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!
Light, Camera, Sign in Style at Deaffest 2026!
The international Deaf Film & Arts Festival returns to Wolverhampton, UK, from May 8th to 10th 2026, exploring the influence of costume and fashion in film, TV and the arts, alongside the renowned 10th Film & TV Awards celebrations.
Proudly hosted by the award-winning charity Zebra Access CIO, Deaffest has been running since 2006. Its 16th edition will take place across key locations in Wolverhampton, with further details to be announced.
With the support of the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, Deaffest is proud to offer a platform for D/deaf creatives to share their knowledge, experiences and stories through a wide array of accessible events.
The festival will showcase premieres and global screenings that include sign language dialogue, with subtitles provided to ensure accessibility. Highlights also include engaging workshops, thought-provoking panel discussions, a lively stalls fair, captivating performances and a Late-Night Party with networking opportunities. Visitors from the UK and around the world are welcome to #signinstyleatDeaffest 2026!
“Sign in Style at Deaffest 2026 will offer an in-depth exploration of costume and fashion design, as well as other creative visual elements, in film, TV and the arts. We aim to highlight how these elements contribute to storytelling, enhancing the authenticity of films, dramas, and more, while creating a deeper connection with audiences. Visual design is a dynamic tool for character development, self-expression, social status, and symbolism – not only in films and TV but in everyday life as well.” – The Deaffest Team
Alongside the festival, the red carpet will roll out for the glamorous 10th Film & TV Awards Gala, featuring surprise guests and a stylish celebration of all things vogue!
Stay on trend with Deaffest’s latest updates on sponsorships, stall opportunities, volunteering, events and workshops, and tickets news by visiting this website. Follow @Deaffest and #signinstyleatDeaffest on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. Want to stay in the loop? Sign up for Deaffest e-newsletters.
In the meantime, explore the Deaffest Online Cinema (DOC), for a preview of current films, and keep an eye out for a brand-new section, along with Deaffest 2026’s 10th Film & TV Awards’ nominations and non-competition entries – all FREE to watch.
Notes to Editors
Deaffest is a project run under Zebra Access CIO, one of the finalists for the National Lottery Awards 2022. Deaffest’s Co-Founders, Nikki Stratton and Marilyn Willrich, were celebrated as the 2024 National Lottery’s Film & Arts Game Changers.
Deaffest supports and showcases the talents of emerging and established D/deaf filmmakers and artists from the UK and beyond. Through a variety of events, it preserves and celebrates Deaf culture, heritage, and sign languages. The festival highlights the diversity of Deaf culture, offering a platform for D/deaf creatives to share their skills, knowledge and stories, while educating and inspiring future generations.
Deaffest is recognised for its influential role in promoting Deaf culture and bringing attention to the challenges that D/deaf individuals encounter in the arts and media sectors. By fostering a deeper global understanding and appreciation of Deaf culture, Deaffest ensures that D/deaf creatives and audiences have equal access to cultural experiences as their hearing counterparts.
To contact Deaffest, please email Communications & Engagement Manager Lou Parrott at lou@zebra-access.com
About the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund
The BFI Audience Projects Fund will invest £15m of National Lottery funding over three years to support ambitious, audience-facing activity of national scale that celebrates and showcases independent UK and international film and XR work. It will support projects that seek to expand access and encourage greater enjoyment of cinema by connecting audiences that are representative of the UK population with great films – in venues, at events and online.
bfi.org.uk/audience-projects-fund
About the BFI
The BFI is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image.
Our mission is:
- To support creativity and actively seek out the next generation of UK storytellers
- To grow and care for the BFI National Archive, the world’s largest film and television archive.
- To offer the widest range of UK and international moving image culture through our programmes and festivals – delivered online and in venue
- To use our knowledge to educate and deepen public appreciation and understanding
- To work with Government and industry to ensure the continued growth of the UK’s screen industries
Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Jay Hunt OBE.
Deaffest is thrilled to announce that the 16th edition of Deaffest and the 10th Film & TV Awards will take place with the support of the BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding! A heartfelt thank you to the British Film Institute for their continued support.
If you haven’t already marked Deaffest 2026 (8th to 10th May 2026) in your calendar – now’s the time!
Exciting updates are on the way – including our news release and official festival poster!
Deaffest 