Rocky Mountain
Deaf Film Festival
2022 RMDFF FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Voice in the silence - Short Film (9 min)
History wants to show the importance of the correct use of terms in the field of deafness, as has also been made clear in the past by Law No. 95 of 2006, which votes in favour of a specific name to the detriment of the others. To this day, however, many deaf and hearing continue to make great confusion in defining the deaf person
Directed by Rosario Liotta
World War II Aviation - ASL Literature Film (3 min)
Visual Vernacular storytelling about World War II Aviation.
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Created by Ying Yu
Rite of Identity - Animation Short Film (4 min)
A 2D animation film about a deaf girl who has exceptional artistic talent but struggles with an overwhelming soundscape. Many deaf symbols and motifs are conveyed through her lens. The film is based on the animator’s personal experience of being a deaf student in a mainstream school.
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Youmee Lee (Director & Animator)
BEING MICHELLE follows the astonishing journey of a deaf and disabled woman who survived incarceration and abuse under unimaginable circumstances by a system that refused to accommodate her needs as a deaf person with autism. Michelle’s trajectory changed when she met Kim Law, a blind volunteer life coach who teaches classes to people in prison.
Listing of films info & synopsis on November 4 - 6, 2022
Friday, November 4th (Feature Short films)
Saturday, November 5th
Old Mother Tongue - Short Film (20 min)
A Deaf man grapples with his sense of identity in a hearing world and is taken on a fabulistic journey through time to one of the most significant events in Deaf history: the Milan Conference on the Education of the Deaf 1880, when sign language was banned from use in education.
Writer / Director: Mark Trifunovic
Deaf Reach: Hope for Pakistan - Short Film (11 min)
In Pakistan, an American expatriot and his Filipina wife have led the development of education opportunities for deaf children and young adults for over 20 years. They began with nothing more than a dream and now have educated more than 5,000 deaf students; established Deaf Reach schools in 8 different cities; and have current enrollment over 1,200. “Deaf Reach: Hope for Pakistan,” a documentary short film, tells their story and highlights some of their students, parents, graduates, and staff. The film also spotlights recent achievements in international collaboration and higher education.
Director: John E. Quatroche II
http://www.jq2productions.com/home/about-jq2/filmography/deaf-reach-hope-for-pakistan/
Let the Chips Fall - Short Film (23 min)
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Nga Yan keeps a secret that nobody knows, not even her boyfriend Tsz Long. When she starts working in the society for a while, she does not encounter smooth sailing. She learns how to open herself. But how does she finally explain to him?
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Writer and Director: Anthony Cheung
Between Two Worlds - Short Film (17 min)
The aim of the portrait documentary is to point out that for the deaf people, to get an education and a job, it is a process that is demanding and cannot be done without various obstacles in both private and professional life, which can be inspiring for viewers. Milan Fritz is able to use his deafness to the benefit where he can fulfil himself and at the same time help others, thus sell what he has learned in his life during his studies. The documentary captures Milan's past and present life through
archive photographs and video footage.
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(2021, Director Ivan Crnac)
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Deaf Educational - Short Film (2 min)
Film Synopsis Coming Soon!
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Writer & Director by Justin Loncar aka somedeafguy
Pinky's VRS documentary - Short Film (12 min)
Many years ago, a young Deaf woman named Pinky had a dream of being able to use sign language over the phone with video. That the dream became a reality in the US in 2002. Pinky explores the world of Video Relay Interpreting and videophones from both the Deaf and interpreter perspectives with her own special brand of humor. Now, Pinky lives in Germany, and has to the film the frustrating experiences of Deaf Germans using VRS.
Write & Directed by Pinky
FAITH - Short Film (6 min)
Taliha and Marlyn are very good friends, Marlyn came out as a lesbian a couple of years ago. Taliha is uncomfortable with this although she wants to speak to Marlyn about LGBT+ issues. Drama
Disconnected: The Musical - Short Film (20 min)
The first of its kind, a Sign Language Zoom musical with all original lyrics and score. Written and directed by Dickie Hearts, Disconnected: The Musical, tells of a love story between Mac, a Deaf filmmaker and Pete, a hearing comic book artist who meet by chance in the virtual world of Zoom. Told in American Sign Language with singing and dancing break-outs— it is “love at first Zoom!”
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Writer & Director: Dickie Hearts
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Flirting (with Possibilities) - Short Film (17 min)
Harley, a Deaf man, is determined to figure out the most effective way to flirt with the cute hearing guy he sees in the coffee shop, which requires a bit of trial and error. As he stumbles through each attempt, “Flirting (With Possibilities)" provides a glimpse of how it feels to communicate primarily via American Sign Language in a predominantly hearing, speaking, and English-using world.
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Writer & Director: Garrett Zuercher
DeafBlind Privileges - Short Film (17 min)
DeafBlind Privileges - to educate and empower community to interact with DeafBlind people.
Film Productionn by the Protactile Theatre (PTT) Team.
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BENT - Short Film (1:32)
A college professor setting out his irregular behavior in his car, must confront his moral decision.
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Filmmaker: Martina bell
Cast: Ayaz Ali
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Deafening Darkness - Short Film
A brave Deaf woman searching for her missing friend encounters a mysterious alien from another world struggling to come to terms with its traumatic past…
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Directed by Mark Trifunovic
So it goes - Short Film (5:55)
A long-shot short that was filmed as part of the deaf artists playground at Fort Lauderdale, Florida in February 2020.
BEING MICHELLE follows the astonishing journey of a deaf and disabled woman who survived incarceration and abuse under unimaginable circumstances by a system that refused to accommodate her needs as a deaf person with autism. Michelle’s trajectory changed when she met Kim Law, a blind volunteer life coach who teaches classes to people in prison.
Sunday, November 6th
CHANGER - Short Feature Film (75 min)
CHANGER: A HAND TELLING is an innovative Deaf-centric and Native-centric filmed performance with Deaf Native storytellers performing the Coast Salish myth of CHANGER in Native and artistic sign language and the next evolution of an original play by Fern Naomi Renville (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwha S’Klallam, Makah).
Helmed by Deaf director Howie Seago, CODA film maker Kyle Seago and Native film maker Raven Two Feathers, CHANGER: A HAND TELLING is a cinematic take on Coast Salish origin stories. Filmed on the traditional lands of the Lower Elwha s’Klallam Tribe, the 75-minute narrative follows mythic characters into a future transformed by tribes exercising sovereign treaty rights.
Director: Howie Seago
Writer: Fern Naomi Renville
Hideaway - Short Film (14 min)
A student short drama. A Deaf student, William goes to university, learns to overcome social anxiety and develops close relations with Dean and Leah.
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Starring William Grint, Daniel Ambrose, Katie Erich, and Joseph Wilson.
Directed by Samuel Ash
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Where It All Starts - Short Film (2 min)
They say that one good deed can change everything. No matter how big it is. But where does it all start?
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Directed by Jakub Volák
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Voice in the silence - Short Film (9 min)
History wants to show the importance of the correct use of terms in the field of deafness, as has also been made clear in the past by Law No. 95 of 2006, which votes in favour of a specific name to the detriment of the others. To this day, however, many deaf and hearing continue to make great confusion in defining the deaf person
Directed by Rosario Liotta
Experimental Films (Animation, Arts, & Technology)
TAMA - Experimental Short Film (9 min)
A young Maori Deaf boy who wants to learn the Haka is isolated within his family where communication is non-existent. On a near-fatal car trip, Tama begins his journey in growing from an undervalued youth into a proud young man.
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Directed by Jared Flitcroft
Rite of Identity - Animation Short Film (4 min)
A 2D animation film about a deaf girl who has exceptional artistic talent but struggles with an overwhelming soundscape. Many deaf symbols and motifs are conveyed through her lens. The film is based on the animator’s personal experience of being a deaf student in a mainstream school.
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Youmee Lee (Director & Animator)
Greta's Storm - Animation Short Film (12 min)
The successful stock exchange company promises to convert plastic waste into fuel. A cutter accidentally encounters an unknown island and anticipates the deception. The hurricane called Greta will wreak havoc there.
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Christopher Buhr (Director & Animator)
The Gum Mask - Experimental / Animation Film (3 min)
It was time, masks are compulsory, some forgot to wear masks. Sometimes controller comes in subway, can he find a way out?
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Christopher Buhr (Director & Animator)
Amharic, Gurage & Wolayta Dancers - Experimental (3 min)
Ethiopia traditional dance and story song Ethiopia Sign Language.
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Directed & Artist by Hanna Tewabe
ASL Literature Films
Ungiving Tree - ASL Literature Film (1 min)
A classic twist of children storytelling "The Giving Tree". A hungry hiker tries everything to get the yummy honeycrisp apple. Will the hiker succeed or the tree will win?
Created by Aleksandr Rozentsvit
I'm groot - ASL Literature Film (2 min)
I'm groot - a visual vernacular story of Groot.
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Created by Leland Ballard
World War II Aviation - ASL Literature Film (3 min)
Visual Vernacular storytelling about World War II Aviation.
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Created by Ying Yu
Blindfold Sign Language Performance - ASL Literature Film (41 sec)
Visual Vernacular storytelling with blindfold to follow a video to express in sign language.
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Created by Ying Yu
Video Game - ASL Literature Film (1 min)
Visual Vernacular storytelling - When I was a kid, I was addicted to TV games that had samurai fighting. Was about to get excited but the power went out halfway through. It was a good place, but a disappointing scene.
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Created by Ying Yu
Jogger - ASL Literature Film (3 min)
Visual Vernacular storytelling about a jogger's perspectives.
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Created by Lisa McBee