Film Africa, the Royal African Society’s biennial festival and London’s biggest celebration of African and African diaspora cinema, will be taking place in London from 28th October to 6th November 2022. Film Africa’s 10th festival will be packed full of films and events, which you can check out in their brochure!

As part of the festival, Deaffest on Tour is partnering with Film Africa to present the following:

Thursday 3rd November 2022

1pm – 2pm: A Personal Perspective from a Black Deaf Filmmaker, workshop led by David Ellington.

Meet black deaf filmmaker David Ellington and learn from his experiences on how to succeed as a deaf media professional and how to ensure you and your organisation work well with deaf media professionals. David will cover how to overcome common hurdles, source and include deaf talent in your crew and cast, and key elements in achieving authentic deaf representation in your film, TV programme or documentary. David will share examples from his work in directing, acting, and working with agencies and recruitment organisations. Learn some British Sign Language too that will come in handy for inclusive casting!

(English Interpretation will be provided)

WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL

2pm: A showcase of Deaf films followed by a live panel discussion Black + Deaf: Navigating the Mainstream Media.

Films have all been produced by deaf directors and/or include deaf actors/artists. Total running time of screenings: 1 hour 10 minutes.

A panel discussion led by popular BSL TV presenter and in-vision translator Ahmed Mudawi focused on the contributors’ works, and their experiences of working in the media. The panellists will identify and discuss gaps impacting Black and Deaf media professionals in the industry. Views and opinions will be shared on bridging effective communication between deaf and hearing media practitioners in the mainstream, with the aim of promoting growth in opportunities and improved accessibility in future.

(BSL/English Interpretation will be provided)

Book your ticket here!

The above events will take place on Thursday 3rd November at RichMix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA.

Age suitability for the above events: 18+

Deaffest on Tour & Film Africa: Film screenings

(Thursday 3rd November 2022 at 2pm)

Follow The Signs | Dir. Chris Fonseca & Harry Jardine, UK, 2021

A true story of one man’s search for his identity and the barriers he comes up against along the way.

The song is dedicated to anyone who’s ever struggled to come to terms with their own identity.

Human Spirit | Dir. Charlie Dennis, UK, 2021

Sign Slang UK and BSL Music video by Signkid performing Human Spirit. 

Night Shift | Dir. Bim Ajadi, UK, 2021

A Deaf, female security guard on the night shift observes a man in a midst of a crisis: they find a new way to communicate.

Send Back the Echo | Dir. Jasmin Rodgman, UK, 2021

“I beg of you to keep the matter of my deafness a profound secret to be confided to nobody, no matter whom…” – Ludwig van Beethoven ‘send back the echo’ is not an homage to the myth or legend of Beethoven. It is a journey inspired by a deaf musician.

The composer’s personal letters and memoirs reveal a human story of intense passion, fear and joy as he reconciled solitude and deafness with a deep love of nature and music. These confessions, interpreted and performed in British Sign Language by deaf actor Vilma Jackson, are accompanied by music from the film’s director & composer, Jasmin Kent Rodgman. Commissioned and performed by the multi-national ensemble United Strings of Europe, ‘send back the echo’ invites a moment of reflection on the alienation faced by the deaf community and people of colour within music, culture and the arts.

Silent World | Dir. Charlie Dennis, UK, 2021

Silent World is a creative exploration and amplification of the covid-19 pandemic as experienced from the eyes of Signkid a deaf rapper in London. It is a musical short film which creatively explores the ‘silent world’ that has intensified and deepened for D/deaf people in the course of the COVID pandemic. It visualises the sense of isolation, fear and societal disconnection that the hearing world has been experiencing – the sort of isolation the D/deaf people experience every day

The Multi | Dir. Natasha Ofili & Storm Smith, USA, 2021

An isolated Black Deaf woman has constructed a world of order to keep a childhood trauma buried deep in her psyche, then an unexpected turn of events forces her to confront her demons from the past who threaten to destroy everything she has built as she tries to keep control of her life before it’s too late.

Triple Oppression | Dir. Vilma Jackson, UK, 2020

A Deaf woman’s struggles to fit in socially, racially, and professionally. How does she try to overcome all these barriers in order to get to her dream destination?