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2023 WINNERS

Congrats to our winners!

2 ANTS DON'T SPEAK BUT THEY WORK TOGETHER By Nikhil Chalakh image.jpg

 Animation 

ANTS DON'T SPEAK BUT THEY WORK TOGETHER

 7:02 min  |   [CC]     

The film is an insight into the world of a boy who is a daydreamer. He is deaf and mute and has a
special relationship with nature. Boy realizes his admiration towards the unity among ants. He saves some of them from being crushed. The film talks about his relationship with the ants & ends on cumulative note.

Directed by Nikhil Sudhakar

Poster 5aa1c33567-poster.jpg

 Student 

The Legacy: One Heart. One Team. One Goal.

1:04:08   |   [CC]

The Legacy: One Heart. One Team. One Goal" is an uplifting film documentary created by the CSDR High School video production class and directed by David Figueroa. The film shows the incredible journey of a Deaf football team as they come together to overcome obstacles and pursue the state championship.

Directed by David Figueroa

Fable_Deaf-high-res-still-05_Hugo2.png

 Short 

Fable Deaf

13:50 min  |   [CC]

It is an animated film produced by Egyptian children that tells about the Coronavirus crisis from their point of view and how it affected their lives.

Directed by Chrystene R. Ells

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 Feature 

LaCrimosa

1:20:00  |   [CC]

Based on true events, two Deaf friends aspire to become filmmakers in a world of silence.

Directed by Austin Chapman

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 1.09.14 AM.png

 Mature 

Tarneit

20 min  |   [CC]

Inspired by stories of a distant place, best friends Tyrone and Clinton must fight to find a way out of Tarneit, a place surrounded by violence and tradition.

Directed by John Sheedy

2023 Program Book

  WELCOME!  

Thank you for joining us for the inaugural year of The Deaf Film Festival. The Zankza Project, of which The Deaf Film Festival is its first major hosted event, is a newly established 501(c)(3) organization that aims to support Deaf artists and creatives across all disciplines by creating opportunities to showcase their work, engage with the community and collaborate with other artists and creatives. We are excited about the personal and professional growth, networking opportunities, and collective creativity that will without a doubt invigorate the Austin community.



We look forward to welcoming you all to the beautiful R.L. Davis Auditorium on October 7th, 2023 at the Texas School for the Deaf for this year’s festival. We will be presenting over a dozen phenomenal films across 5 different film categories for your viewing pleasure. Additionally, we will be hosting an afterparty for attendees and Deaf creatives to mingle and network.

​

Whether you’re a film industry professional, a cinephile, or an occasional movie lover who wants to support your community, you’re bound to have a blast at The Deaf Film Festival—all while supporting talented Deaf filmmakers and creatives.

Portrait of MJ Kiego

Sincerely yours, 

MJ Kiego
Founder & President of Zankza Project

Chair of the Deaf Film Festival

   2023 SCHEDULE   

  9:30 am  

Doors open at Texas School for the Deaf

  10:00 am  

Opening remarks

  10:15 am  

Animation Category

  • The Ears Robber   4:16 min

  • Quarantine   3:01 min     

  • Ants Don't Speak But They Work Together   7:02 min

  10:30 am  

Break

  10:35 am  

Student Film Category

  • ​ The Legacy: One Heart. One Team. One Goal.   1:04:08

  11:45 am  

Lunch Break  -  LOTZ of BBQ

  1:30 pm  

Short Film Category

  • Say Cheese   1:00 min

  • By Hand   10:59 min     

  • Klarissa   6:52 min

  • Fable Deaf   13:50 min

  • The Witnesses   5:21 min     

  • Scott  8:15 min

  • Pop  5:19 min

  • Tharcisse A.K.A. Drogba: The Deaf Shoemaker   6:03 min     

  • The Participant   9:35 min

  • Imaginings   13:00 min

  3:15 pm  

Break

  3:30 pm  

Feature Film Category

  • ​ LaCrimosa   1:20:00

  5:00 pm  

Dinner Break  -  Crepe Crazy

  6:15 pm  

Mature Film Category

  • The Device That Turned Me Into a Cyborg Was Born the Same Year I Was   3:19 min

  • The Hunted   4:26 min     

  • The Multi   18:16 min

  • They   5:00 min

  • Inspired   28:00 min     

  • Reverie  5:00 min

  • 19:24  10:55 min

  • Ladylike   11:29 min     

  • You Are Noted   20:15 min

  • Tarneit   20:00 min

  8:30 pm  

Doors open at VUKA

  9:00 pm  

Awards Announcement

  10:00 pm  

21+ Only

  11:30 pm  

Last Call for Alcohol

  12:00 am  

Festival Afterparty Ends

Deaf Film Festival location on the map

HOW TO GET TO DFF

Texas School for the Deaf - Main Auditorium
1102 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Texas School for the Deaf Map

ALL FILMS

01_Le_Voleur_d_oreilles.jpg

 Animation 

The Ears Robber

 4:16 min   |   [CC]    

In the early morning, the mayor wakes up and discovers with dread what is missing from him. His ears are gone! Soon enough, the whole town finds itself troubled by a mysterious entity that robs the ears from its inhabitants...

Directed by Arno Liou

238906037_4258784640870195_7829515761768

 Animation 

Quarantine

3:01 min

It is an animated film produced by Egyptian children that tells about the Corona virus crisis from their point of view and how it affected their lives.

Directed by Marwa Ali

2 ANTS DON'T SPEAK BUT THEY WORK TOGETHER By Nikhil Chalakh image.jpg

 Animation 

ANTS DON'T SPEAK BUT THEY WORK TOGETHER

 7:02 min  |   [CC]     

The film is an insight into the world of a boy who is a daydreamer. He is deaf and mute and has a
special relationship with nature. Boy realizes his admiration towards the unity among ants. He saves some of them from being crushed. The film talks about his relationship with the ants & ends on cumulative note.

Directed by Nikhil Sudhakar

Poster 5aa1c33567-poster.jpg

 Student 

The Legacy: One Heart. One Team. One Goal.

1:04:08   |   [CC]

The Legacy: One Heart. One Team. One Goal" is an uplifting film documentary created by the CSDR High School video production class and directed by David Figueroa. The film shows the incredible journey of a Deaf football team as they come together to overcome obstacles and pursue the state championship.

Directed by David Figueroa

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 1.55.44 AM.png

 Short 

Say Cheese

1 min  |   [CC]

A hearing college student attempts to ask out his crush, a deaf classmate. Using his beginner ASL (American Sign Language), he tries to ask her to the movies but instead, he signs a visually similar sequence which translates to “cheese”. Using the universal love of the movies, the two work it out and end up on a date.

Directed by Anna McClanahan

Photo 3 Screenshot_2022-08-08_at_13.50.50.jpg

 Short 

By Hand

10:59 min  |   [CC]

Oscar and his deaf younger sister Nia are sent down to a remote coastal town to visit their estranged fisherman father Mark. Over the space of an afternoon, the trio are ripped apart and brought back together again in this film surrounding deafness in a family dynamic.

Directed by Rhys Prichard

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 1.32.51 AM.png

 Short 

Klarissa

6:52 min  |   [CC]

Klarissa working on the project to develop her artwork to explorer her identity influence into the ink drawing on paper by using traditional Japanese ink work. Through her interview to look back in her early life to discover her interest in art and how she identifies into her identity during the free pride festival in Glasgow. She builds up her artist career after her Fine art’s graduation as her dream to become artist philosophy and recognised Klarissa trademark of her ink brush draw style.

Directed by Ruaridh Lever-Hogg

Fable_Deaf-high-res-still-05_Hugo2.png

 Short 

Fable Deaf

13:50 min  |   [CC]

It is an animated film produced by Egyptian children that tells about the Coronavirus crisis from their point of view and how it affected their lives.

Directed by Chrystene R. Ells

Screen Shot 2023-07-14 at 7.51.35 AM.png

  Short  

The Witnesses

5:21 min  |   [CC]

A young Deaf woman and her friends teach two unexpected guests a very valuable lesson they won’t forget.

Directed by Garrett Zuercher, Jared Johnston

ScottPoster_EmptyStreetFilms.jpg

 Short 

SCOTT

8:15 min  |   [CC]

A portrait of Scott Campbell, a Deaf Photographer based in Glasgow, Scotland. In this short documentary film, Scott tells us about his journey in photography and what impact it has had on his life, as well as sharing with us some of his most treasured work.

Directed by Will Clark

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 1.51.16 AM.png

 Short 

POP

5:19 min

From the creative minds of Kissfist Deaf, POP is a short film about a wise and traveling door-to-door peddler who sells a miracle to an unwitting hearing person. Is it a blessing or a curse? The film explores an alternate universe where instead of resistance to deafness, there is acceptance and willingness.

Directed by Megan Malzkuhn

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 2.02.32 AM.png

 Short 

Tharcisse A.K.A Drogba: The Deaf Shoemaker

6:03 min  |   [CC]

Tharcisse was born deaf. After his parents died, he was adopted in a very poor family but after some time an organization that supports youths who live with a disability helped him and taught him how to make shoes. Now his life has changed as he can be able to make shoes, sell and earn some money to support himself and his adoptive mother. It has also boosted his morale.

Directed by Gilbert Sibomana

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 2.12.27 AM.png

 Short 

The Participant

19:35 min  |   [CC]

In this strange drug clinical trial short powerhouse drama film where nothing is what it seems.

Directed by Kyle Emroe

Imagining_group_top.jpg

 Short 

Imaginings

13 min  |   [CC]

It is an animated film produced by Egyptian children that tells about the Corona virus crisis from their point of view and how it affected their lives.

Directed by Anja Hiddinga

lacdvdcover3.png

 Feature 

LaCrimosa

1:20:00  |   [CC]

Based on true events, two Deaf friends aspire to become filmmakers in a world of silence.

Directed by Austin Chapman

Photo 8 IMG_0304.jpg

 Mature 

The Device That Turned Me Into a Cyborg Was Born the Same Year I Was

3:19 min  |  [CC]

In The Device That Turned Me Into A Cyborg Was Born The Same Year I Was, Chella Man explores the nuances of life on a continuum between the Deaf and hearing world. The film oscillates between a daydream and a nightmare as Man steps into his autonomy as a Deaf adult. We witness the constraints of machinery and how immobilizing it can be to live and breathe as a cyborg.

Directed by Chella Man

The-Hunted-Poster.jpg

 Mature 

The Hunted

4:26 min  |   [CC]

Against a backdrop of the harsh Australian bush during a post-apocalyptic future, a young, Deaf girl is led into an ambush by her mentor in this tale of trust and survival.

Directed by Dan Farmer, Adam Bigum, & Ramas McRae

Screen Shot 2022-01-11 at 12.57.22 PM.png

 Mature 

The Multi

18:16 min  |   [CC]

An isolated Black Deaf woman has constructed a world of order to keep a childhood trauma buried deep in her psyche, then an unexpected turn of events forces her to confront her demons from the past who threaten to destroy everything she has built as she tries to keep control of her life before it’s too late.

Directed by Natasha Ofili & Storm Smith

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 1.05.18 AM.png

 Mature 

They

5 min  |  [CC]

"They" is about Deaf people navigating and finding love with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Communication and identities/differences within the Deaf community are shown.

Directed by Sarah Margolis-Greenbaum, Aaron Margolis-Greenbaum

Inspired_Poster_18x24_F (2) (2).png

 Mature 

INSPIRED

28 min 

Raina, once the only Deaf and Disabled person in film school, reunites with her ex and former TA, Sebastian. On their date, it becomes clear the ways in which their college romance–and its sudden end–inspired the people they’ve become and the actions they take. Their love was never normal, it was special.

Directed by Darian Slattery

REVERIE.jpg

 Mature 

Reverie

5 min  |   [CC]

In 'Reverie,' Luke and Cody's love for each other is immense and beyond, but as things unfold, one of them must confront what was, is, and will be.

Directed by Chase Chambers, Justin Jackerson, Jules Dameron

Capture ecran 2.png

 Mature 

19:24

10:55 min  |   [CC}

Justine is French, Karl is Danish. Both deaf, they have had a long
distance romantic relationship for two years and keep the connection using new technologies. “19:24” is a short film that presents a conversation and its history
over the notifications that appear on the screen of a smartphone. One evening, at 19:24, Karl sends a video message to say that he will not be joining Justine for the weekend and that he needs to think things over.

Directed by Audrey Sangla & Aurelien Mancino

01B_02_A001.20_33_09_16.Still001.jpg

 Mature 

Ladylike

11;29 min  |   [CC]

Aubrey brings her girlfriend, Kat, to an intimate family dinner. Upon their arrival, the girls are met with hostility from Aubrey’s aunt. Tensions worsen throughout the evening, eventually causing Aubrey to flee the home, leaving her family to reflect on their actions.

Directed by Natalie Ring

You_Are_Noted_Poster_841x1189_RZ.jpg

 Mature 

You Are Noted

20:15 min  |   [CC]

After a breakup with her boyfriend, Emma tries to start a new life. However, she receives a mysterious note in front of her apartment thus creating fear and terror. A dark thriller with terrible consequences.

Directed by Thorbjorn Krischke

Screen Shot 2023-09-28 at 1.09.14 AM.png

 Mature 

Tarneit

20 min  |   [CC]

Inspired by stories of a distant place, best friends Tyrone and Clinton must fight to find a way out of Tarneit, a place surrounded by violence and tradition.

Directed by John Sheedy

VUKA logo

   AFTERPARTY AT VUKA   

Ms. Deaf Queen and Sin Nombre photos

411 W Monroe St, Austin, TX 78704   |   8:30 PM to Midnight
Park anywhere on the TSD campus and walk to VUKA.

Entertainment by Sheena Lyles with Mistress of Ceremonies Sin Nombre.
There will be appetizers, desserts, and a cash bar.
Come try our themed cocktail: The Paparazzie!

  8:30 pm  

Social & Hors d'Oeuvres

  9:00 pm  

Film Awards

  10:00 pm  

21+ Only

  10:30 pm  

Entertainment

  11:00 pm  

Socialize/Wrap Up

  11:30 pm  

Last call for the cash bar

  12:00 am  

Closing

  What to expect  

OUR TEAM

MJ Kiego committee photo

  MJ Kiego  

Founder & Festival Director

Nick Kiego committee photo

  Nick Kiego  

Assistant Director

Finn Thurber committee photo

  Finnegan Thurber  

Marketing Director

Kerry Cooler committee photo

   Kerry Cooler  

Volunteer Director

Deidra Pelletier committee photo

  Deidra Pelletier  

Afterparty Chairperson

Toj Mora committee photo

  Toj Mora  

Programming Director

THE JUDGES

Nyle Dimarco photo

   Nyle DiMarco  

Nyle DiMarco, a New York Times best-selling author and oscar-nomimated, has conquered obstacles and won admirers since he made his entrance in 2014. In addition to his prosperous TV appearances, he is presently crafting and creating both scripted and unscripted shows, while also consulting on disability integration and genuine depiction. DiMarco is now embarking on his first directing project, a documentary.
 

DiMarco is currently producing and developing scripted and non-scripted programming; including sales and development with Spectrum, NBC, Universal, Netflix, Peacock and more.

Harold Foxx photo

   Harold Foxx  

Harold Eugene Catron Jr, better known by his stage name Harold Foxx, is a writer, filmmaker, comedian, and actor who happens to be Deaf. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee. Harold attended Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He resides in Los Angeles, California, and created “The Harold Foxx Show,” an online series of comedic video sketches currently available on various social media platforms.

​

Best known for his stand-up comedy, Harold has performed at iconic venues such as the Crow Comedy, the Laugh Factory and Flappers Comedy Club, as well as in major cities across the nation. Harold also recently performed in the Palm Springs International Virtual Comedy Festival 2020.

​

Harold was involved in numerous film, television, and stage productions including “The Actor Whisperer,” “For My Woman,” “Audism Unveiled,” Deaf West Theatre and Pasadena Playhouse “Our Town,” Playwrights Horizons’ “I Was Alive With You” (NYC Off-Broadway Production), National Theatre of the Deaf 2020 Online Playwrights Convening. He also wrote, produced, directed, and acted in “Smell the Nature” for 2021 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.

​

Harold was selected for a competitive fellowship for the 2021 RespectAbility Lab for Entertainment Professionals with Disabilities. Currently, Harold is training with The Groundlings, an improvisation and sketch comedy theatre & school based in Los Angeles. Harold serves as Associate Producer on Orange Kite Productions’ feature documentary Being Michelle. Harold also serves as an Art Education Teaching Artist for Deaf West Theatre and was Post Production intern for a comedy and romantic feature film Something from Tiffany’s by Amazon Studios.

Sandra Mae Frank photo

   Sandra Mae Frank  

Sandra Mae Frank (she/her) is an actor, director, and producer. She is known for her work in theatre productions, television, and film. She recently appeared in NBC's "New Amsterdam" as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder for the final two seasons. Her theatre credits include Deaf West's "Spring Awakening" on Broadway, Deaf Austin Theatre's "Next to Normal" (partnered with Ground Floor Theatre) and "Cinderella" (partnered with Zach Theatre), and Lyric Theatre's "Fun Home" and "Fiddler on the Roof." Her TV credits include NBC's "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" and Netflix's "Daybreak." Her film credits include Tello Films' "Season of Love" and "Entangled." On top of her acting career, she is also the Production Manager of Deaf Austin Theatre and embarking on a directing career, including Halen Hayes Award 2023's Outstanding Director for Olney Theatre's Music Man, co-directing with Michael Baron.

 

Also, catch her upcoming feature film with Joel Kinnaman, coming soon, called "The Silent Hour."

 

Follow her on Instagram (@sandramaefrank)

Toj Mora photo

   Toj Mora  

Toj is a filmmaker, producer, and editor with over a decade of experience. His recent post-production and editing work includes Netflix’s DEAF U (2020), and an upcoming Marvel series, ECHO (Disney+). He is currently working on a new Starz series starring and executive produced by Lauren Ridloff.

​

As a producer and filmmaker Toj’s work includes commercial productions like BEYOND INCLUSION (2016) and indie films such as HAMBURGER AIRPLANE (2020). Recently, Toj was the Director of Photography for a docu-series on deaf music artists, where he led a crew of five deaf cinematographers through two full days of filming. He is also slated to edit the series.

​

Toj enjoys films with dark comedy and great villains. 

Lauren Ridloff photo

   Lauren Ridloff  

Lauren began her meteoric rise as an actor just five years ago. Prior to that, she won the title of Miss Deaf America and was a kindergarten teacher in Manhattan for a decade. After leaving that job to take care of her two young children, she was hired in 2016 to tutor director Kenny Leon in American Sign Language as he readied the Broadway revival of Children of A Lesser God. After working together for months, Kenny and the producers concluded that Lauren was the ideal and only choice for the lead. She pulled it off with resounding success, including multiple rave reviews from the New York Times and a Tony nomination. She soon became a series regular on the longrunning AMC series, The Walking Dead. She then became the first Deaf superhero opposite Angelina Jolie and Kumail Nanjani in Marvel's worldwide hit, Eternals. Next, she’s set to executive produce and star opposite Joshua Jackson in an untitled series for Starz. Lauren received a 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough award recognizing the most promising stars of film and television.

Economic Development Department logo

OUR GRATITUDE

Thank you to the City of Austin for awarding the Elevate grant to the Deaf Film Festival!

SPECIAL THANKS TO
OUR SPONSORS

Without our sponsors, the Deaf Film Festival would not have been possible.

   Producer  

HEB logo

H-E-B

Serverdev logo

Serverdev

   Co-Producer  

Dovetail Interpreting logo

Dovetail Communication Group

Dozanu Innovations logo

Dozanu Innovations

Inka's Printing logo

Inka's Screen Printing

LensRental logo

Lensrentals

Texas School for the Deaf logo

Texas School for the Deaf

What's the Sign? logo

What's the Sign?

   Associate Producer  

WriterDuet logo

Writerduet

  WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW   

Thank you for being part of the first annual Deaf Film Festival! We are so grateful to our sponsors, the creatives who submitted their incredible films, our judges, and everyone who helped us work toward the success of this event.

© 2026 by Zankza Project

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