Film Workshops
MISSION
The Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival (TIDFAF) is a non-profit organization that presents bi-annual arts and cultural festival that promotes educational awareness, cultural diversity, and the celebration of emerging “Deaf Cinema” through the visual medium.
VALUES
TIDFAF, a first and only festival of its kind in Canada, is one of the fastest growing Deaf festivals globally.
The biannual festival showcases the work of talented national and international Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-blind filmmakers and artists as well as those who produce works in collaboration with the Deaf and hearing community. TIDFAF does not only represent the story of Deaf culture, it represents diverse layers of the human experience we are all familiar with,” says Catherine MacKinnon, TIDFAF Festival Director & Co-Founder.
We recognize their amazing film and arts works made by Deaf people nationally and internationally about topics that have absolutely nothing to do directly with being Deaf, and bridging the gap between Deaf and mainstream film and arts audiences to celebrate our similarities as well as our differences. TIDFAF does not only represent the story of Deaf people however represents the human experience of love, hate, togetherness, abandonment, meaning and discovery on themes we are all familiar with.
We promote to create more public awareness around issues explaining the lack of larger representation of Deaf artists in mainstream culture and also hope to act as a mentoring and resource partner for Deaf students and artists seeking assistance on getting their projects seen and heard.
This festival in Toronto shall continue to be wake-up call to acknowledge the talents right here in Canada and international-wide. First festival was hosted in May 10 – 14, 2006, Second festival was also hosted on May 21-23, 2009, Third festival was held on May 12-14, 2011 and last festival was held on May 9-12, 2013 are found to be very successful- thus leading us to continue amazing work on hosting 5th bi-annual festival on May 27-31, 2015.