OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE: Stories of Activism and Advocacy
Runtime: 93 minutes
These five films highlight stories of Deaf people from all over the world whose advocacy work on behalf of the Deaf community has helped push back against oppression and create positive change for the future.
Program Lineup:
VOICES IN THE SILENCE
DIAGNONSENSE
THE 5 PERCENT
MY GLOW
THE SILENT WORLD OF BARRY PRIORI
ID: A poster for “Voices in the Silence” with the text in dark across a cream background. Above is an image of a man leaning forward and holding a finger up while a woman stands next to him and looks at him. Two film award logos are above the title, with additional film details, social media icons, and logos underneath.
VOICES IN THE SILENCE
Short | Italy | 8 Minutes | Lingua dei Segni Italiana
Director: Rosario Liotta
Neapolitan Hard of Hearing filmmaker Rosario Liotta explores how the Deaf community in Italy has mobilized against the outdated terms of “deaf-mute” and “deaf and dumb.” Both creative and informative, this impactful film reminds us that words matter, and change is possible.
ID: A poster for “My Glow”, with the title in white superimposed over an image of a woman’s pregnant belly, with her hands cradling it. White text across the bottom: “Sandra Khan.”
MY GLOW
Short | United Kingdom | 10 Minutes | British Sign Language
Director: Sahera Khan
The filmmaker, a Deaf Muslim woman, recounts the communication barriers she faced while giving birth to her second child in a hospital during the COVID crisis. Sahera’s story is an impactful lesson on the importance of access within the healthcare system.
Content warnings: Birth trauma, suitable for preteens+ due to the film content
ID: A poster for “Diagnosense” with the title in white across the bottom. Above is a picture of a man sitting in a chair against a wall with stripes of light from the window across his face as he looks out the window—additional film details are on the bottom.
DIAGNONSENSE
Short | United Kingdom | 28 Minutes | British Sign Language
Director: Samuel Dore
This powerful narrative drama centers on Patrick, a Deaf man who has been incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital for 36 years after being wrongly diagnosed as a schizophrenic. With the help of a Deaf social worker who understands his dilemma, Patrick appeals for his release.
Content warnings: Adult, Hate Speech, Mental Illness
ID: A poster for “The Silent World of Barry Priori” with the title alongside the left side in red and orange text, on a black background. On the right side is a black and white photo of an elderly bespectacled man smiling. A group of film festival logos are in the top right corner, and additional text on the top left corner: “Shining Catalina Productions presents a film by Anne Tsolus and produced by Allison Wotherspoon.” The subtitle underneath the title is “Signing not waving, a journey into the world of the deaf.” Additional film details and logos across the bottom.
THE SILENT WORLD OF BARRY PRIORI
Short | Australia | 27 Minutes | Australian Sign Language
Director: Anne Tsoulis
Deaf Australian man Barry Priori was a thriving teacher, adventurer and tireless advocate for sign language and Deaf culture throughout his life. Having experienced oppression and language deprivation from his hearing family, Priori made it his mission to empower his fellow Aussie Deaf community and educate the world around him.
ID: A poster for “The 5%” with the title superimposed over an image of three people, two women and a man, sitting on the ground in posed positions. Across the top is the text: “Victoria Soo Lum, Clarence Paulo Cansieio, Elizabeth Morris.”
THE 5 PERCENT
Short | Canada | 20 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Alexandra Hickox & Nathan Hughes-Berry
Three different storylines are skillfully woven together offering three unique perspectives on the Deaf experience: a young Deaf woman struggles to connect with her hearing boyfriend; a Deaf man has an argument with his mother, complicated by an interpreter who wants to take sides; and a Deaf woman encounters barriers during a job interview despite her excellent qualifications. This nuanced film based on real-life experiences challenges viewers to think and engage in meaningful discussion.
Content warnings: Adult, Profanity, Nudity