Deaffest
Deaffest 2011 returns with a packed programme of international films and networking opportunities for Deaf filmmakers
Deaffest, the UK’s only Deaf-led Film and Television Festival, returns on Friday 20 – Sunday 22 May at Light House, Wolverhampton. This year’s festival has a packed line up of short and feature film screenings from British and International Deaf filmmakers, with submissions from as far afield as Ukraine, Ireland, France, Spain, Sweden, USA and China . Alongside talks and workshops on different elements of the film and TV industry, networking and social events, an information fair and family activities, Deaffest 2011 promises to be a fun and informative weekend. Held at Light House in Wolverhampton city centre the majority of the festival is free to attend. For further information about the festival and the programme for the weekend visit www.deaffest.co.uk
Friday’s launch of the festival will see premiere screenings of new short and feature films by Deaf filmmakers alongside a special showing of the film Luke Starr by Stephen Collins who won the Ben Steiner Bursary in 2010 which helped fund the making of his film.
Then on Saturday there will be an information fair in the courtyard featuring local and national organisations including Wolverhampton Arts & Heritage Service, Action Deafness Books, British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust and British Deaf Association. There will also be interactive juggling sessions and badgemaking for the family from 10am – 4pm. Young UK Deaf filmmakers get their own showcase slot in Young Deaffest alongside the chance to gain invaluable advice on how to progress in the film industry at various talks throughout the weekend – Rich Warren, Programme Manager at Bristol’s Encounters International Film Festival will give a talk about how Deaf filmmakers can get their films shown at mainstream film festivals, and lecturer Phil Nichols from University of Wolverhampton will deliver a workshop on characters and plots within films. The Saturday night will see the return of the Film and TV Gala Awards, a red carpet Awards ceremony which is an international competition with awards in the categories of Best Drama, Best Documentary, Best Experimental Film and Best TV Programme.
Tickets cost: £15 full price / £11.50 early bird rate until 12 May. Buy tickets online at www.deaffest.co.uk
The last day of the festival will give festival goers the chance to catch the winning films from Saturday night’s gala in full and then to wind down after a busy weekend with a free subtitled screening of Disney’s Tangled.
Deaffest 2011 from Friday 20 – Sunday 22 May, will be the thirteenth festival to be held in Wolverhampton since 1998. Deaffest aims to nurture new talent in the Deaf community and showcase the work of Deaf filmmakers and producers to a wider audience. Deaffest is supported through Screen WM’s Investment Fund with funds from The National Lottery through the UK Film Council, and through the UK Film Council Festival Fund. It is supported by Light House, Wolverhampton City Council, Zebra Uno, University of Wolverhampton, Encounters International Film Festival and Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures UK for the free screening of Tangled.
The festival is admission free except for the Gala Awards with tickets priced at £15 full price / £11.50 early bird. For further information about the festival visit www.deaffest.co.uk