It included a filmmaking course led by deaf award-winning director John Maidens and participants were required to pitch their proposals to a judging panel. ‘Retreat’ premiered at Deaffest 2013 and went on to win awards at festivals.
If you haven’t watched ‘Retreat’ (2013) yet, you can find it on the BFI Player here. (Keep an eye out for familiar faces like Adam Bassett, Sophie Stone, Brian Duffy, and Stephen Collins!)
The new ‘Retreat’ will feature Anne Zander, James Boyle, Sophie Stone, and Ace Mahbaz. To learn more about this thriller, visit its IMDb page here.
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