Feeling Through
Feeling Through, the first film to star a DeafBlind actor, is a coming of age story that follows Tereek, a teen wandering the streets of New York, desperate for a place to crash when he encounters Artie, a DeafBlind man in need of help getting home. From an awkward meeting between strangers emerges an intimate bond, and a journey that forever changes Tereek.
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Doug RolandDirectorJada, A Better Way
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Doug RolandWriterJada, A Better Way
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Doug RolandProducerJada, A Better Way
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Phil NewsomProducerSimple Mind, April Flowers, Every Time I Die, Albanian Gangster
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Susan RuzenskiProducer
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Luis Augusto FigueroaProducer
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Steven PrescodKey Cast"Tereek"Blind, The Private Life of a Modern Woman
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Robert TarangoKey Cast"Artie"
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Marlee MatlinExecutive Producers
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Jack JasonExecutive Producers
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Andrew CarlbergExecutive Producers
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Alana Da FonsecaExecutive Producers
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DJ LampittExecutive Producers
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Doug RolandEditor
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Eugene KohDirector of Photography
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Daniel RyanOriginal Music
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:18 minutes
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Completion Date:June 1, 2020
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Arri Alexa Mini 3.2k
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Academy AwardsLos Angeles, CA
United States
April 25, 2021
Nominee: Best Live Action Short -
SlamdancePark City, UT
United States
February 17, 2021
Utah
Honorable Mention: Unstoppable Shorts -
Cleveland International Film FestivalCleveland, OH
United States
April 7, 2021
Cleveland
Jury Award: The Clover and Maggie Award: In Celebration of Life -
Ashland Independent Film FestivalAshland, OR
United States
June 24, 2021
Oregon
Jury Award: Best Narrative Short Film -
Fargo Film FestivalFargo, ND
United States
March 18, 2021
North Dakota
Jury Award: Best Narrative Short Film -
Bengaluru International Film FestivalBengaluru
India
August 13, 2020
India
1st Runner Up -
Indie Street Film FestivalRed Bank, NJ
United States
September 17, 2020
New Jersey
Audience Award: Best Short Film -
Lake County Film FestivalGrayslake, IL
United States
November 4, 2020
Special Jury Award: Performances -
Naples International Film FestivalNaples, FL
United States
October 22, 2020
Audience Award: Best Short Film -
Ojai Film FestivalOjai, CA
United States
November 15, 2020
Jury Award: Best Narrative Short -
Port Townsend Film FestivalPort Townsend, WA
United States
September 12, 2020
Jury Award Best Short Narrative; Audience Award Short Narrative; Jury Special Commendation Best Actor Steven Prescod, Robert Tarango -
Portland Film FestivalPortland, OR
United States
October 14, 2020
Audience Award: Best Short -
San Diego International Film FestivalSan Diego, CA
United States
October 15, 2020
Audience Award: Best Short Film -
Woods Hole Film FestivalWoods Hole, MA
United States
October 3, 2020
Jury Prize: Best Short Drama -
deadCenter Film FestivalOklahoma City, OK
United States
June 11, 2020
Oklahoma
Audience Award: Best Short Film -
Wisconsin Film FestivalMadison, WI
United States
April 4, 2020
Wisconsin
Honorable Mention: Golden Badger Award -
Best Shorts CompetitionLa Jolla
United States
Best of Show - Best Shorts Winner -
AltFF Alternative Film FestivalToronto
Canada
Best Film of the Festival -
Blackbird Film FestivalCortland
United States
Best of Fest -
Festival Alto VincentinoSantorso
Italy
Avis Prize -
Postira Seaside Film FestivalBrac
Croatia
Goldine Sardine - Audience Award -
Lago Film FestivalLago
Italy
UNICEF Award -
Cheongju International Short Film FestivalCheongju
Korea, Republic of
Best of Fest -
Los Angeles Diversity Film FestiavlLos Angeles
United States
Audience Award for best short film; Best Actor (Steven Prescod) -
Salute Your Shorts Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
Programmer's Choice -
Not Film FestivalRimini
Italy
Special Mention Jury Prize -
Adriatic Film FestivalFrancavilla al Mare
Italy
Best International Short Film -
Fire Island Film FestivalFire Island
United States
Best Film -
Chain NYC Film FestivalNew York City
United States
Filmmakers' Favorite -
Fano International Film FestivalFano
Italy
Special Mention of the Jury -
Fiaticorti Film FestivalIstrana
Italy
Audience Award for best short film; Best Actor (Steven Prescod) -
Sentiero Film FestivalSentiero
Italy
Best Short Movie Award
Distribution Information
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Ouat MediaSales AgentCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Doug Roland is an Oscar-nominated director for his film Feeling Through, which is the first film to star a DeafBlind actor. Featured on The Nightly News with Lester Holt, The Daily Show, in The New York Times, and LA Times and winner of 120+ film festival awards, Feeling Through is executive produced by Oscar winner Marlee Matlin and was made in partnership with Helen Keller National Center. As a social impact filmmaker, Doug uses his work to create accessible screening events and speak at conferences, institutions, and schools around the world about collaborative, inclusive storytelling.
Doug’s short film Jada became a viral sensation with nearly 25 million views on YouTube. Doug produced the feature film Life Hack which won 16 awards on the festival circuit, including Best Independent Feature at the Cleveland International Film Festival. He studied film at the University of Wisconsin Madison and FAMU in Prague.
While on my way home late one evening in August 2011 in New York City, I encountered a man standing on a deserted street corner holding a sign that read, “I am deaf and blind and need help crossing the street.” Over the next hour, I got to know this man, Artemio, while we sat and waited for his bus. He’d write to me in his notebook and I’d respond by tracing words one letter at a time on his palm. When his bus finally arrived, Artemio and I embraced, and his warmth was so genuine that I felt like I was saying goodbye to a dear friend.
It was notable that Artemio was the first DeafBlind person I had ever met, but he left a lasting impression on me because of his kindness, charisma, and the bond we formed that evening. Shortly after this experience I wrote Feeling Through, but it would be seven years until I aligned with the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) – a partnership that allowed me to tell this story with the authenticity it deserves.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with HKNC to learn about the community and to cast a DeafBlind actor in a leading role (a film history first). Ultimately, Feeling Through is about the power of human connection despite whatever differences we may have.
Feeling Through is often screened alongside a companion documentary and panel discussion with the creator and members of the DeafBlind community to make "The Feeling Through Experience" - a 90-minute event to entertain as well as foster greater understanding of accessibility and the diversity of the DeafBlind community.