About TIDFAF
The Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival (TIDFAF) is a non-profit organization that bi-annual arts and cultural festival that promotes educational awareness, cultural diversity, and the celebration of emerging “Deaf Cinema” through the visual medium.
The biannual festival showcases the work of talented national and international Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, deafened, Deaf-Blind filmmakers and artists as well as those who produce works in collaboration with the Deaf and hearing community. Together with many individuals, community groups, businesses, and participating sponsors, we are proud to recognize the vibrant culture on their work for creating an amazing film screenings to Deaf and hearing community audiences during the festival.
Our Mission and Values
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.
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.
Our Team
Catherine MacKinnon, Festival Director
Catherine is a co founder and Festival Director of TIDFAF since it’s inception. She is internationally known for her work in short films, television, films, documentaries and feature films. At the 2003, World Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec, Catherine was nominated for the Best Canadian Student Director, an award sponsored by Kodak for her short film, “I’m Not From Hear”. The film went on to win 5 awards and screened in several of Canadian Festivals, as well as in United Kingdom, Finland, Russia, and the United States. In the fall of 2009, Catherine co-produced her biggest career project, “The Hammer”, which won 8 Festival Awards based on a biopic of a real life UFC Fighter, Matt “Hammer” Hamill. www.thehammerfilm.com.
Catherine performed in “Vagina Monologues”, in Toronto, with Vanessa Vaughan, Rachel McAdams, and Shirley Douglas. In Los Angeles, with a talented group of actresses as a fundraiser benefit for the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness. She contributed her “Atmospheric Vocals” in a horror flick, “Silent Hill”. She can been seen in “Kenny Vs Spenny”, Season 5. “Voices of Chornobyl”, a Co production of Deaf West Theater & Anateaues theater in L.A. She loved being part of the “ASImprov”ensemble showcase. She is currently attached in several of film projects. Catherine graduated with a B.F.A in Film Studies from Ryerson University, School of Image Arts. Catherine is a proud card carrying member of ACTRA since 2005.
Catherine’s role in TIDFAF: Sponsorship Co ordinator, High Schools Boot Camp organizer scheduled for January 2013, Volunteer Relations, Festival Logistics & Public Relations, etc!
Frank Folino, Associate Director
Frank Folino was born Deaf in Toronto and he graduated with Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science at York University with his research fields relating to the political economy and political power on Canadian federalism.
He joined as Team Lead for Festival Outreach at Pride Toronto, a not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual festival held during the last week of June in downtown Toronto. Pride Toronto exists to celebrate the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto’s LGBTTIQQ2SA communities and is one of the leading cultural events of its kind in the world with a total economic benefit in 2009 of $136 million. In addition to his work at Pride Toronto, he is currently President for the Canadian Association of the Deaf-Association des Sourds du Canada, an organization that promoting and protecting the rights, needs, and concerns of those who are linguistically and culturally Deaf across Canada who uses American Sign Language (ASL)/English and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ)/French.
He received the volunteer award from Festivals and Events of Ontario (FEO) in March 2009, an organization that promotes economic tourism in Ontario for his huge efforts in promoting Pride Toronto and he also received Ontario Volunteer Service Awards from Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration in June 2010 for his volunteer recognition in the Province of Ontario. He is also the recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
In his role as an Associate Director, he is responsible for the festival logistics in the area of sponsorship, website, operations and ASL-LSQ interpreters coordination.
Kelly Halligan, Arts and Entertainment Manager
Born in Toronto, Kel graduated with a B.F.A in Illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. He is currently a freelance Illustrator & artist. He developed and created logos for several of Deaf organizations in Canada. Kel’s illustrated art work, was awarded by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Rochester, NY. Kel’s illustrations can be seen in the following books: “A Parent’s Guidebook: ASL & Early Literacy”, & “ASL Eye Spy Handshapes”, “The Smart Princess and other Deaf Tales”, & “Baby’s First ASL”.
Kel was cast as “Darlene” as one of the 6 deaf actors, for the 1981 film entitled “Clown White”. It was also the first closed captioned film ever to air on CBC. At the recent, Deaf History International Conference, July, 2012, the deaf actors, producer and film editor were in attendance, a historic reunion, 32 years later.
Kel’s current role with TIDFAF is: Film Jury Programmers Co-ordinator, Arts Submission organizer for the Canadian Deaf Arts in collaboration with Deaf Culture Centre. He’s thrilled with a return of the High School Youths Booth Camp scheduled for January, 2013. At the 2006 festival, Deaf Culture Centre and TIDFAF hosted the International Deaf Art Exhibits and it was met with a great success. He also worked as an Key Art Department co-ordinator for films “I’m Not From Hear” and other film productions in Toronto.
Anthony Rumolo, Volunteer Logistics Coordinator
Anthony is a Yorkville University New Brunswick Graduate with a passion for hockey and ASL III signer. He started the Ontario Deaf Hockey Association with 2 gold medals and a bronze.
Currently, he is working for WestJet in Baggage Operations and Guest Services with an aspiration to work in the film and business industry as a production manager for creative services.
Privacy Policy
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