Best Art Direction
Director: Jules Dameron, USA
RT: 15:00 | USA | Language: American Sign Language, English w/ English Subtitles
With a mother for a mortician, 8-year-old Lady Grey has never experienced a smile since birth. When she wishes upon a shooting star, happiness comes in the form of her worst fear: an Italian singing clown. Who knew?
Best International Short Documentary (under 30 minutes)
Director: Jose Saldana, USA
RT: 24:00 | USA | Language: American Sign Language, English w/ English Subtitles
This film explores the condition of deafness by documenting theatre director Ethan Sinnot as he directs the drama Agamemnon using an all deaf cast and crew. Sinnot’s play is a metaphor for the deaf world that the documentary’s director Saldana and all those he is filming live in everyday.
Best International Short Film
Director: James Banks, ENGLAND
RT: 16:00 | ENGLAND | Language: English, British Sign Language
Deaf teenager Danny, bereaved, bullied and unable to relate to his father, is pushed into making a dark decision.
Best Experimental Film
Director: Adrean Mangiardi, USA
RT: 08:35 | USA | Language: N/A
This experimental film explores the interaction between a sensory-deprived subject and his sensory input. It relates Mangiardi’s experiences using bilateral cochlear implants and his struggles to bridge his identity between “Deaf” and “Hearing.”
Best Language Adaptation
Director: DPAN-Deaf Performing Arts Network, USA
RT: 4:03 | USA | Language: American Sign Language, English
American Sign Language Music Video featuring Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”
Best High School Film Audience Choice Award
“The Cursed Ball”
EC Drury School for the Deaf, CANADA
BEST STUDENT FILM
Director: Kimby Caplan, USA
RT: 45:00 | USA | Language: English w/ English Subtitles
A story of one family’s triumph over the obstacles of prejudice and technology to ensure that their deaf daughter will speak.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Director: CJ Jones, USA
RT: 80:00 | USA | Language: American Sign Language, English
This insightful, comedic work portrays a man who is both Deaf and African American, confronting the sometimes absurd perceptions that transpire between the hearing and the Deaf.
2009 Event Info
Festival Booklet
Film Schedule
LOCATION
Innis Town Hall
University of Toronto
2 Sussex Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1J5
http://www.utoronto.ca/townhall/
Parking Lot Map (PDF)
Friday May 22nd
Venue: Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Street, University of Toronto
10:00 – 10:50 Lingua Gestual Portugesa RT: 50 minutes
11:00 – 12:00 FILM/TV WRITING WORKSHOP w. Maria Monte De Rey
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:08 Deprivation/Stimulation RT: 8 minutes
1:10 – 1:22 lo e il mio amico Nike RT: 11:57 minutes
1:25 – 1:40 La Fiamma Misteriosa RT: 15 minutes
1:45 – 1:48- An Experimental Clip RT: 3:14 minutes
1:50 – 2:11 The Blue Box RT: 21 minutes
2:15 – 3:45 9/11 Fear in Silence RT: 88 minutes
3:50 – 3:55 Sneak Preview “Cop Out”, “Lexie Cannes” and the Trailer for “See What I’m Saying Deaf Entertainers”
Friday Night, May 22nd
Venue: Deaf Culture Centre 55 Mill Street, Distillery District
7:00-10:00 Networking Reception: Mingle with Special Guests, Actors and Filmmakers; Presentations by Filmmakers on their experiences in producing a film etc.
Saturday May 23rd
Venue: Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Street, University of Toronto
9:30 – 9:49 Over the Bridge RT: 19 minutes
9:50 – 10:07 Danny RT: 16:36 minutes
10:10 – 10:55 Listen RT: 45 minutes
11:00 – 12:00 PANELISTS WORKSHOP: Maple Pictures, VP of Communications Toronto International Film Festival Group, et al, courtesy of the Toronto International Film Festival Group Film Circuit Group
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 – CREATIVE USAGE OF ASL – DRAMA – ACTING WORKSHOP with Anthony Natale
2:00 – 2:08 – D-Pan – “Evergreen” and “Beautiful” RT: 8 minutes
2:15 – 3:15 – High School students films RT: 1:15 minutes
3:17 – 3:20 – Sipho The Lion and The Rubbish Monster RT: 2:32 minutes
3:22 – 3:29 – A Story about Ch’ien-niang RT: 6:37 minutes
3:30 – 4:50 – What Are Ya… Deaf? RT: 80 minutes
4:55 – 5:10 – Glee! RT: 15 minutes
5:25 – 7:00 – Dinner
7:00 – 7:03 – Reel Life RT: 3 minutes
7:05 – 7:18 – The Guest RT: 13 minutes
7:20 – 7:41 – The Making of Agamemnon RT: 24 minutes
7:45 – 8:06 – Finding Oz: A Journey Home RT: 26 minutes
8:10 – 9:10 — Anna’s Silent Struggle RT: 56 minutes
9:20 – 9:50 – Closing Awards Ceremony
** subject to change **
Opening Night
Registration
Doors open at 5:30 PM
Wine and Cheese Reception: 6 PM
Screening starts at: 7:30 PM
Post Show Screening Q and A’s with the Special Guests
Download Gala Film Synopsis in PDF format here or you can read it further down this page.
Universal Signs, a groundbreaking “silent” film, presented in mesmerizing American Sign Language (ASL) with English subtitles, touches the hearts and minds of hearing and Deaf audiences alike. After the death of his fiancée’s daughter while in his care, Andrew (Anthony Natale, Mr. Holland’s Opus), a Deaf artist, becomes a prisoner of his own mind. Tormented day and night by memories and self-blame, Andrew falls in a downward spiral of depression and anger that alienates everyone around him. It is only through a serendipitous friendship and new love with Mary (Sabrina Lloyd, Sports Night) that Andrew is able to sense the life around him – forgive himself, rediscover his muse and experience the transformative power of love. An original score by Academy Award® winner Joseph Renzetti propels the story along with stellar supporting performances from Margot Kidder (Superman), Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager), Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas: FBEye) and Ashlyn Sanchez (Crash).
Innis Town Hall
University of Toronto
2 Sussex Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1J5
Best High School Boot Camp
HIGH SCHOOL'S FILM BOOT CAMP WORKSHOPS
Welcome to TIDFAF First-ever High Schools Film Boot Camp! We will showcase the students work at the upcoming festival on Saturday, May 23rd. Students will create between 2 to 7 minutes movies, from their respective schools. Their work will be shown to family, friends and Festival participants to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage their artistic talent here in Canada.
WORKSHOP VIDEO
Please check out the media clips from January 2009 Boot Camp Workshops, interviews with three Deaf students as well as the Festival Director. To see the written English transcript, click on the link below.
English Transcript (OG site has dead link)
JANUARY 2009 WORKSHOP PHOTOS
Host School’s: EC Drury School for the Deaf, Milton, Ontario Participating Schools: Danforth C.I Toronto, Robarts School for the Deaf, London, Ontario and Our Lady of Mont Carmel, Mississauga,
Jevon Whetter, Los Angeles, Director/Producer/Actor
Northern Secondary School, Toronto, Ontario
IN THE NEWS
Jevon Whetter, Los Angeles, Director/Producer/Actor
Tatiana Hutinec, Toronto, Costume Designer
Kalen Feeney,Los Angeles, Writer/Actor
In the News images courtesy of Milton Community Newspaper
Founding Sponsor
Festival Sponsors
Networking Reception Sponsors
Festival Supporters