Upper ID: The KissFist Film Challenge logo. A blue half-face and fist making the sign for “kissfist”. Above is the word “KissFist”. To the right and left is the combined phrase “72 HR”. On the bottom is the “Film Challenge”.

KissFist Film Challenge
History

The KissFist Film Challenge is only for the brave of heart. Every participating team has 72 hours to script, film, and edit a short film! What’s the catch? Each film had specific prompts that had to be included, such as a genre, theme, props, and dialogue.

You can find KissFist videos from previous years below. The KissFist Challenge is a part of Seattle Deaf Film Festival.

KissFist 2024

ID: A thumbnail with a a person next to a sign saying “Intstructions”.

  • Genre: Thriller

  • Theme: Hope

  • Required dialogue line: “I didn’t expect that.”

  • Required props:

    • Beanie

    • Light turning on

    • Umbrella opening

Screened at SDFF 2024

Deafear

Director: Katie Taylor

Country: United Kingdom

ID: Thumbnail for “Deafear”. A person in white on the right looks back at the title on the left.

Screened at SDFF 2024

Night of the Living Deaf: A New Hope

Director: Thea Wrenn

Country: United States

ID: A thumbnail resembling a news report with the film title. A person stands with their arms out while a monstrous-looking figure lurks in the background.

Screened at SDFF 2024

Wish You Were Here

Directors: Krystal Sanders, Michah Lovell

Country: United States

ID: A thumbnail with an emotional person resting their head on a mirror. The title is at the top of the image.

Submitted Film

Don’t Open the Umbrella Indoors

Director: Jessie Zhang

Country: United States

ID: A thumbnail with the film title over a negative screenshot.

KissFist 2022

The winners were chosen based on:

  • Originality

  • Creativity

  • Plot

  • Pacing

  • Structure

  • Characters

  • Cinematography

  • Entertainment value

  • Effectiveness of the message

  • Genre: Drama

  • Theme/Motif: Deception

  • Setting: Anywhere

  • Required dialogue line: “This can’t be happening.”

  • Required props (at least 2 of 3 items):

    • A book or magazine

    • Text (magazine, billboard, etc.)

    • A stolen or lost item

Community Vote Selection

Duplicitous

Director: Roy Michael Maguire

Country: Denmark

ID: screenshot of a white man seated on a green couch in a living room looking uncomfortable. Title: “Duplicitous.”

SDFF Committee Selection

The Text

Director: Talitha Asteria

Country: United States

ID: screenshot of a white woman with long brown hair in dark clothing, walking outside of a building holding a book. Title: “The Text.”

Blossom Institute

Directors: Shelby AnnMaria Sanchez, Ronald Soriano

Country: United States

ID: black screen with white text: “Blossom Institute.”

Deception

Director: Elijah Amos Lee

Country: Canada

ID: black screen with white text: “KissFist Film Challenge, Deception, by Elijah Amos Lee.”

Doggy Deception

Director: MJ Kielbus

Country: United States

ID: screen capture of a person in a red hooded sweater on a couch texting with big text: “Doggy Deception.”

Infidelity

Director: LilLouie Barrios

Country: United States

ID: black screen with white text: “Infidelity.”

KissFist 2020

The winners were chosen based on:

  • Creative merit

  • Technical Execution

  • Inclusion of prompts

  • Genre: Mystery

  • Theme/Motif: Twist!

  • Setting: Anywhere

  • Required props (at least 2 of 3 items):

    • Eye

    • Photograph

    • Cup

    • Hair

    • Deaf method of getting attention

    • Candle

Community Vote Selection

The Witnesses

Directors: Garrett Zuercher, Jared Johnston

Country: United States

ID: Black and white screenshot of three people standing over a dining room table, staring at somebody behind the camera.

Frozen End

Director: Kyle Contreras

Country: United States

ID: Screenshot of a person walking through a convenience store, looking confusing.

Title (ASL Hand Slap)

Director: Jeremy Quiroga

Country: United States

ID: Screenshot of three people in a dark, moody room.