The SignLight International Film Festival is a bi-annual celebration of sign language-centered cinema held in Culver City, California (Los Angeles area), designed to bring Deaf filmmakers together from around the world. We create welcoming spaces to connect, collaborate, and share stories—building lasting relationships and a strong, supportive creative community.

Our festival offers opportunities to showcase your work, engage with enthusiastic audiences, and connect with industry professionals who value authentic, sign-centered storytelling. Together, we're building a global ecosystem where Deaf filmmakers can thrive.

Awards & Prizes

Selections and awards are based on artistic merit, emotional impact, and originality—regardless of genre or format. Awards include recognition and industry exposure. Selected films may also be eligible for additional opportunities through our industry partnerships.

Awards may include recognition for:

-Overall Excellence in Filmmaking:
Honoring a film that demonstrates exceptional quality across direction, storytelling, acting, and production.
This award reflects a film that delivers on all levels — the most complete and masterfully crafted work.

-Creative Achievement:
Celebrating a unique artistic voice, innovative concept, or striking execution in any aspect of filmmaking.
This award recognizes bold originality — the kind of creative risk-taking that pushes boundaries,

-Outstanding Achievement:
Awarded to an actor, writer, director of photography, or other key contributor whose work stands out.

-Breakthrough Student Film:
Recognizing outstanding work by a student filmmaker that displays exceptional promise and originality.

-Audience Choice Award:
Selected by viewers, this award reflects the most impactful or beloved film as voted by the audience.

-Jury Spotlight:
Reserved for a film that takes bold artistic risks, presents a visionary approach, or innovates within the medium.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSIONS:
The nonrefundable entry fee must be payable in US dollars to SIGNLIGHT, INC. When submitting to the festival you are agreeing that, if selected and the invitation accepted, to screen the submitted film during the dates of the festival.

ENTRY REGULATIONS:
SIGNLIGHT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is a competitive showcase for domestic and international films by Deaf filmmakers with production teams composed of all deaf or a collaborative mix of deaf and hearing artists and technicians. All films must have been completed after January 1, 2023. SLIFF reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project submitted. There is no limit to the number of entries.

FILM ENTRIES:
All foreign language entries must have English subtitles. Projects must be submitted for consideration as an online screener. If you did not receive a confirmation of submission, please email: Michael Kaufer- Lead Programming Director: cinema@signlight.org.

COMPETITION:
All films are nominated and voted upon by an impartial jury of deaf and hearing filmmakers, deaf and hearing industry professionals, prominent figures in the domestic and international Deaf Community, and principal festival organizers.

PRESS MATERIALS:
If selected, SLIFF will require an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) which includes high-resolution production stills, key art, bio and filmography of the director, production notes and full cast and crew credits.

LIABILITY:
Every precaution is taken when handling your film once submitted but we cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged files that are submitted to us.

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT:
Submission of an entry gives SLIFF permission to have excerpts of accepted work, including film trailers, shown in all promotional activities related to the festival.

Eligibility Notes

Filmmakers, Cast & Crew :
Film Festival prioritizes authentic representation, therefore we require at least one person who identifies as Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, late-deafened, or hard of hearing to be part of your film in a significant production position or creative role. . For the purposes of community integrity, we seek individuals who:
-Have a significant hearing loss that impacts daily communication
-Use a sign language as a primary or fluent language
-Identify with and/or are actively engaged in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community

While we recognize that hearing loss exists on a spectrum, this festival specifically centers on lived experiences aligned with cultural Deaf/HoH identities — not mild hearing loss or temporary impairment. If you're unsure whether your project aligns with our mission, please reach out to cinema@signlight.org.

Accessibility:
All films must include open English subtitles (burned-in) for all signed and spoken dialogue, plus descriptions of important background audio (e.g., [door slams], [tense music]). Filmmakers must provide both a screening copy with burned-in subtitles and a separate SRT file for accessibility purposes.
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Gabriel Ponte-Fleary

    For being the first one, it was pretty amazing. Always room to improve the organization of events (workshops and screenings happening at the same time wasn't fair). I loved every moment but 5 days seems a bit too much, but being an International film festival it makes sense. Great networking experience.

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • Lymon Thorn

    There were a lot of events and screenings that ended up being a few minutes late, and there wasn't enough transparency about what kind of catered food we would get, for those who could have had food allergies or intolerances. A lot of important events clashed with screenings and I wish there had been more leeway in between screenings and events so I didn't have to choose between two that I really wanted to go to.

    However, I enjoyed the films here, and I was impressed by how it was all organized even if it was choppy and scattered without much direction - that's growing pains for a new film festival, I think, and I hope they learn from their mistakes and improve on next festival. What changes I would like to see the most are:

    1) COMMUNICATION! Be clear about where to go and what will happen when, and follow through on the times! Definitely announce changes in plans. The schedule felt chaotic because of this. I had no idea filmmakers were supposed to do Q&A questions after their films - or if we needed to show up for our film screenings.

    2) PREPARATION! I saw that quite a few people went hungry because they didn't know when to get food or if food would be served at all events. Also, the provision of water - which you did good on after the first day, but it should still be more clear where you can get refreshments or if you can't get any.

    3) DEAF SPACE FRIENDLINESS! This is surprisingly the least deaf-friendly space I have been to - the entire venue save the hallways had poor lighting, interpreters and presenters alike kept scrambling to find good lighting to sign under. I think if you are choosing a venue, you should keep deaf space in mind and test every room's lighting conditions beforehand.

    4) Accessibility. I saw plenty of spectators in wheelchairs, so I assume the venue was good for that - but it wasn't very friendly in other aspects, including what I said about deaf space. The restroom doors didn't have buttons for wheelchair users, the spaces used for mixers felt cramped and the lighting was terrible to the point I worried I'd get a migraine. I am autistic and I feel overwhelmed in crowds, so you could have a designated sensory friendly area for people who want to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Also, see what I said about food and possibly listing the foods served for catering in detail so people can know and prepare in advance.

    That's all for my review. Thank you for a great film festival :)

    April 2024
    Helpful
  • SAHERA KHAN

    Thank you for selected My Glow.

    April 2024
    Helpful