USA, 2023, 91 minutes

Alison O’Daniel, the director, will participate in a Fireside Chat with Patty Liang, the SDFF Director.

Opening night reception to follow.

Between 2011 and 2013, a series of unusual thefts occurred targeting twelve Southern California high school band rooms with thieves absconding with more than twenty tubas. Using this quirky series of unsolved crimes as a source of inspiration, director and visual artist Alison O’Daniel blends elements of documentary and fiction to create a unique sensory experience that defies categorization. What happens when sound is no longer present? What shifts in the senses when a marching band loses its booming tonal anchor? This is not a literal story about tubas and thieves, but rather about sound and its absence. Featuring a cast of mostly Deaf actors and told through a Deaf and Hard of Hearing lens, The Tuba Thieves asks its audience to become active participants in this cinematic experience and offers the challenge to engage – and perhaps think – differently.

In ASL (American Sign Language) and English with Open Captions.

Content warnings: Adult, Theft

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Runtime: 71 minutes

This collection of four films is a mixture of documentary, narrative and experimental storytelling that explores themes of Deaf identity with vision, clarity and creativity.

The Future of Deaf Filmmaking Panel: Charlie Ainsworth of Deaf Angry People Productions & MJ Kiego of the Zankza Project

Moderator: Melissa Yingst of VSYN+

Program lineup:

• LOOK AT ME
• DEAF IDENTITY
• THE DEVICE THAT TURNED ME INTO A CYBORG…
• THE BLOOMING

Content warning(s): Identity, Incarceration, Adult, Nudity, Medical Surgery, Sexual Activity

Runtime: 93 minutes

These five films highlight stories of Deaf people from all over the world whose advocacy work on behalf of the Deaf community has helped push back against oppression and create positive change for the future.

Program Lineup:

• VOICES IN THE SILENCE
• DIAGNONSENSE
• THE 5 PERCENT
• MY GLOW
• THE SILENT WORLD OF BARRY PRIORI

Content warning(s): Hate Speech, Mental Illness, Profanity, Nudity, Birth Trauma

Runtime: 86 minutes

Comic relief is just the remedy with this wide variety of stories designed to tickle your funny bone.

Q&A with Charlie Ainsworth of Deaf Angry People Productions to follow.

Program Lineup:

• INTERPRETATION
• THE LAST WORDS
• BIRMINGHAM MADE ME
• ONE LAST TIME
• 4 DEAF YORKSHIREMEN AND A WEDDING

Content warning(s): Adult, Gun, Murder, Hate Speech, Racism, Violence

Runtime: 85 minutes

These six films explore the ups and downs of romantic relationships and the wide range of experiences and emotions that come with putting yourself out there.

Open discussion with Phelan Conheady, Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator of ADWAS.

Program lineup:

• LADYLIKE
• FLIRTING (WITH POSSIBILITIES)
• INSPIRED
• REVERIE
• SUNSCREEN
• 19:24

Content warning(s): Adult, Homophobia, Profanity, Suicide, Mental Illness

Runtime: 88 minutes

Things are not always what they seem in this imaginative collection of six distinctive thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Saturday Night Out with SDFF at Stoup Brewing to follow.

Program lineup:

• SENSES
• MONEY & DUCKS
• MILLSTONE
• TARNEIT
• THE PARTICIPANT
• DR. VOXOFF’S SIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL…

Content warning(s): Adult, Racism, Violence, Drug, Blood, Death, Substance Abuse, Discussion of Medical Procedure, Discussion of Abuse

Runtime: 72 minutes

Panel: Yiru Chen of Handscape, Chantay Taylor and Jessica Calvin of Say Nothin’ But A Word.

Moderator: Andrea Passafiume

From dancing and drawing to animation and poetry, creativity comes in many different forms. These six stories from around the world feature Deaf artists who use their talents to make a meaningful impact.

Program lineup:

• IMAGININGS
• RITE OF IDENTITY
• SAY NOTHIN’ BUT A WORD
• RUARIDH
• HANDSCAPE
• LIBERTY

Content warning(s): Identity, Adult, Profanity, Racism, Violence

Runtime: 69 minutes

Multi-talented trailblazing Deaf and Deafblind women are front and center in these six stories that celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments.

Q & A with Elsa Sjunneson

Program lineup:

• RENEGADES: KITTY O’NEIL
• THE RAD SCIENTIST
• ELSA
• BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER
• GETTING PERSONAL w/ LUCINDA LAWSON
• ART 21: CHRISTINE SUN KIM

Content warning(s): Discussion of suicide

Runtime: 89 minutes

Fireside Chat with MJ Kiego (Interpretation and Raising CODAs)

Closing night reception to follow

These five unique stories all examine the profound and sometimes complicated dynamics between parents and children that have the added challenge of having to shift between the Deaf and hearing worlds.

Program lineup:

• RAISING CODAS
• MY FATHER, A MAN OF ENGAGEMENT
• I AM CODA
• SHHH!
• TO MY FATHER