Out now: Lou Parrott, Festival Producer for Deaffest, reports on Deaffest and its role in inspiring D/deaf young people in her article ‘The impact of Deaffest on Young People’s Deaf identity’, featured in BATOD’s December 2025 issue. Click here to view the article!
A huge congratulations to Matthew Gurney, who has been selected as one of the 20 creatives for BAFTA Breakthrough UK 2025!
Let’s be blunt about Matty – it’s his sign name, after all – he’s a phenomenal performer and a familiar face at Deaffest!
Many will remember his comedy sets at Deaffest 2016, where he had audiences in stitches, and his unforgettable hosting of the late-night parties in 2016 and 2017, showcasing his natural charm, quick wit, and brilliant crowd-work.
Matty is no stranger to success. His performances have featured in past Deaffest festivals, he won Best Actor at Deaffest 2017 for ‘Small World’, and Best Screenwriter at Deaffest 2024 for ‘Coffee Morning Club’.
This year, he delivered a gripping performance in the BBC One’s revenge drama series ‘Reunion‘ – worth checking out!
Matty is, without a doubt, one to watch!
Above photos taken by Mark Mecklenburgh, Willow Photography Limited
Thank you to those who have sent in their entry/entries for Deaffest 2026!
Deaffest is excited to see such a high standard of work submitted this year. However, the team would like to share that two award categories – Best TV Programme and Best Presenter – will not go ahead due to a low number of entries in these areas.
In positive news, the large number of documentary submissions has led to the introduction of a new award category: Best Short Documentary. This means there will now be two documentary-focused awards: Best Documentary and Best Short Documentary.
Deaffest is also pleased to announce the addition of another category: Best Cinematographer. With the increasing number of talented D/deaf Directors of Photography (DoPs), this award has been created to recognise and celebrate their exceptional cinematography skills.
Deaffest thanks everyone for their creativity, passion, and continued support – stay tuned for the next reel of updates!
Please note that all submissions for Deaffest 2026 are closed.
Deaffest 