Private Project

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.

  • Doug Roland
    Director
    Jada, A Better Way
  • Doug Roland
    Writer
    Jada, A Better Way
  • Doug Roland
    Producer
    Jada, A Better Way
  • Phil Newsom
    Producer
    Simple Mind, April Flowers, Every Time I Die, Albanian Gangster
  • Susan Ruzenski
    Producer
  • Luis Augusto Figueroa
    Producer
  • Steven Prescod
    Key Cast
    "Tereek"
    Blind, The Private Life of a Modern Woman
  • Robert Tarango
    Key Cast
    "Artie"
  • Marlee Matlin
    Executive Producers
  • Jack Jason
    Executive Producers
  • Andrew Carlberg
    Executive Producers
  • Alana Da Fonseca
    Executive Producers
  • DJ Lampitt
    Executive Producers
  • Doug Roland
    Editor
  • Eugene Koh
    Director of Photography
  • Daniel Ryan
    Original Music
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa Mini 3.2k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Academy Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    April 25, 2021
    Nominee: Best Live Action Short
  • Slamdance
    Park City, UT
    United States
    February 17, 2021
    Utah
    Honorable Mention: Unstoppable Shorts
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
    Cleveland, OH
    United States
    April 7, 2021
    Cleveland
    Jury Award: The Clover and Maggie Award: In Celebration of Life
  • Ashland Independent Film Festival
    Ashland, OR
    United States
    June 24, 2021
    Oregon
    Jury Award: Best Narrative Short Film
  • Fargo Film Festival
    Fargo, ND
    United States
    March 18, 2021
    North Dakota
    Jury Award: Best Narrative Short Film
  • Bengaluru International Film Festival
    Bengaluru
    India
    August 13, 2020
    India
    1st Runner Up
  • Indie Street Film Festival
    Red Bank, NJ
    United States
    September 17, 2020
    New Jersey
    Audience Award: Best Short Film
  • Lake County Film Festival
    Grayslake, IL
    United States
    November 4, 2020
    Special Jury Award: Performances
  • Naples International Film Festival
    Naples, FL
    United States
    October 22, 2020
    Audience Award: Best Short Film
  • Ojai Film Festival
    Ojai, CA
    United States
    November 15, 2020
    Jury Award: Best Narrative Short
  • Port Townsend Film Festival
    Port 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 Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    October 14, 2020
    Audience Award: Best Short
  • San Diego International Film Festival
    San Diego, CA
    United States
    October 15, 2020
    Audience Award: Best Short Film
  • Woods Hole Film Festival
    Woods Hole, MA
    United States
    October 3, 2020
    Jury Prize: Best Short Drama
  • deadCenter Film Festival
    Oklahoma City, OK
    United States
    June 11, 2020
    Oklahoma
    Audience Award: Best Short Film
  • Wisconsin Film Festival
    Madison, WI
    United States
    April 4, 2020
    Wisconsin
    Honorable Mention: Golden Badger Award
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla
    United States
    Best of Show - Best Shorts Winner
  • AltFF Alternative Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    Best Film of the Festival
  • Blackbird Film Festival
    Cortland
    United States
    Best of Fest
  • Festival Alto Vincentino
    Santorso
    Italy
    Avis Prize
  • Postira Seaside Film Festival
    Brac
    Croatia
    Goldine Sardine - Audience Award
  • Lago Film Festival
    Lago
    Italy
    UNICEF Award
  • Cheongju International Short Film Festival
    Cheongju
    Korea, Republic of
    Best of Fest
  • Los Angeles Diversity Film Festiavl
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Audience Award for best short film; Best Actor (Steven Prescod)
  • Salute Your Shorts Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Programmer's Choice
  • Not Film Festival
    Rimini
    Italy
    Special Mention Jury Prize
  • Adriatic Film Festival
    Francavilla al Mare
    Italy
    Best International Short Film
  • Fire Island Film Festival
    Fire Island
    United States
    Best Film
  • Chain NYC Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    Filmmakers' Favorite
  • Fano International Film Festival
    Fano
    Italy
    Special Mention of the Jury
  • Fiaticorti Film Festival
    Istrana
    Italy
    Audience Award for best short film; Best Actor (Steven Prescod)
  • Sentiero Film Festival
    Sentiero
    Italy
    Best Short Movie Award
Distribution Information
  • Ouat Media
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Doug Roland

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.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

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.