1. Regard Silence (Mira el silencio)
“I love poetry because it makes me feel like my mind expands.” In Regard Silence, that's the very first sentence expressed—in sign language of course. Watching the poems signed by deaf people in this film has a similarly mind-expanding effect. That’s because sign language—the Mexican version in this case—is a very different means of communication than written or spoken language.
2. The Tuba Thieves
A spate of robberies in Southern California schools had an oddly specific target: tubas. In this work of creative nonfiction, d/Deaf first-time feature director Alison O’Daniel presents the impact of these crimes from an unexpected angle. The film unfolds mimicking a game of telephone, where sound’s feeble transmissibility is proven as the story bends and weaves to human interpretation and miscommunication. The result is a stunning contribution to cinematic language. O’Daniel has developed a syntax of deafness that offers a complex, overlaid, surprising new texture, which offers a dimensional experience of deafness and reorients the audience auditorily in an unfamiliar and exhilarating way.
It has an average vote of 8 on TMDB.
3. Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change
Actress and Strictly Come Dancing 2021 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis reveals the daily challenges, discrimination, and barriers which are faced by deaf individuals.
4. Life and Deaf
An immersive, experiential film about the deaf world, with its unique humour and culture - a world which most of us rarely encounter. The film is in BSL: British Sign Language . There is no score, no commentary, and none of the conventions of normal film-making.
It has an average vote of 9 on TMDB.
5. La surditude (La surditude)
(La surditude)
6. Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
Documentary telling the extraordinary story of Koko, the only 'talking' gorilla in the world, and her lifelong relationship with Penny Patterson. Project Koko started as a PhD project to teach sign language to a baby gorilla, but as Koko began to communicate with Penny, an intense bond formed between them. Penny has now been with Koko for over 40 years and claims Koko can reveal fresh insights into the workings of an animal's mind. Koko's unique life with Penny has been filmed every step of the way. Over 2,000 hours of footage chart the most dramatic moments - Penny's battle to keep Koko from being taken back to the zoo in which she was born, Penny's clash with academic critics who doubted her claims and the image of Koko mourning the death of her kitten.
It has an average vote of 7.6 on TMDB.
7. Talking Hands (Puhuvat kädet)
Spring is coming. Deaf-mute girl and boy feel the warmth of the sun on their faces, the air is flooded with light. The world of these young people lacks sound and their language is different, but they are happy about spring and each other.
8. Children of Silence (Les enfants du silence)
This film looks at the world of children with hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis. With its straightforward, rigorous cinematic style and intimate approach to the subject, the film focuses on the human rather than the technical side of the problem of hearing impairment.
It has an average vote of 6 on TMDB.
9. Elsa
A Deafblind fencer and author competes in all arenas just for the right to be seen.
10. Audism Unveiled
In American Sign Language with subtitles available in English, Spanish and Canadian French. This powerful documentary uses real life experiences from Deaf people of varied social, racial, and educational boundaries showing how this form of oppression does lasting and harmful damage. Bonus materials include directors' comments from Ben Bahan and H-Dirksen Bauman and additional scences. Teachers: This film is a wonderful tool for beginning ASL students, as an introduction to a side of Deaf culture that cannot be found in any textbook.
11. Being Marcus
Marcus Pabon-Lara loves swimming but is too self-conscious to take off his top in public. Will a mastectomy give him the body confidence needed to go for his first swim since he was a teenager? An honest insight into the experiences of a Deaf trans man, follows self-proclaimed “proud geek” Marcus during the lead up to his much-anticipated operation. Along the way, we meet his friends and his mother, finding out more about Marcus and how he feels about his transition.
12. Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Echo
Join us on a revealing journey behind-the-scenes of Maya Lopez’s own groundbreaking series. Witness how the production took unprecedented steps to portray the deaf experience, and Native American culture truthfully. Spend time with powerhouse actor Vincent D’Onofrio as he brings the Kingpin to monstrous life once again. All this and more waits to be discovered in "Assembled: The Making of Echo."
It has an average vote of 5.6 on TMDB.
13. Conversation Behind the Scenes (Dialoghi da dietro le quinte)
A documentary that follows the story of Dario Pasquarella, deaf director and actor, and his company. Through his work, Dario seeks to bring together the deaf and hearing community, who are usually separated by a lack of communication. In his shows he uses both languages, LIS, sign language and spoken language, to tell stories in which the deaf and hearing can live in symbiosis.
14. A Sonorous Melody (Senandung Senyap)
Growing up as a Deaf individual in Indonesia, Mufi was taught to speak instead of sign. As an adult, now she carves her music career to inspire others to express themselves through sign language.
15. Plating Blind
Nathan Quinell is a fully trained chef… he also happens to be legally deaf and blind. That’s never stopped him from chasing his dreams to become a full-time cook, but now Nathan must prove himself to his peers, his students and potential employers.
16. Koko: A Talking Gorilla (Koko, le gorille qui parle)
A documentary that follows Dr. Penny Patterson's current scientific study of Koko, a gorilla who communicates through American Sign Language.
It has an average vote of 7 on TMDB.
17. Inga Can Hear (Inga dzird)
“Inga Can Hear” is a story about the 15-year old Inga, a girl caught between two worlds. Being the only hearing member of a deaf family residing in the remote Latvian countryside, Inga has been the family’s interpreter in the hearing world since the age of seven. Her role in the family has forced her to grow up very quickly and her personality fluctuates between a responsible young woman and a moody teenager. Inga is about to graduate from middle school and has to make a decision on what to do next. Inga’s head is full of questions. To pursue a career as an actress? To become a firefighter? What will happen to the family, for whom she has sometimes been the only link to the outside world?
18. I'll Come to You with Deaf Eyes (J'avancerai vers toi avec les yeux d'un sourd)
This film is a letter to my friend Vincent who died ten years ago. Vincent was Deaf. He introduced me to his language, his culture, his world. Through Vincent ‘s life, the film will examine the roots of the distress that plagues the Deaf, and also explore a rich and fascinating world, a people that struggles to preserve its Sign Language and Culture.
It has an average vote of 7.2 on TMDB.
19. Breaking Silence
A portrait of a Deaf activist and his formerly incarcerated daughter who build new bonds through their experiences in the criminal justice system.
20. See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary
This inspirational documentary follows four deaf entertainers: a comic, drummer, actor and a singer as they attempt to cross over to mainstream audiences. These uniquely talented entertainers overcome great challenges to celebrate success.
It has an average vote of 5.8 on TMDB.
