Come make history at the SignLight International Film Festival! For the first time, Deaf filmmakers from around the globe will be gathered together in Hollywood, the center of the entertainment business, to showcase their work to the industry, and to the Deaf community and allies worldwide via our special streaming platform. All four days of the festival take place at the landmark Pacific Design Center, providing plenty of space for mingling, lounging, and discussing the films screened in the plush state-of-the-art Silver Screen Theater. A gala filmmakers’ welcome reception and closing live-streamed awards ceremony bookend a weekend of special presentations, panel discussions, Q&As, and workshops. Travel and lodging assistance will be offered to accepted entrants to ensure the invaluable opportunities for showcasing, learning, and networking are available to all!
To be ELIGIBLE, FILMS MUST SATISFY at least ONE of the following criterion:
1) be made by a DEAF FILMMAKER
2) be made by a TEAM OF DEAF-HEARING CREATIVES
3) prominently feature SIGN LANGUAGE
ABOUT SIGNLIGHT
A nonprofit subsidiary of SignWorld Studios, SignLight, Inc. provides professional online and in-person training as well as internships for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals aspiring to work in the entertainment industry both above- and below-the-line. Founded by CJ Jones in 2020, SignLight brings the vision of an inclusive entertainment industry to life through advocacy and consultation with industry leaders, job placement, and talent promotion. Engaging all-deaf creative teams and deaf/hearing collaborations alike, SignLight and SignWorld Studios bring compelling stories by Deaf Filmmakers to deaf and general audiences worldwide.
• Best Director, Screenwriter, Performance, and Ensemble awards
• Best Short Film
• Best Documentary
• Best Animated Film
• Best Comedy
• Best Music/Song Video
• Best Student Film
• Special Merit Awards – in recognition of especially creative, innovative, or impactful presentations of Sign Language or the Deaf Experience, these awards will be determined by Jury discretion
• Industry Accelerator Awards – packaged by entertainment industry studios and communications and media technology companies, these prizes will be presented to the most promising emerging directors and writers to support their next production.