Saturday 9 May 2026 – MC001, University of Wolverhampton
(All panel discussions will be interpreted in BSL and International Sign)
2:15pm – 3:15pm: Vision and Scale: Filmmaking Across Boundaries
A discussion with Deaf producers and directors exploring distinct approaches to vision, scale, and storytelling. The panel will examine how budgets and resources shape creative decisions, and the ways small or large productions can support – or challenge – ideas. Panellists will address practical realities such as funding, industry access, maintaining authenticity, and inclusion of Deaf talent. They’ll also discuss strategies for advancing Deaf talent in film, particularly new directors and producers, and highlight the importance of representation and authenticity in their work. They They will also share why they made their film, its impact after release, and how they promote it, while reflecting on how experiences differ depending on production scale and resources.
HOST: Nikki Stratton – Co-Founder of Deaffest & Festival Director
Nikki Stratton is a native Deaf signer born into a multigenerational Deaf family, bringing an exceptionally authentic perspective shaped by deep cultural heritage and lived experience. She developed an innate fluency not only in British Sign Language but in the cultural nuance, identity, and storytelling traditions of Deaf communities across the UK and worldwide through her work that underpins her experience at every level.
With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in the film and television industry, Nikki is an award-winning presenter, BSL consultant, and producer known for bridging the gap between Deaf and hearing worlds with authority and originality. Her work extends beyond on-screen presence; she is widely recognised for shaping how Deaf narratives are told, ensuring they are led by authenticity rather than interpretation. She has collaborated with leading broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, and CBeebies, while also contributing to pioneering music and media projects that foreground Deaf talent and visual language.
As Co-Founder of Zebra Access and Deaffest – the UK’s foremost Deaf-led film and arts festival and Co-Director of Zebra Uno, Nikki has built influential platforms that don’t just advocate for inclusion but actively redefine industry standards across the globe. Her approach combines creative leadership with strategic consultancy, enabling organisations to move beyond compliance toward meaningful, lasting accessibility.
Recognised as one of the National Lottery’s 2024 Arts & Film Game Changers, Nikki continues to lead with clarity, influence, and purpose driving forward a vision of media and society where access, representation, and excellence are inseparable.
PANELLIST: Audrey Sangla – Filmmaker & Director of ‘Serendipity by Sofia’ (Short Film Nominee)
Audrey Sangla is a French deaf filmmaker. In 2019, she made her directorial debut with two documentaries for the French TV program. In 2022, she paid tribute to her father’s commitment with the documentary ‘My father, a man of engagement’. Audrey’s creative journey continued with 4 short films: ‘The Blooming’, ‘19:24’, ‘Serendipity by Sofia’ produced by Døves Media, a Norwegian production company. And her last short film ‘The Power of Goodbye’, premiered in April 2025. Her films have been screened more than 100 times in 24 countries and she has won 17 awards, including Best Director at the Festival Clin d’Oeil. Dedicated to storytelling, Audrey has taken courses in dramaturgy and now offers training in screenwriting. (https://sites.google.com/view/filmography-audrey-sangla/home)
PANELLIST: Con Mehlum – Director and Screenwriter of ‘Salt&Pepper‘ (Nominee)
Con Mehlum is a trained graphic designer with over 12 years of experience in advertising. He began in 1993 at Døves Media, where he gained extensive experience in TV production. After completing a BA in Theatre and Film Production, Con worked on several theatre and short film projects. He spent 10 years at Teater Manu as stage manager, producer, and technical director. Since 2011, he has been back at Døves Media, primarily working as a cameraman and editor, and has used his experience to create his first feature film, Salt&Pepper, which he both wrote and directed.
PANELLIST: Joseph D. Josselyn – Director of ‘JESUS: A Deaf Missions film‘ (Film Nominee)
Joseph D. Josselyn is the CEO of Deaf Missions. In 1997, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Television from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. with a desire to produce and direct films as well as to be a cinematographer when not directing.
During his college years, he produced six comedy sitcom episodes and a 40-minute film. After graduation from Gallaudet, he enjoyed making short clips for the college’s television department before moving to California to work for DawnSignPress. In 2006, he joined Deaf Missions in Iowa as the Chief Media Officer to produce various media resources including: The Bible – American Sign Language Version. He co-produced and directed ‘Dr. Wonder’s Workshop’ – a television series for children which has been featured on several broadcasting networks. In 2017, he produced the feature film the ‘Book of Job’ and in 2019 he produced and directed ‘Uncondemned’ – a short film about the women caught in adultery.
Beginning in 2020, Joseph and the media team at Deaf Missions began work on a full-length feature film about the life of Jesus – all in American Sign Language. After years of research, writing, fundraising and filming, ‘JESUS, a Deaf Missions film‘, was released in 2024 to over 320 theatres around the US. As a producer and director of this film, Joseph has won several awards including the special “Overcomer” award at the International Christian Visual Media Crown awards.
PANELLIST: Michel Laubacher – Producer of ‘Salt&Pepper’ (Film Nominee)
Michel Laubacher is a media professional with over 20 years of experience in leadership and production across Switzerland and Norway. He began his career in electronics before spending eight years at FocusFive TV, where he worked as a cinematographer, editor, and moderator, eventually serving as the company’s General Manager. In 2011, Michel moved to Norway to lead Døves Media as General Manager. During his time in leadership, he helped transition the organisation into a digital media house by building a large-scale WebTV platform. Since 2016, he has focused on the creative side as a Producer. Recently, he produced the feature film ‘Salt&Pepper’, reflecting his extensive experience in developing high-quality content for an international audience. (https://www.dovesmedia.no/)
PANELLIST: Seán Herlihy – Co-Producer of ‘A Quiet Love’ (Documentary Nominee)
Seán Herlihy is a Deaf broadcaster and Interpreter with over 19 years’ experience in front of and behind the camera. He previously collaborated with Anne Heffernan and Garry Keane on the documentary ‘A Quiet Love’.
As presenter of ‘Hands On’, Ireland’s weekly magazine programme for the Deaf Community on RTÉ One from 2004 – 2013, Seán researched a wide variety of topics, interviewed Deaf and hearing contributors, translated scripts and advised on presentation, engaging with Deaf audiences and ethical issues related to working with Deaf contributors. Seán has brought his knowledge and fluency to Huawei’s StorySign App, which allows Deaf children to translate any book into sign language.
Seán has an unparalleled insight and knowledge of the Irish and International Deaf Communities and is highly respected by his peers. Seán is passionate about Deaf history and culture. Seán is Certified Deaf Interpreter and qualified teacher of the Deaf. He has held the roles of Director and President of the European Union of Deaf Youth.
3:15pm – 4:00pm: Beyond Visibility: Deaf LGBTQ+ Creatives in Film & TV
This panel brings together Deaf LGBTQ+ filmmakers and creatives to explore queer representation and access in Film & TV. Drawing from lived experience, panellists will examine the gaps in storytelling, employment, and decision-making, with a focus on Deaf creatives. The discussion will cover how intersecting Deaf and LGBTQ+ identities shape creative practice and career pathways, challenges around visibility and disclosure, and what remains underrepresented or unexplored on screen and behind the scenes.
Panellists will identify barriers, share strategies for change, and discuss what meaningful inclusion and access should look like moving forward. Attendees will gain insights into industry realities, emerging opportunities, and practical ways to support and strengthen Deaf LGBTQ+ participation in Film and TV.
HOST: Daryl Jackson – Sign Language Consultant, Translator, TV Presenter/Reporter & Actor
PANELLIST: Nathan Borg – Actor in ‘Strawberry Cheesecake’
Nathan Borg is a well-known Australian Deaf queer actor, recognised for his roles on ‘Neighbours’ (Channel 10), ‘My Melbourne’ (SBS), ‘Strawberry Cheesecake’ (Stan), as the first and recurring model for BONDS’s Auslan campaigns. He has appeared in TV Week, ABC News, Studio 10, House of Wellness, DNA magazine and Inside Soap UK. As a Deaf consultant, Nathan has worked with Fremantle Studios, Northern Pictures, and Jaggi Entertainment, providing script consultation. He also regularly works in the Transport Department as a cast driver for major Australian, British, and American productions.
PANELLIST: MJ Kiego – Director of ‘a love letter to the light’ (Artistic Short Film Nominee)
MJ Kiego is a multi-generational Deaf, queer filmmaker who has written, directed, and produced over ten short films shortlisted at international film festivals across Shanghai, Tokyo, Berlin, Reims, Wolverhampton, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Seattle, Toronto, and Nairobi. She has worked in television and feature films, including the Netflix reality documentary series Deaf U (2020), and most recently as an assistant editor on ‘Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore’, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
MJ holds a BFA in Film & Animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is currently completing an MFA in Film Production at the University of Texas at Austin. She is also the founder of The Zankza Project, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating Deaf artists and creators, and has independently raised over $200,000 to support the Deaf Film Festival, one of the organisation’s flagship initiatives. (https://www.mjkiego.com/)
PANELLIST: Teresa Garratty – First Assistant Camera for ‘Green Grass’
Teresa Garratty is an award-winning deaf director and camera operator whose work spans drama, documentary, and factual entertainment. Her recent credits include roles in the camera departments on BBC’s ‘Reunion’ and ITV’s ‘Code of Silence’, as well as serving as series director on the upcoming CBeebies programme ‘Tiny Tunes’.
Teresa is deeply committed to championing diversity on and off screen and is currently developing a documentary about a deaf drag king.
4:00pm to 4:45pm: Seen on Screen: The Power of Visual Storytelling
Rooted in the festival programme, this panel brings together curated screening clips and a bold discussion on the role of visuals and cinematography in shaping screen storytelling. It examines how key visual creatives, from costume designers to directors of photography, define character, identity, and meaning on screen, while foregrounding Deaf representation across these roles and identifying clear, actionable pathways to advance Deaf creatives and inclusion across the film industry.
HOST: Cathy Mager – Co-Director of ‘The Making of Night Bloom’ (Documentary Nominee)
Cathy Mager is an acclaimed, award-winning deaf artist & director and founder of Spectroscope.
She creates monumental building projections and immersive dome experiences worldwide. Creator of Finger Talk for Wellcome Collection, her bold, multi-sensory work reveals hidden histories through film, sculpture and digital art. She is a Royal Society of Arts Fellow, a Clore Fellow, and has been named one of the Top 50 Women in UK Creative Industries. (https://spectroscope.co.uk/)
PANELLIST: Con Mehlum – Director and Screenwriter of ‘Salt&Pepper‘ (Nominee)
Con Mehlum is a trained graphic designer with over 12 years of experience in advertising. He began in 1993 at Døves Media, where he gained extensive experience in TV production. After completing a BA in Theatre and Film Production, Con worked on several theatre and short film projects. He spent 10 years at Teater Manu as stage manager, producer, and technical director. Since 2011, he has been back at Døves Media, primarily working as a cameraman and editor, and has used his experience to create his first feature film, Salt & Pepper, which he both wrote and directed.
PANELLIST: Ruan Du Plessis – Cinematographer for ‘Glass Cage’ (Nominee)
As a deaf filmmaker, Ruan du Plessis uniquely understands the information gap facing the DDBHH community. Director of Photography for eight feature films and creator of 20+ educational videos, he has earned several awards for Best Cinematography. His work bridges accessibility and artistry, empowering deaf audiences through inclusive visual storytelling. (https://www.busdoorfilms.com/ourstory)
PANELLIST: Stanko Pavlica – Cinematographer for ‘Salt&Pepper’ (Nominee)
Stanko Pavlica, from Switzerland, is a filmmaker, performer, and media innovator. In 2003, he appeared at the Lucerne City Theatre in Daniel Wahl’s production ‘Wolfsjunge’. That same year, he co-founded FocusFive TV with Michel Laubacher – the first online sign language television platform in Europe – created in response to the removal of the accessible Swiss television programme ‘Sehen statt Hören’ from national broadcasting.
Alongside his creative work, Pavlica has pursued extensive professional training, including a Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking in Zurich, training as a sign language teacher at the University of Teacher Education in Special Needs (HfH) Zurich, and specialised courses in camera technology and TV interview techniques.
Since 2015, he has been the founder of Focus Film GmbH, a production company that produces both mainstream and sign language content. His work spans documentaries, short films, and television, with a strong focus on accessibility and storytelling within the Deaf community.
Pavlica’s film credits include numerous productions for FocusFive TV, the short film ‘The Fork’, and the documentary ‘The Time Is Right for Us’ (2019). More recent work includes Director of Photography on ‘Salt&Pepper’ (2025) and director of the short film ‘Language is Life’ (2025). Since 2021, he has also been commissioned by SRF TV to produce 30-minute documentary features. (https://stanko.film/me/)
PANELLIST: Teresa Garratty – First Assistant Camera for ‘Green Grass’
Teresa Garratty is an award-winning deaf director and camera operator whose work spans drama, documentary, and factual entertainment. Her recent credits include roles in the camera departments on BBC’s ‘Reunion’ and ITV’s C’ode of Silence’, as well as serving as series director on the upcoming CBeebies programme ‘Tiny Tunes’.
Teresa is deeply committed to championing diversity on and off screen and is currently developing a documentary about a deaf drag king.
PANELLIST: Will Clark – Cinematographer
Based in Glasgow, Will is an award-winning Deaf Cinematographer and Lecturer in Screen at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His creative practice is driven by a passion for crafting visually poetic imagery rooted in realism and naturalism. Will is dedicated to amplifying Deaf voices in cinema and pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. By blending his technical expertise at the RCS with active industry practice, he is committed to mentoring the next generation of filmmakers and ensuring authentic Deaf perspectives are at the heart of modern cinema. (https://willclarkfilms.com/)
A visually expressive performance by William Grint – aka @TheDeafBard. Blending BSL and visual vernacular, the piece explores the depth of Shakespeare’s language through storytelling. Across 15 minutes, William will perform three different excerpts from Shakespeare’s works; showing the power and beauty of the Bard through contrasting tones and characters.
Saturday 9 May 2026
12:20pm – 12:35pm: Shakespeare by The Deaf Bard
Courtyard (grass area), University of Wolverhampton
Suitable for all ages and families
Deaffest Co-Founder and Festival Director Nikki Stratton shares highlights from Deaf Way Film Festival 2025!
We were honoured to be invited to the long-awaited return of the world-renowned Deaf Way Festival at Gallaudet University, marking its first celebration in over two decades.
For those who remember it well, the original Deaf Way Festival, inaugurated in July 1989 at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., was a landmark international gathering celebrating Deaf culture, art, and language. With thousands of attendees, it showcased Deaf arts and research while fostering global connection. Deaf Way II followed in July 2002, growing even larger and further cementing its place in Deaf history.
Given Deaffest’s ongoing mission to champion Deaf-led film productions and support Deaf-led festivals around the world, you can imagine my excitement when the invitation arrived. Even more so because this was my first visit to Gallaudet University – the world’s only Deaf university, founded in 1864 – and firmly lodged on my bucket list for years. Sometimes the universe delivers with perfect timing – hey presto!
As part of the Deaf Way Film Festival, held at Gallaudet’s own Elstad Auditorium, Marilyn Willrich and I joined a Film Festival Alliance panel in front of more than 650 attendees.
Sitting alongside Deaf leaders and representatives from Deaf film festivals across the US and Canada, we shared insights and experiences on running film festivals, while emphasising the importance of supporting Deaf filmmakers and creatives and continuing to spotlight Deaf talent worldwide.
The audience was engaged, curious, and wonderfully eager to learn more about Deaf cinema and the work we all do – particularly Deaffest.
Alongside Marilyn and me, the panel included:
- MJ Kiego – Deaf Film Festival, Austin (and Director of Events, DeafWay Film Festival)
- Alexa Hickox – Unify Deaf Film Festival, Toronto
- Patty Liang – Seattle Deaf Film Festival
- Michael Kaufer – SignLight Film Festival / Slamdance Film Festival
- Brenda Schertz – Maine Deaf Film Festival
We also thoroughly enjoyed the impressive Deaf film showcases, primarily from the US, and the opportunity to engage with both new and familiar faces while learning about their journeys within the film industry. One particularly inspiring session, Through Our Stories: Storytelling and Representation in Film, brought together filmmakers to discuss the rewards, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
Learning from Shoshannah Stern, director of the award-winning documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore was especially inspiring. Learning that the project involved three years of in-depth preparation certainly put “trust the process” into perspective – a powerful reminder that great storytelling takes patience, persistence, and purpose.
The evening concluded in style with the Awards Ceremony at the Kellogg Conference Centre – glad rags firmly on.
Marilyn and I were honoured to present awards for Best Feature Documentary (Marilyn with Youmee Lee) and Best Short Documentary (me alongside Andres Otalora), while celebrating the achievements of all recipients.
The night also featured unforgettable performances, including legendary Deaf performer Patrick Graybill, who presented his ASL storytelling poetry piece Defiance. A truly fantastic evening.
Photos and videos can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/deafway.festival/
Our visit wouldn’t have been complete without a tour of the impressive 99-acre Gallaudet University campus itself. We were privileged to be guided by Richard Dougherty, Executive Director of Architecture and Facilities Management – and a native Deaf Irishman – who led us through the campus while delivering impromptu lessons in both Irish Sign Language and American Sign Language. With my Irish heritage, I was delighted to discover I could follow much of both, which felt like an unexpected (and very welcome) party trick. Learning about the university’s architectural evolution and the legendary architects behind its iconic buildings was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The legacy of Gallaudet is deeply powerful – from notable alumni such as Nyle DiMarco to the award-winning Deaf President Now documentary, which highlighted the historic movement ensuring the university would always be led by a Deaf president.
We were delighted to connect with Dr Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano, Gallaudet’s 11th president, who assumed office in 2016. A trailblazer as the first Deaf woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold the role, her leadership continues to embody the values born from the historic 1988 protests, alongside her passionate advocacy for Deaf inclusion and sign language.
Throughout the weekend, visitors and guests expressed genuine interest in Deaffest – some even going so far as to book flights already for the upcoming festival. We look forward to welcoming many first-time visitors very soon.
To round off our visit, we were invited to House 1, the official residence of President Bobbi, for a personalised tour. We also had the pleasure of meeting Tabitha Jacques, Director of Arts, Culture, and Experience, who curated such a phenomenal weekend from start to finish. And, as if that weren’t enough, we topped it all off with an open-air bus tour of Washington, D.C., taking in its iconic landmarks (video included!) – a perfect finale to an unforgettable experience!
I hope you enjoy my video here!
PHOTO CREDITS: GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY
Deaffest 