Miss-Delectable
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Rochester's First Deaf Film Festival a Success
Gavin Reynolds (Rochester, NY) 03/20/05 -- After two years of planning, the Deaf Rochester Film Festival premiered this weekend. It consists of more than 45 films, from dramas to comedies, in which almost all the actors and directors are deaf.
Filmmaker Bridgette Klein says this proves being deaf is not a handicap.
“I think this is very significant. I think that we need to show the significance to show and celebrate the excitement that we share as a community-- to let them know that we're OK,” she said.
The films do not focus on sound. Instead, they are powerful visually. Most of the dialogue is presented by actors through sign language. For people who can hear, there's a quiet soundtrack, and sub-titles.
With such a large deaf community in the area, the screenings have been packed.
Festival director Patti Durr said, “Going to a movie house is not something that happens very often and we don't have these experiences. We cannot open the paper and go to a movie, and last night we had deaf people lined up at the Little.”
The screenings are not only for the deaf community. In fact, organizers hope to educate the general public about what it's like to be hearing impaired.
“Deaf people live amongst us every day, this is an opportunity to learn about our culture, the deaf culture,” she said.
The deaf community can now spread this message around the country. Organizers say deaf films are gaining a following in many other communities as well.
Gavin Reynolds (Rochester, NY) 03/20/05 -- After two years of planning, the Deaf Rochester Film Festival premiered this weekend. It consists of more than 45 films, from dramas to comedies, in which almost all the actors and directors are deaf.
Filmmaker Bridgette Klein says this proves being deaf is not a handicap.
“I think this is very significant. I think that we need to show the significance to show and celebrate the excitement that we share as a community-- to let them know that we're OK,” she said.
The films do not focus on sound. Instead, they are powerful visually. Most of the dialogue is presented by actors through sign language. For people who can hear, there's a quiet soundtrack, and sub-titles.
With such a large deaf community in the area, the screenings have been packed.
Festival director Patti Durr said, “Going to a movie house is not something that happens very often and we don't have these experiences. We cannot open the paper and go to a movie, and last night we had deaf people lined up at the Little.”
The screenings are not only for the deaf community. In fact, organizers hope to educate the general public about what it's like to be hearing impaired.
“Deaf people live amongst us every day, this is an opportunity to learn about our culture, the deaf culture,” she said.
The deaf community can now spread this message around the country. Organizers say deaf films are gaining a following in many other communities as well.
