The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival for 2024. The background of the poster is blue and in the top left corner of the image is text reading “Maine Deaf Film Festival” and next to it are the handshapes for “m”, “d”, “f” and “f”. In the top right corner is an illustration showing two hands knitting a blanket; the hands are making the sign for “interpret” and the blanket has a smaller illustration showing the shape of Maine with a heart over Lewiston and the “I love you” sign. Around this logo are the words “Knitted together, one stitch at a time”. Below these two graphics is the following text: “20th anniversary featuring the MDFF founders: Brenda Shertz and Roxanne Baker”. Under the two names are pictures of the two women. The text goes on: “April 12th, 5 to 8 PM and April 13th, 10 AM to 7:30 PM. MECDHH/GBSD Gym, 1 Mackworth Island, Falmouth, ME 04105. 10 dollars per day; free for USM students with valid student ID and children under 14. Join us Saturday night after MDFF for DNO! More information TBA. Questions? Contact Sandra.wood@maine.edu.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2022. An illustration shows eight sets of human arms, each pair is a different color and each is making a different ASL sign. The arms are arranged into a group circled by another pair of arms. The illustration is set against a beige background. At the top of the image is a quote, "Together we are stronger" and beneath the illustration is the text "18th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival 2022 with special guest: Sheena Lyles. Friday, April 8th, 5:00 - 8:30 PM. Showcase film: ‘What?’. Saturday, April 9th, 9:00 AM - 7:15 PM. Talbot Lecture Hall, Luther Bonney, Portland Campus. Admission: 10 dollars per day. Children under 12 and students with a valid USM ID: free admission.”

Festival on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Festival on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2019. The poster has a black background, which contrasts with the white lettering throughout the poster. At the top of the poster there is the title, “17th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival” below which a quote reads, “Through the looking glass.” Beneath the text is an illustration of what seems to be two images side by side. The illustration to the left is a young girl stepping into a large looking glass; along each side of the glass’s frame is an ear and at the top of the frame is a mouth aligned above the girl’s head. Around the girl’s feet is recording equipment like speakers, radio, headphones and a microphone. The illustration on the right looks similar to the image on the left, however in this image the girl is walking through the other side of the looking glass. On the frame are two horizontally aligned hands and an eye is at the top. Around her feet on the floor is film equipment like a film camera, spare rolls of film and a TV. The text below the images states, “With Special Guests: Ashley Hannan & Emily Blachly. Friday, April 12th, Governor Baxter School for the Deaf - Conference center: 4:30-5:30 PM Reception. 5:30-7:00PM Presentation Art Activities for Children. 7:00-7:15 PM Intermission. 7:15-8:30 PM Film and Discussion. Saturday, April 13th, University of Southern Maine Wishcamper Center Rm. 133: 9:30-10:00 AM Morning Refreshments. 10:00-12:00 Pm Three Films. 12:00-1:00PM Lunch. 1:00-3:00 PM Three Films. 3:00-3:15 PM Break. 3:15-5:00 PM Three Films. 5:00-5:20 PM Break. 5:30-7:00 PM Three Films. 7:00-7:15 Film Awards. Admission: $10. Admission free for children under the age of 12. Admission free with valid USM ID no exceptions.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2018. The poster has an all black background and at the top of the poster is an illustration depicting the shape of a film projector made with arms and hands. The projector is drawn to be projecting the text “MDFF” onto a screen. Beneath that, in yellow lettering, is the text “Maine Deaf Film Festival 2018. April 20th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. April 21st 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM. With special guest speakers Patti Durr and Roxanne Baker.” Beneath this text is a graphic showing the outline of cinema film, and in between the film notches is the text: “Featuring Oscar Award Winning Film: The Silent Child.” Beneath this film graphic is the text: “Admission: 10 dollars per day. Saturday Free for students with valid student ID or children under twelve. 133 Wishcamper Center, 34 Bedford St, Portland, ME 04101.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2017. At the top of the poster is an illustration which shows a tree on a hill against a green background. The tree's leaves are illustrated as the outlines of human hands and the trunk of the tree has the silhouette of the state of Maine drawn into it. The tree's roots are visible in the hill and they spell out "MDFF". Beneath the illustration, white text reads "15th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival 2017.” Beneath this, green text reads, “Luther Bonney - Talbot Lecture Hall, University of Southern Maine Portland Campus,” followed by white text, “96 Falmouth St., Portland ME 04103.” Beneath this text is the schedule for the festival, “April 28: Friday - 6-9pm - films, Zac Stearn skit/workshop. April 29: Saturday - 12-9pm - films, Bill Nye, Roxanne Baker, Barney Vega present on ‘Materials to Preserve Past, Present and Future about the Maine Deaf Community and its People’. Special guest: Brenda Shertz. Theme: Back to Our Roots. Friday - 5 dollars all night, Saturday - 10 dollars all day, Combo - 12 dollars for both Friday/Saturday. Contact: kelly.a.fitzgerald@maine.edu”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2016. The border of the poster is white with a dark blue background within the border. At the top and bottom of the poster, in the border, is the text “Blue Carpet Premiere April 16, 2016.” In the top section of the poster is an illustration of the silhouettes of two people with film cameras recording an actor. Their cameras are oriented towards the center of the illustration, which shows the outline of an actor’s arms. Beneath this image is a banner running the width of the poster with the text “Maine Deaf Film Festival 2016” repeated several times, appearing like a row of tickets. Beneath the banner is the schedule of events which reads: “Schedule of events: Morning activities: 10a-12p in Luther Bonney. Acting and Movement with Zac Stearn, 10-12pm (Luther Bonney Classroom). Feature Film, ‘Lost in Cell Block: Last Road Back’ 10:30a-11:30a in Talbot Auditorium. Afternoon Premiere: 1-7pm in Talbot Auditorium. Announcements, 1-1:15pm. Doug Ridloff Presents ‘CineSigns’, 1:15-2pm. 2-2:30-3pm: Category 1 Film Submissions. Trevor Patten Presents ‘The Film Industry: Deaf and hearing’, 2:30-3:15pm. 3:15-3:45pm Category 2 Film Submissions. Branic Keltz Presents ‘Bison TV and Deaf nation’, 4-4:45pm. 4:45-5:15pm Category 3 Film Submissions. 5:30-6pm Category 4 Film Submissions. Doug Ridloff Presents ‘Preservation of Deaf Language, Culture, and Arts Through The Media’, 6-6:45pm. Blue Carpet Gala: 7-10pm held in Woodbury Student Center. 7-8p Hors d’oeuvres. 8-8:30p Announcement of winners for category 1-4 film submissions. 8:30-10p Music and closing ceremonies. 10 dollars full day admission and gala reception. University of Southern Maine, 85 Bedford St. Portland. Never before seen showings! Live voting for your favorite film! Winners will receive prizes!”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2015. The color scheme of the photo consists of white, gray, and black. The top half of the poster is an illustration; the background of this illustration is a gray box. On the left side of the box is an illustration of Charlie Chaplin’s head and face. The right side of the box contains an illustration of two large hands held above a full-body illustration of Chaplin with strings attached, resembling a marionette. Below the photo, is the title, “Maine Deaf Film Festival 2015”. Below the title follows another gray box with information inside of it, organized by 4 columns, reading “The Talbot Auditorium at Luther Bonney Hall, University of Southern Maine 90 Bedford St. Portland, Maine 04101. May 1st, 6p-9:30p; From Georgetown University, Ted Supalla begins the festival with a lecture & short films highlighting this year’s theme; Deaf People in the Era of Silent Films; Uncovering the values behind 20th century Deaf community films: 6-8p; Reception with light refreshments: 8-9:30p; May 2nd, 9a-8:30p; A day in the art and backdrop in the history of Deaf people in film internationally and locally. Morning Sessions 9-12p; Join on of the three workshops or enjoy a continuous reel of silent films, Notes: The Media Editing workshop ends at 1p and is limited to 10 participants, registration required- contact kelly.a.fitzgerald@maine.edu; Media Editing workshop:Luther Bonney #306; Adult Theatre Workshop: Talbot Auditorium #302; Silent FIlm Screening: Talbot Auditorium; Afternoon Session 2-5p; Special Feature films will be shown with brief lectures and Q/A discussions. The Deaf Mute Howls: 2p-3:30p; The George Veditz Preservation of Sign Language Series: 3:45-5p; Evening Session 6-8p; A local film production LightME, features the following: Film, PEN WOOD, created by the Maine Deaf community: 6-6:30p; Demo, Versions of ‘PEN WOOD’ by workshop participants 6:30-6:45p; Panel, Behind the scenes 7-8p; Closing Ceremony 8-8:30p.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2014. In the top right of the poster is an image of 2 hands, that have a purple color filter over them, form the sign for “movie”, and on the hands is the text, “Maine Deaf Film Festival 2014”. The text on the poster from the top down reads, “American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present the 12th Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival 2014. Below that highlighted in purple it reads, “Wednesday, April 23 Nickelodeon Theatre, 1 Temple Street Portland. 7:30 pm - The House Across the Street; Directed and written by Arthur Luhn. 90 mins. All ages. general : $8. Free for USM Students with valid ID. At the Nickelodeon Theatre, 1 Temple Street, Portland Q & A with filmmaker Arthur Luhn to follow. Thursday, April 24 Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall, Portland. 7:30 pm - A Life Without Words. Directed by Adam Isenberg. 71 mins. 2011. Nicaragua/Turkey co- production. Documentary. general : $8 Seniors, Children & Non- USM students $5. USM Students FREE with Valid ID. Q & A with filmmaker Adam Isenberg to follow. Friday, April 25; Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall, Portland. 7:30 pm - Silent Music. Director/Producer Melissa A. Gomez. 70 mins. 2012. Antigua. Documentary. general ; $8 Seniors, Children & Non-USM Students: $5. USM Students Free with Valid ID. Q & A with filmmaker Melissa A. Gomez to follow. Saturday, April 26 Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney, Portland. Half Day Admission: general ; $8 Seniors, Children & Non-USM Students: $5. USM Students Free with Valid ID. Full Day admission: general $14 Seniors, Children & Non-USM students $10. 1pm - Opening Comments; 1:15 pm - two Kinds of Fairy Tales; Snow White and the seven dwarves. US. family film, 51 mins; Copper. New Zealand Drama, 11 mins; 2:15pm - Youth Films; battery battle, UK, Youth, 5mins; I won’t Do that Again! UK, Youth, 7 mins; 3pm Access to Communication, Education and Music; Deaf schools. US. Documentary 3 mins; Jacob's story. Australia, documentary, 6 mins. Benefits of Sign Language. Denmark, Doc. 2 mins. Melody. US. Drama, 10 mins. Tree Fairy. UK. Drama, 25 mins. Who Cares? UK. Documentary, 26 Mins. Q & A with filmmaker Louis Neethling to follow. 5-6:30 pm Reception at the university Events Room, USM, 7th Floor, Glickman Library, 314 Forest Ave, Portland. 6:30pm - Life Stories: Interview with Richard griffiths. UK, Documentary, 15 Mins. 300 SECS. UK, Documentary, 20 mins. 7:05pm - Experimental Thrillers: Coulrofobia. Brazil, Thriller, 14 mins. Dark Thinker. US, Thriller, 18 mins. 8:15pm - About Sound, Dance and Love: Dansen in Stilte. The Netherlands, Documentary, 25 mins. Hear me out. The Netherlands, Documentary, 23 mins. THIS IS NORMAL. US, Drama, 20 mins. Silent melody. India, Romance, 10 mins. 9:30pm Strange Love: Close Caption. Canada, Drama, 11 mins. Frekvens (Frequency). Sweden, Drama, 11 mins. Distress Mary. US, Thriller, 11 mins. Film Schedule is Subject to change. Sponser: USM Board of Student Organizations, Hamilton Relay/Maine Center on Deafness, Mary Jane Grant Sign language Interpreting Services, Certified Interpreting, Deaf Women of Maine, and Maine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. ASL/English Interpretation provided.” Lastly, at the bottom of the poster is the link, “www.MaineDeafFilmFest.com“ followed by the text, “For more information, please call the USM Linguistics Department: Videophone 207-766-7107 Voice 207-780-4582 Email:kelly.a.fitzgerald@maine.edu.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2013. On the right side of the poster is an image of 2 hands, that have a teal color filter over them, form the sign for “movie”, and on the hands is the text, “Maine Deaf Film Festival 2013”. At the very top of the poster is the text, “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present the 11th annual Maine Deaf Film Festival 2013. Sponsored by the USM Board of Student Organizations, Certified Interpreting.” Beneath this text is a set of four images aligned in a horizontal line. The leftmost image shows two men, one standing behind the other who seems to be sitting. The two men are in front of a white building. The second image from the left shows four men standing outside, two of whom are wearing hats. The third image from the left shows a group of men and women walking outside. One person is covered in a red piece of cloth; another is dressed in Hasidic dress. The rightmost image shows an older woman sitting in a house, she is wearing a pale blue cardigan and her arms are crossed. Under these photos is the text, “USM Portland - Talbot Auditorium, 92 Bedford Street. Parking available at the Woodbury Campus Center Lot. USM STUDENTS FREE with valid ID - FILM SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE - ASL/ENGLISH INTERPRETING PROVIDED. Wednesday, April 10 - Space Gallery, 538 Congress Street, Portland. 207-828-5600. 7:30 pm Mea Maxima Cupla, US, Documentary, 1 hour 45 mins. $8/$6 for SPACE Members and students. This film is NOT RATED and may not be suitable for all ages due to adult language and adult content.“ Beneath this text and next to the picture of the hands is another photo which shows a group of Catholic bishops, one of whom carries a processional cross. Beneath this photo is the following text: “Friday, April 12, Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall. 7 pm Lake Windfall, US, Thriller, 1 hour 50 mins. $10 General Admission. This film is NOT YET RATED. Film contains profanity and mild violence. Some material may not be appropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to give special guidance. Saturday, April 13, Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall. Half Day Admission: General $8/ Seniors, Children and non-USM students $5. Full Day Admission: General $14/ Seniors, Children and non-USM students $10. 1 pm - Opening Comments. 1:15 pm - The Land of Oz Wizard of Oz, US, Family Film, 37 mins. 2 pm - Deaf Education, Little World, UK, Animation, 8 mins. You, Me, UK, Drama, 24 mins. 2:30 pm - British Comedy, Life Out There, UK, Comedy, 26 mins. Still Here, UK, Comedy, 27 mins. 3:30 pm - Family Drama, Strangers, UK, Drama, 12 mins. Without You, US, Drama, 9 mins. The Deaf Childhood, France, Doc., 64 mins. 5-6:30 pm - Reception at the University Events Room, USM, 7th Floor, Glickman Library, 314 Forest Avenue, Portland. 6:30 pm - World Events. September 11th, UK, Documentary, 10 mins. US, Germany, Documentary, 23 mins. Crossing the Divide, UK, Documentary, 16 mins. Confession, UK, Drama, 24 mins. 8 pm - Main Feature, Conned, US, Action/Comedy, 1 hour 38 mins. [This film is NOT RATED. Film has profanity, violence and nudity and may not be suitable for children under 17.] Film discussion with producer Arthur Luhn after the film.” Lastly, at the bottom of the poster is the link, “www.MaineDeafFilmFest.com“ followed by the text, “For more information, please call the USM Linguistics Department: Videophone 207-766-7107 Voice 207-780-4582 Email:kelly.a.fitzgerald@maine.edu.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2012. The background of the poster is black and text appears in white or green boxes. At the top of the poster, text reads, “Wednesday, April 11, 7-9:30 pm at Payson Smith 303. General Admission: FREE, Donations welcome. Our locally made film: Resoled, US, Talk with Rob Hillies, director of the film, Resoled. Cops, lawyers, and a dog: Deaf Beat, UK; Gone with the Time, UK, and The Shredder, US. Artistic Pursuits I: Silent Classics: The Proprietor, US; Interstice, France.” Beside this text is another section of text, titled “A Retrospective: The best of our Film Festivals”, and contains the following: “From 2003: Alice and the Aurifactor, Germany. From 2004: To Have/To Find, US. From 2005: Mr. V, US. From 2006: Text, Batteries, and Earwax, UK; Don’t Mind, US. From 2007: Coming Out, UK; Deaf Person’s Guide to the Sound Sensitive, UK; Vital Signs, US. From 2008: Chalkboard, US; Four Deaf Yorkshiremen, UK; Horatio, UK. From 2009: Deaf Man, US. From 2010: A Fishy Tale and The Compost, New Zealand; A Million Pounds Don’t Come For Free, UK. From 2011: Fish Cultural Identification, Cheeseburger Story, The Deaf Moth Theory, The Hotel Joke and Conversations with Doctors, US; Beyond Essays, US; Hands Solo, UK. General Admission: $5. USM Students: FREE with USM ID. 7:30-10:30 pm, Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall, Thursday, April 12.” Under this is the text “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Main Present… Maine Deaf Film Festival 2012”. To the left of this title is an image of 2 hands, that have a green color filter over them, form the sign for “movie”, and on the hands is the text, “Maine Deaf Film Festival 2012. University of Southern Maine, Portland - Parking available at Woodbury Campus Center lot. Proudly Sponsored by: Platinum Sponsor: USM Board of Student Organizations; Golden Globe Sponsors: Maine Center on Deafness, Maine Relay and ZVRS; Silver Screen Sponsors: Sorenson and Maine RID; Local Sponsors: Subway, Coffee By Design, Shaw’s , Paul’s Food Center, Granny’s Burritos, Panera Bread, Bull Feeney’s, DiMillo’s and Hannaford’s.” Also displayed on the poster is the full schedule for the weekend, “ASL Music Videos: Sean Forbes, ‘Hammer’, ‘Let’s Mambo!’. D-PAN. ‘We’re going to be Friends’. Jules Dameron, ‘Hero’. Feature film: The Hammer, US. Guest Speaker: Shoshannah Stern. Friday, April 13, 7:30-10:30 pm, Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall. General Admission: ten dollars. USM Students: Free with USM ID. 1-6 pm, Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall. Animation: Chasing Cotton Clouds, UK. Science Fiction: Exit the Sun, US; The End, UK. Holocaust/Nazism: Five Needles, UK; Deaf Austrians and National Socialism: The Clube, Austria. Documentary: Signing Orc Stories of Deaf Breast Cancer Survivors, The Families and the Deaf Community, US. Guest Speakers: Anita and Tim Buel, subjects of the film, Signing On. 6:30-10:30 PM, Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall. British Dramatic Comedy: Admit None, UK; 50/50, UK; Otherside, UK. Transgendered: Austin Unbound, US. Artistic Pursuits II: Deaf Jam, US; White Space, US. Between Two Worlds: My Song, UK; Words, US. Guest Speakers: Austin from Austin Unbound and director Eliza Greenwood. Saturday, April 14. Half day Saturday, afternoon 1-5 pm or evening 6:30-10:30 PM: General Admission, 8 dollars. Seniors, children, non-USM students with ID, 5 dollars. USM Students, free with USM ID. Full Day Saturday, 1-10:30 PM. General Admission, 14 dollars. Seniors, children, non-USM students with ID, 10 dollars. USM Students, free with USM ID. 5-6:30 PM, Open Reception for Saturday attendees at the Glickman Library, 7th Floor, 314 Forest Avenue Portland.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2011. The background of the poster is yellow, and text is present in white boxes. At the top of the poster is a silhouette animation of a man signing the sign for “movie”. His hands are highlighted in yellow. To the right of him is an animation of celluloid film that stretches to the end of the poster. Several still images from the feature movies are present on the right side of the poster. The text from the poster, from top to bottom, is “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present: Deaf Film Festival 2011. USM Portland - Talbot Auditorium - Parking Available at the Woodbury Campus Center Lot - www.MaineDeafFilmFest.com. Friday, April 8 - 5 dollar General admission for all and USM Students free with USM ID. 7 PM: Opening Comments. 7:15 PM: See What I’m Saying., 90 mins. 8:45 PM: Film discussion with Hilary Scarl, producer, See What I’m Saying. Saturday, April 9 - Half Day Admission: General, 8 dollars/Seniors, Children and non-USM Students, 5 dollars. Full Day Admission: General, 14 dollars/Seniors, Children and non-USM Students, 10 dollars. 1 PM: Opening comments. 1:15 PM ASL Music Videos: I’m Deaf, 4 mins., Deaf not Dumb, 3 mins., Smells Like Victory, 5 mins., Just the Way You Are, 4 mins., What’s Love Got To Do With It?, 4 mins., I Don’t Need Your Cure!, 5 mins.. 1:45 PM Animation: Sipho The Lion, Rubbish Monster and Twisted Fate, 3 mins., Deafhood The Journey, 4 mins., Fish Cultural Identification, Cheeseburger Story, The Deaf Moth Theory, The Hotel Joke and Conversations with Doctors, 8 mins.. 2 PM Light Shorts: Deaf Perception, 5 mins., Ladies Special, Catch & Release, Parking Meter and Persistence, 15 mins., Film Discussion with Trevor Pattern, filmmaker Catch Santa, 27 mins., Film discussion with Kamau Buchanon, filmmaker. 3:15 PM Intermission. 3:30 PM Documentaries: Deaf in Pink, 24 mins., Anna’s Silent Struggle, 56 mins.. 5-6:30 PM Reception at Woodbury Campus Center, USM. 6:30 PM Opening comments. 6:45 PM Julia Dameron films: Beyond Essays, 12 mins., Deaf Man, 9 mins., and Raw, 5 mins., Film discussion with Julia Dameron, filmmaker. 7:45 PM About Gallaudet: Gallaudet: The Movie, 9 mins., The Gallaudet Syndrome: Rebirth, 9 mins.. 8 PM Intermission. 8:15 PM A Holocaust Story: Inglelore, 40 mins.. 9 PM British Humor: Fairytale of London Town, 27 mins., The Fingerspellers, 27 mins., Deaf Mugger, 3 mins., Hands Solo, 15 mins.. Film schedule is subject to change. Sponsors: USM Board of Student Organizations, Maine Center on Deafness, Certified Interpreting, Mary Jane Grant Sign Language Interpreting Services, Sorenson, KEWL ASL, Clayton’s Cafe, Coffee by Design, Margarita’s, DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant and Whaddapita!”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2010. The background of the poster is orange, and text is present throughout. At the top of the poster is a silhouette animation of a man signing the sign for “movie”. His hands are highlighted in orange. Behind him is an animation of celluloid film that stretches to the ends of the poster. Several still images from the feature movies are present on the poster. The text from the poster, from top to bottom, is “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present: Deaf Film Festival 2010. USM Portland - Talbot Auditorium - Parking Available at the Woodbury Campus Center Lot. USM students free - Film schedule is subject to change - ASL/English Interpreting provided. Friday, April 16. Admissions Price: Free/Donations Accepted. USM Students FREE for both Friday and Saturday. Student Films. 6 PM Opening comments. 6:10 PM: The Gift, Gov. Baxter School for the Deaf, Maine, 50 mins.. 7 PM Intermission. 7:15 PM: New Friends, California School for the Deaf, Riverside, 18 mins.. 7:35 PM: Twisted, California School for the Deaf, Riverside, 25 mins.. 8 PM: Deaf Tend, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, 16 mins.. International Films: 8:30 PM New Zealand Shorts: A Fishy Tale, 7 mins., The Compost, 7 mins., The Lift Girls, 6.5 mins., The Full Comeback, 6.25 mins.. 9 PM: Casa Senas (The House of Signs), Cuba and US, 50 mins.. 10 PM: Verbotene Sprache (Forbidden Language), Switzerland, 40 mins.. Saturday, April 17. Half Day Admission: General, 8 dollars/Seniors, Children and non-USM Students, 5 dollars. Full Day Admission: General, 14 dollars/Seniors, Children and non-USM Students, 10 dollars. 1 PM: Opening Comments. 1:10 PM ASL Music Shorts from D-PAN, US: Waiting On the World to Change, US, 3 mins., Beautiful, US, 4 mins., Our Life, Sign Mark, Finland, 4 mins.. 1:25 PM: The Heart of Hydrogen Jukebox, US, 116 mins.. 3:25 PM: Intermission. 3:40 PM: Voices from El-Sayed, Israel, 52 mins.. 4:30 PM: Worry: A Jewish Deaf-Blind Survivor Shares her Story, US, 31 mins. 5-6:30 PM: Reception at Woodbury Campus Center, USM, Portland. 6:30 PM: Opening Comments. 7 PM: Universal Signs, US, 100 mins.. 8:45 PM: Film discussion with Robert DeMayo, Universal Signs. 9:15 PM: Intermission. 9:30 PM British Dark Shorts: Coming Home, UK, 27 mins., A Million Pounds Don’t Come For Free, UK, 8.25 mins., Dead Money, UK, 15 mins.. Sponsors: Maine Center on Deafness, Certified Interpreting, Board of Student Organizations, Purple HOVRS, Garelick Farms, Coffee By Design, DiMillo’s, Big Sky Bread Co., Hannaford, The Great Lost Bear, Bull Fenney’s, Maine RID.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2009. The background of the poster is white and red, and text is present throughout. Still Images from the feature films are faded out in the background. Along the top and left border there is an animation of celluloid film. At the top there is a drawing of a hand making the American Sign Language sign for the number seven. The text from the poster, top to bottom, reads “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present: Seventh Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, Saturday, April 4, 2009 - Talbot/Luther Bonney Auditorium, Portland Campus. Festival Program (Schedule subject to change): 1-1:30 PM Animation and Early Shorts: Deaf Bugs I, The Forest, Ameslan Animals, Orange, Slip of the Foot, “Handful” Airport. 1:30-2 PM Planet of the Deaf: Land of the Deaf, Through the Hands, Bald Brothers, God’s Punishment, Redeaf Planet, Three Wishes Wasted. 2-3 PM Experimental Shorts: The Tortoise and the Hare, Pay Attention, The Stranger That Signs, Flipped, Deaf Skateboarders, Out of Limb, The Hitchhiker, The Bet, Our Song, Deaf Man. 3-4:30 PM Documentary/Narratives on Being Deaf: Signing Hands Talking Heads, Re-Defining Deaf. 4:30-5 PM Guest Speaker: Filmmaker, Ryan Commerson. 5-6:30 PM Reception and Student Films: Trouble at the Driftwood, Stoked. 6:30-7:15 PM Guest Speaker: Filmmaker, Wayne Betts Jr. 7:15-8:45 PM Feature Film: The Caretaker. 8:45-9:20 PM British Comic Relief: Four Deaf Yorkshiremen, Four Deaf Yorkshiremen and the Missing Wife. 9:20-10:30 Dark Secrets: A Brutal Awakening, Carter, The Guest, The Blue Box. Tickets: Full day 1-10:30 PM - Adults, 14 dollars; Seniors, Children, Non-USM Students, 10 dollars. Half day 1-5 PM or 6:30-10:30 PM - Adults, 8 dollars; Seniors, Children, Non-USM Students, 5 dollars. ASL/English Interpreting available - open to the public. Parking available on Portland Woodbury Campus Center student ground lot.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2008. The background of the poster is white and purple, and text is present throughout. Still Images from the feature films appear in black and white down the right side of the poster. Along the top there is an animation of celluloid film. At the top there is a drawing of a hand making the American Sign Language sign for the number six. The text from the poster, top to bottom, reads “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present: Sixth Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, Saturday, April 19, 2008. Festival Program (Schedule subject to change): 1 PM Laying the Groundwork: History of Oppression: Introductions, I Think - Therefore I Am. 1:45 PM Young, Deaf Filmmakers: Lighter Fare of Animation, Humor and Adventures: Deaf Way and Golfhead, Nice N Ezy, Blind Date, Dr. Black, Schizophrenia, Loveless, Lonely, and a Loser and Pieces. 2:45 PM Playing with Stereotypes: Hearing? Deaf? No one gets spared!: Audism, Bionic Hand Implant, Four Deaf Yorkshiremen, Chalkboard. 3 PM Feature Film: The Deaf Family. 4:30 PM Guest Speaker: Wayne Betts, Jr.. 5 PM Open Reception Woodbury Campus Center. 6:30 Guest Speaker: Wayne Betts, Jr.. 7 PM Feature Film: A Permanent Grave. 8:15 PM Deaf Student Filmmakers Part II: Heavier Things: Numb, Dottie’s Ride, Paint It Loud!. 9:45 PM Sign Language Poetry: Bewogen, La Goutte D’Eau. 10:15 PM Wave of the future: Experimental Sign Language Cinematography: Vital Signs, White Sound, Horatio. 10:30 PM: Closing statements. Thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible: USM, Sorenson, MCD, Hamilton Relay, Certified Interpreting, USM Department of Linguistics, Coffee By Design, Garelick Farms, Amato’s and many other local ME eateries. Tickets: USM Students free with USM Student ID. Full day 1-10:30 PM - Adults, 14 dollars; Seniors, Children, Non-USM Students, 10 dollars. Half day 1-5 PM or 6:30-10:30 PM - Adults, 8 dollars; Seniors, Children, Non-USM Students, 5 dollars.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2007. The background of the poster is white and teal, and text is present throughout. Still Images from the feature films appear in black and white down the center of the poster bordered by an animation of celluloid film. At the top there is a drawing of a hand making the American Sign Language sign for the number five. The text from the poster, top to bottom, reads “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present: Sixth Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, March 16th and 17th, 2007, University of Southern Maine, Portland. Festival Program: Friday March 16: 6-7:30 PM: Opening Reception, Abromson Community Ed. Center, USM. 7:30-10:30 PM: Film Screening of Forget Me Not and lecture by actor and director, Mindy Moore, Talbot/Luther Bonney Auditorium, USM. Saturday March 17, Talbot/Luther Bonney Auditorium, USM: 1 PM Wacky scientists: Then and Now, US, That Thing from Outer Space, US, Blue Apple, US. 2 PM Films from Gov. Baxter School for the Deaf: Alice, US, Rose’s Rascals!, US. 3:45 PM Stories from Gallaudet: The G Files, US, A Journey of Gallaudet Protest, US, Let’s Meet Gideon, US. 4:30 PM Deaf People and War: Exodus, US, Deaf People and the Battle of Okinawa, Japan. 5 PM: Reception at the Woodbury Campus Center, USM. 6:30 PM ‘Being British’ and ‘Lonely in Norway’: Coming Out, UK, Spirit of the Letter, UK, Deaf Person’s Guide to the Sound Sensitive, UK, Café Lyon, Norway, Nilsen, Norway. 7 PM Adventures around the World: Dietro Mondo, Parts 1 and 2, Italy, The Last Deaf, Germany, Keychain, US. 9 PM Believing and Sinning: Sticky Situation, US, Pardoned, US, Seven Deadly Sins, France. 9:45 PM Life and Death: Til Domestic Violence Do Us Part, US, Page Me, US, And I Die Soon, US/Canada, Vital Signs, Resonare. Schedule subject to change. ASL/English interpreting provided. Thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible: Platinum Sponsors - Maine Center on Deafness, Hamilton Relay, BSO. Golden Globe Sponsors - Colonial Chemical Co.. Silver Screen Sponsors - Pine Tree Society, Maine DHHS. Bronze Curtain Sponsors - Certified Interpreting, Maine RID, The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, USM Department of Linguistics, Norway Savings Bank. Concession Stand Sponsors - Maine Division of Deafness, Community Counseling Center, Maine Association of the Deaf, Alpha One and Henry and Carlene Morton. Tickets: Friday: Friday Night Admission: Regular, 6 dollars. USM-student ID, children under 12 and Seniors, 4 dollars. Friday/Saturday Combo tix: Regular 18 dollars. USM, children, seniors, 15 dollars. Saturday: Full day: Regular 12 dollars. USM, children, seniors, 14 dollars. Half day 1-5 PM or 6:30-10:30 PM - Adults, 8 dollars; Seniors, Children, Non-USM Students, 6 dollars.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2006. The background of the poster is white and green, and text is present throughout. Still Images from the feature films appear in black and white down the right side of the poster. At the very top of the poster is an image of the USM ASL Club from 2006. Along the top there is an animation of celluloid film, in the middle of which is an animation of hands making the American Sign Language signs for the letters f, i, l and m. The text from the poster, top to bottom, reads “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present the fourth Annual Maine Deaf Film Festival. Thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible: Platinum Sponsors - Hamilton Relay, Maine Center on Deafness, Sorenson Video Relay, Board of Student Organizations at USM; Bronze Sponsors - Alpha One, Certified Interpreting, USM Department of Linguistics. Festival Program: 1 PM Inside Deaf Culture: Welcome 2 My Deaf World, Australia, Dormitory, US, No Talking Allowed, US. 3:45 PM Telling Like It Is: Nathie: No Hand-Me-Downs, US, Pinky Tells the Real Story: Videophone and Video Relay Services, US. Lecture to follow, Pinky Aeillo, actor and producer of Pinky Tells the Real Story. 5 PM: Reception at the Woodbury Campus Center. 6:30 PM British Humor: Tricks, UK, Chronic Embarrassment, UK, Not From Where I’m Standing, UK, Text Batteries and Earwax, UK. 7:30 PM To Be or Not To Be (Deaf): Last Deaf, Germany, Dis?Able, UK. 8 PM Feature Film: Stille Liebe (Secret Love), Switzerland. 9:30 PM Shorts: Reve de Clown, France, Blue Gush, Japan, Motion of Confusion, Japan, How Bugs Get Inside the Lights, Canada, Don’t Mind, US, Booger, US, Fast Food, US, Help Me, US. Schedule subject to change. Tickets: Advance Sales: Full day - 12 dollars or 6 for USM students, Half Day - 6 dollars or 3 for USM students. At the Door: Full day - 15 dollars or 6 for USM students, Half day - 8 dollars or 3 for USM students. Senior citizens and children under the age of 16 receive USM student prices. Luther Bonney Auditorium, Portland Campus, USM, 1-11 PM. Saturday, April 15, 2006.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2005. The background of the poster is white, with yellow and black boxes; text is present throughout. Still Images from the feature films appear in black and white down the right side of the poster. Along the top there is an animation of celluloid film, in the middle of which is an animation of hands making the American Sign Language signs for the letters f, i, l and m. The text from the poster, top to bottom, reads “The American Sign Language Club and the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Maine present the third Annual Maine Deaf Film and Video Festival. Festival Program: 1 PM Introductions: To Have/To Find, animation, Flying Fingers, In/visible signs, See(m)ing is Believing, What is Art?, The Leaf, The Lips, Auto. 2 PM: Cigars 101, Tree Top Opera, Deaf Northwest, Overdue and Text, Batteries, and Earwax. 3:30 PM: Audism Unveiled; lecture to follow - Dr. H-Dirksen Bauman, producer of Audism Unveiled. 5 PM: Reception at the Woodbury Campus Center. 6:30 PM: Jack in the Box, Deaf Noir, J&J Exterminators, Little Hands, Asrama ku, Lost Reels and Help Me. 7:45 PM: Soulmate, Don’t Mind, Mother’s Love and Mr. V. 8:15 PM: Dear Frankie feature film. Luther Bonney Auditorium, Portland Campus, USM 1-11 PM. Saturday April 16, 2005.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2004. The background of the poster is white and gray; black text is present throughout. The text is broken up into two columns. Starting in the left column, from top to bottom the text reads “Second annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, Saturday, May 22, USM Science Building, Falmouth St., Portland. Afternoon session: 1 - 5 PM. Evening session: 6-10 PM. Tickets can be purchased at: USM Woodbury Campus Center ‘Student Involvement Desk’ (on Bedford St.). Maine Center on Deafness, 69 Bishop St., Portland, Maine. DFF c/o USM ASL Lab, 68 High St., Portland, Maine. We strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance as seating is limited. Before May 20: Full day ticket - Adults, 15 dollars. Students, Seniors, Children 6-17, 12 dollars. After May 20: Full day ticket - Adults, 10 dollars. Students, Seniors, Children 6-17, 7 dollars. Afternoon Session 1-5 PM: Golden Rays, Nepal, S. Pandey/K. Shrestha: ‘Humanity does not come from speech, it comes through the heart, like Golden Rays.’ Our feature film. Two Worlds Apart, USA, thriller, Bernard Bragg: The legendary Bernard Bragg directs and stars in this short thriller about a tormented deaf man. Chronic Embarrassment, US, short drama, Sam Dore: Three deaf Bristol chums swap tales of clubbing in the hearing world. Insightful, hip, with an unexpected twist. Keys to the Stars, France, children, Pierre-Louis Levacher: The enchanting and magical story of a sensitive young deaf girl who befriends a signing ‘automaton’ in her attic. Visually beautiful and heartwarming. LA Club for the Deaf, USA, documentary, James DeBee: Emmy-award winning documentary exploring the development of a renowned Deaf organization. Cutting the Edge of a Free Bird, USA, drama, Ann Bryan: Deaf ad lesbian teen struggles making life choices. Escape, Ireland, drama, Stephen Benedict: Teen angst drives deaf girl to conceive a daring escape. Alice and the Aurifactor, Germany, drama, Jorg Fockele: An award-winning and powerful expressionist art film: Alice confronts the evil sorcerer. Who will win? Adu Ivumun (When I heard), UK, M. Hilmy, A. Jones: A nine year-old deaf boy sees his father come out of the sea with a new hearing aid. Not the Usual Victim; Chlorine Dreams; Swallowing, Australia, comedy, Sofya Gollan: Three dark comedies from down-under. A kidnapping, a watery friend, and a spoonful of medicine. Destination: Eyeth, USA, comedy, Arthur Kuhn: A hilarious slapstick adventure: think Red Green meets Jules Verne, with special guest Wile E. Coyote. F1;Chat;Chat est Sourd, France, comedy, Philippe Le Goff: Three short vignettes (about his cat and racing) from an offbeat French director with a wicked sense of humor. God Kill Her, Israel, documentary, Avi Hemmy: Astonishing portrait of deaf women in Israel. To Have/To Find, USA, animation, Susan Dupor: A charming animated short about a young deaf girl’s escape into an idyllic dreamworld.”
The poster for the Maine Deaf Film Festival in 2003. The background is white and at the top of the poster is a black and white image of two hands. The right hand is making the American Sign Language sign for airplane, while the left hand appears to be draped over the right hand. To the left of the image is the title “First annual Maine Deaf Film and Video Festival, Luther Bonney Auditorium, USM, Portland.” Beneath the title and title image is the remaining text, “Friday, May 30, 2003. 6 PM Opening Reception: Come join us in celebrating our First Deaf Film and Video Festival. 7 PM: He Says, She Signs, USA, 1995, 10 min., ASL and English - He Says, She Signs is the story about the relationship between a Deaf woman and a hearing man. This short film portrays a situation often encountered when the hearing and deaf cultures come into conflict. Produced and directed by Dawn Schakett. Loot at Me So I Can Hear You, USA, 1993, 12.5 min., English - Loot at Me So I Can Hear You tries to capture on film what it feels like to be the only Deaf person in a family and in school. The film evokes the sensation - familiar to most deaf people - of being isolated in a world where hearing people do not understand deaf people. Produced and directed by Dawn Schakett. To Have/To Find, USA, 1991, 5.5 min., ASL - To Have/To Find is a hand-drawn animated short film that reflects the dream of perfect communication. A young deaf girl and her beloved pet Chihuahua Lucky escape from a world where she is frustrated with her communication into a fairytale dream world where she is free to communicate with her environment in a novel way. Drawn and directed by Susan Dupor. 7:45 PM: Facilitated discussion. In person: Dawn Schakett. 8 PM: The Keys to the Stars, France, 1999, 22 min., French Sign Language - In a dusty old granary, Claire, a young deaf child meets a strange automaton that talks by signs the way she does. Bored and lonely, the automaton asks the little girl to tell him each night all she knows about the secrets of life. The automaton is haunted by a mystery that will lead it to seek escape from the granary. Directed by Pierre Louis Levacher. Alice and the Aurifactor, Germany, 1995, 28 min., German Sign Language with German intertitles and English captions - This inspiring Deaf twist on the Peter Pan legend begins with a mother telling her daughter a bedtime story about a once peaceful land where Deaf people are oppressed by an evil sorcerer into hearing with over-sized ears. The girl is woken in the middle of the night and brought to this land where she engages in a battle of wits and hearts to overcome the sorcerer’s evil plans. Jörg Fockele’s imaginative art direction recalls German Expressionism. 9 PM: Facilitated discussion. 9:15 PM: Konigskinder, Germany, 2000, 70 min., no dialogue - Director Lutz Gregor specializes in experimental documentaries and video dance projects. Set in a small town in Italy, this film is the tale of an unusual friendship between a deaf boy and a dancer. The film reflects upon the desire for hearing and moving, the sounds of silence, the beauty of sign language. Deaf can dance. A film nearly without words. 10:30 PM: Join us for desserts. All invited. Saturday, May 31, 2003. 1 PM: The Ride, USA, 1999, 28 min., English with captions - A folk singer who has just ended a relationship that had been his inspiration cancels his engagements and starts driving west. While crossing the California desert, he picks up a hitchhiker who doesn’t hear or speak. Through their encounter Jack rediscovers the creative voice he thought he had lost. Director John Flanders. 1:45 PM: Facilitated discussion. 2 PM: The Golden Legacy, USA, 2002, 1 hr. 52 min., ASL, no audio - George Allen, the deaf protagonist of this film, suddenly finds himself caught up in a sinister mystery as he gets drawn into an old deaf man’s quest for long-lost treasure. George’s adventure is replete with double-crosses, booby traps, secret passages, and moving bookshelves. The feature film was directed by a Deaf filmmaker and stars many Deaf actors. Written, produced and directed by Arthur Luhn. 4 PM: Touching Lives: Portraits of Deaf-Blind People, USA, 2002, 56 min., ASL and English - ‘Imagine a world without sound…Imagine a world without sight…Now put those two worlds together,’ begins this unusual documentary. Narrated by deaf-blind advocate, Susan Hajjar, this film invites hearing-sighted audiences to share the experiences of members one of the most mysterious and misunderstood cultures in Boston - the culture of the hearing and vision impaired. Written and produced by Susan Hajjar and Myles Gordon. 5 PM: Facilitated Discussion. 6:30 PM: From Eyes to Hands, USA, 2003, 10 min., ASL and English - We feature the first public showing of a Maine-made film about the life of the well known itinerant artist John Brewster, Jr. (1766-1854), who was one of the first students a the American School for the Deaf, founded by Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc. Produced by Alyssa Gagnon, director Jessica Borelli, and Deaf consultant Bill Nye will be on hand to discuss the making of the film. On My Own, USA, 1985, 14 min., ASL and English - A student film by Pearl Swan Youth and Kim Buwon. Two young women, one deaf and one hearing, deal with cultural conflicts. Features Maine actress Roxanne Baker. 7 PM: Bangkok Dangerous, Thailand, 2000, 108 min., Thai with English Subtitles - Rating: R. This hyper thriller about friendship, love, betrayal and gangsters centers on the complex character of a deaf hit man named Kong. Reclusive and cold, Kong comes under the spell of a seasoned killer, Joe, who trains him as a paid assassin. This violent film uses Kong’s deafness not so much as shorthand for the ‘silent’ male, but as an emblem of childhood trauma. Written by The Pang Brothers. 9 PM: Afterimage, USA, 2001, 91 min., ASL and English with captions - Rating: R. This taut psychological thriller is energized by the passion between a crime scene photographer and a beautiful deaf woman with psychic powers. Death haunts his past and fills her forebodings of the future. Circumstances pit them in a race against time against a psychotic killer obsessed with recording death, as they must reckon with their demons to prevent his next strike. Written and directed by Bob Manganelli.”