CLICK HERE FOR BSL VIDEO | CLICK HERE FOR INTERNATIONAL SIGN VIDEO
Got something bold, creative, informative, or eye-catching to share?
Whether you’re a business, charity, organisation, or creative brand with flair, this is your chance to put your stall in the spotlight at the 16th edition of Deaffest – the international Deaf Film & Arts Festival!
Promote your brand. Showcase your craft. Sell your products. Spark conversations. At Deaffest, your stall isn’t just a table – it’s a space to connect.
Date: Saturday 9th May 2026
Location: University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
Click HERE to fill in the application form.
LIMITED STALLS AVAILABLE. Come #SignInStyleatDeaffest 2026 and dress to impress – stall-style!
Stallholder queries: Deaffeststalls@zebra-access.com
As part of Deaffest’s commitment to supporting Deaf creatives and championing Deaf arts, culture, and storytelling, independent creative stalls will receive additional promotional support through social media re-sharing.
Looking for more promotion for your business/organisation? Contact: Deaffestsponsors@zebra-access.com
Deaffest Online Cinema (DOC), Deaffest’s dedicated streaming platform hosted via Eventive, is expanding with a BRAND-NEW section: the ‘Deaffest Classic Showcase’ – a celebration of the vibrant legacy of Deaf cinema.
The special showcase honours the groundbreaking contributions of Deaf-led films and indie creatives, highlighting the rich history, passion, and innovation that have shaped storytelling over the years. A unique opportunity to revisit iconic works and appreciate the evolution of Deaf filmmaking and culture.
It’s completely FREE to watch!
The ‘Deaffest Classic Showcase‘ is available to stream anytime – whether you’re on a laptop, tablet, or mobile – from anywhere in the world, now through to Deaffest 2026 (8th to 10th May 2026) and beyond.
Already streaming on DOC:
While the ‘Deaffest Classic Showcase’ is a new addition, you can also explore a range of existing content on DOC, including:
– Young Deaf Filmmakers Scheme (2007–2008)
– Ben Steiner Bursary short films (2009–2015)
– Deaffest: Rewind episodes (2021–2022)
Plus, selected NEW non-competition films and award-nominated works will be uploaded to DOC ahead of Deaffest 2026.
Don’t miss this chance to discover and celebrate the creativity, talent, and heritage that continue to shape Deaf cinema!
How to watch:
If you already have an account with Eventive, simply log in.
If you do not have an account with Eventive, register your details at: https://watch.eventive.org/me
When you have registered, close the window and visit the Deaffest Online Cinema – and enjoy!
Yesterday, Deaffest Co-Founder and Festival Director Nikki Stratton, along with Communications & Engagement Manager Lou Parrott, proudly took part in BDA and Wellcome Collection’s ’SIGN ALIVE!’ event.
The day brought together passionate perspectives and thought-provoking presentations celebrating the richness of British Sign Language Living Heritage. It was an exploration of intangible culture and heritage – from language and identity to shared history and community – culminating in a panel discussion later in the afternoon.
Held on the International Day of Sign Languages and during the International Week of Deaf People, the event carried even deeper meaning – a celebration of our language, culture, and community, led by leadership, lived experience, and pride.
Together, in the Henry Wellcome Auditorium, we reflected on how living traditions are passed down, renewed, and elevated – especially within the arts sector – so that the stories, contributions, and cultural legacy of the Deaf community are recognised, supported, celebrated, and protected for future generations.
“SIGN ALIVE! was a truly moving and inspiring day. Watching the Deaf creatives share their journeys – the challenges, the triumphs, the passion that brought them to where they are today – touched me deeply. As someone born in the heart of London, from a long line of Deaf ancestors, the experience stirred something special in me. It brought back cherished memories of the BSL stories I grew up seeing and hearing – stories that lived in our homes and communities, but were rarely shared with the wider world. To share our story about Deaffest, to see so many other stories now taking centre stage, and to witness the incredible talent of Deaf creatives being celebrated so openly filled my heart with pride. A huge thank you to the BDA team and Wellcome Collection for curating such a powerful event. Here’s to the continued celebration of our BSL heritage – and to even more stories being seen, heard, and honoured.” – Nikki Stratton, Deaffest Co-Founder & Festival Director
Presenters included BDA’s Chief Executive Rebecca Mansell, Professor of Sociolinguistics Annelies Kusters, Nikki Stratton, Scriptwriter Billy Mager, and Curator Cathy Mager, as well as representatives from the Wellcome Collection, the BBC, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
It was a privilege to experience the powerful exhibitions at the Wellcome Collection during the SIGN ALIVE! event – from Cathy Mager’s inspiring ‘Finger Talk’, which celebrates BSL as a vibrant, dynamic language with deep cultural roots, to Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader’s thought-provoking ‘1880 THAT’, which reflects on the Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf in Milan and the fundamental right to communicate.
The exhibition is free to visit, with ‘Finger Talk’ on display until 17th October and ‘1880 THAT’ until November.
Check out the video and photos here!
Deaffest 