Deaffest

Since 1998, Wolverhampton's Light House has hosted the annual Deaf Film and TV Festival. Originally a collaboration with the BDA, the festival took a hiatus in 2005 and was re-launched in 2006 as Deaffest with Zebra Uno, an innovative company specialising in Deaf media and Communication solutions, at the helm. Deaffest has since built up a national and international reputation as a Deaf-led festival that places great emphasis on showcasing films from Deaf filmmakers and nurturing Deaf talent. The festival is managed by a steering group including representatives from Zebra Uno, Light House, University of Wolverhampton and draws upon the expertise of the Deaffest Network; a sub-committee of 10 Deaf media artists. Light House is a media centre specialising in film, video, photography and creative media with a programme of film screenings and festivals, media training, video and multimedia production, enterprise development, photographic exhibition, education, media projects and events. Zebra Uno have successfully delivered media training for Deaf people in the UK and provided Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language Training to businesses for the past 4 years. Zebra Uno directors Nikki Stratton and Marilyn Bueno Del Carpio have industry experience, Nikki presenting Channel 4's Vee TV programme and Marilyn as BSL Consultant for the programme. Nikki Stratton's appearance on TV has given her sufficient recognition throughout the Deaf Community, which led Nikki to win the UK's Best Female TV Presenter Award at Remark! Film and TV Awards in November 2005. Recently, Zebra-Uno worked in partnership with Bantock House Museum in Wolverhampton introducing a British Sign Language-based PDA guide, as well as ensuring greater online accessibility, with visitor information available in BSL on the museum's website. As a result of this Zebra Uno won the Jodi Award 2007 for Excellence in Accessible Technology.

We want the Festival to represent Deaf production and work presenting Deaf issues as widely as possible. So the Festival will include feature films and work transmitted on television as well as children's films, students' work and new productions from emerging talent. So if you have any material you would like considered for the Festival or know anyone else who has, please contact us.