DMDb NEWS – LumoTV, in partnership with Døves Media, recently hosted the first International Deaf Producers & Filmmakers Forum in Reims, France, bringing together professionals working in Deaf media, television, and film production. The forum marked the beginning of discussions about establishing an international network for sign language media and film professionals. It also builds […]
DMDb NEWS – Charlie Ainsworth and Austin Balaich have founded the Deaf Cinema Institute (DCI), the first permanent institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to Deaf Cinema. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the nonprofit organization serves as both a film production company and a cultural institution committed to advancing Deaf storytelling. Through the creation of […]
DMDb NEWS – Contributors to the discussions surrounding the first written Deaf Cinema Manifesto included Fabio Zamparo, Artistic Co-Director of the Itinerant Deaf Cinema Festival; Charlie Ainsworth, a new generation of Gallaudet alumnus and founder of Angry Deaf Films; Emilio Insolera and Daniele Le Rose, pioneering members of the Deaf Cinema movement; MJ Kiego, founder […]
DMDB NEWS – Since the creation of Rai Fiction in 1997 and Rai Cinema in 2000, RAI has produced hundreds of television series, TV movies, and feature films. However, for much of this period, authentic representation of Deaf people has been largely absent. For decades, deaf characters have been portrayed primarily by hearing actors rather […]
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER – BY ETAN VLESSING The ‘Feel My Voice’ actor plays a father to a shy teen with a gift for singing in the Netflix drama, a remake of the French film from which ‘CODA’ was adapted and which features authentic deaf characters. Being seen and heard is important for Insolera, as he […]
DMDb NEWS – Netflix and Sign Language: A Look at Key Projects April 3, 2026 Netflix has increasingly showcased content that highlights Deaf culture, sign language, and authentic representation by Deaf actors. From real‑life stories to scripted drama, these projects offer visibility and nuance rarely seen on global streaming platforms. 📺 Black Summer (2019) […]
NETFLIX – Today Netflix released the trailer of Feel My Voice, the film that marks the debut of …Read more at https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-trailer-of-feel-my-voice-the-new-film-starring-sarah-toscano-and-serena
DMDB NEWS – Feel My Voice: Netflix’s New Film Featuring a Prominent Deaf Cast – Plot and Release date Netflix’s upcoming film Feel My Voice stands out for its strong Deaf representation, featuring Deaf actors Emilio Insolera, Carola Insolera and Antonio Iorillo in key roles. The film also marks the acting debut of rising Italian […]
INDIEWIRE – Founder Emilio Insolera hopes to help platform deaf talent and create a space for community to grow. Though Hollywood is often praised as a place where everyone’s story has a shot at making it on the big screen, the reality is that.. Read more at Indiewire
CATALAN NEWS – The Catalan production ‘Sorda’, directed by Eva Libertad, has won two awards at the prestigious Berlinale International Film Festival this weekend. ‘Sorda’, or ‘Deaf’ in English, won the Audience Award in the Panorama section as well as the top prize given by the International Confederation of Art and Essay Cinemas (CICAE, as it’s known as for […]
APPLE TV+ PRESS – Academy Award nominee Nyle DiMarco produces and co-directs alongside Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim Today, Apple Original Films announced the groundbreaking new documentary film “Deaf President Now!” featuring the landmark Gallaudet University protests. The film hails from..Read more at https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2024/12/apple-original-films-announces-groundbreaking-new-documentary-film-deaf-president-now-featuring-the-historic-gallaudet-university-protests/
THE BIG ISSUE Aaron Paul kicked off the streaming age with Breaking Bad. In the isolation age it might be streaming that gets us through – so it’s lucky he’s back with a thriller we can watch at home March 27, 2020 By Steven MacKenzie @stevenmackenzie While there’s a constant supply of bad news breaking, […]
CNBC PUBLISHED THU, MAR 12 202011:47 AM EDT Sarah Whitten@SARAHWHIT10 “A Quiet Place Part II” is the latest Hollywood film to push its global box office release amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. “One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one… Read More at: ‘A Quiet Place […]
THE MARY SUE – By Michele KirichanskayaMar 23rd, 2020, 11:14 am With Disney+’s Hawkeye series set to debut in Fall 2021, there are still several issues to address before the show premieres—especially those considering its main character, Clint Barton, a canonically deaf character in Marvel…Read more at: Disney+’s Hawkeye Needs Deaf Representation Disney+’s Hawkeye Needs […]
COMIC BOOK – By Cameron Bonomolo – February 24, 2020 02:43 pm EST Lauren Ridloff is excited by the parallels between Connie, the first Deaf survivor featured on zombie drama The Walking Dead, and the super-powered Makkari, one of the newest superheroes joining the Marvel…Read more at The Walking Dead’s Lauren Ridloff Compares Connie to […]
WASHINGTON POST November 14, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. GMT+1 By Peter Marks NEW YORK — Russell Harvard has been waiting not so patiently for this his entire career. And now, at long last, for a deaf actor channeled inexorably into deaf roles, the moment has arrived: Playing a hearing character. Harvard is part of the (mostly) […]
UNILAD – BY : Lucy Connolly ON : 06 NOV 2019 15:40 From Ghostbusters to Zombieland, Scrooged to Lost in Translation, the comedian’s everlasting wit and humour has landed him all sorts of legendary roles. Yes, I am ignoring Garfield and Garfield 2… Perhaps Bill Murray’s best performance… Read more at: https://www.unilad.co.uk/film-and-tv/bill-murray-hired-a-profoundly-deaf-assistant-to-stop-people-contacting-him/
JUST JARED JR Shaylee Mansfield is guest starring on Bunk’d tonight (March 13)!! The young, deaf actress will play Willow, a young camper whom Gwen…Read more at: http://www.justjaredjr.com/2020/03/13/deaf-actress-shaylee-mansfield-shares-why-her-bunkd-role-is-important-for-deaf-representation/
THRIVE GLOBAL – I believe writing plays and films are one of the most effective ways to share… Read more at: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/unstoppable-deaf-actress-natasha-ofili-is-inspiring-the-world-about-what-can-be-accomplished-with-sheer-determination/
Jerell Rushin Oshkosh NorthwesternPublished 11:01 AM EDT Oct 31, 2019 OSHKOSH – Oshkosh held its first motion picture premiere in over 50 years Monday night when “The Silent Natural,” a film about deaf Oshkosh baseball player William “Dummy” Hoy, debuted at The Grand Oshkosh. Hoy is credited by some…. Read more at: https://eu.thenorthwestern.com/story/sports/2019/10/29/william-hoy-film-the-silent-natural-premieres-grand-oshkosh/2492126001/
COMING SOON – Emilio Insolera (Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes) has joined the much-hyped spy thriller 355 from star/producer Jessica Chastain…Read more at: https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1101359-actor-emilio-insolera-joins-jessica-chastains-355#kE3RvFPTL00dB8ap.99
VARIETY – FILM NEWS Deaf actor Emilio Insolera has joined the Simon Kinberg thriller “355” alongside Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz… Read more at: https://variety.com/2019/film/news/documentary-gay-chorus-deep-south-awards-season-release-1203338079/
BROADWAY BUZZ Jul 22, 2019 by Andy Lefkowitz Lauren Ridloff, a 2018 Tony nominee for her Broadway debut in Children of a Lesser God, will break ground on the big screen next year taking on the role of Makkari, Marvel’s… Read more at: https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196451/lauren-ridloff-cast-as-marvels-first-deaf-superhero/
THE JAPAN NEWS – 2:35 pm, March 25, 2019 By Misako Takeda / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff WriterTAKASAKI, Gunma — Two deaf women are relaxing in an apartment. Main character Hana is bothered by a piece of paper on a table. On the paper, Ayumi has written, “Love interests: men — women… Read more at: http://www.the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005603736″>http://www.the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005603736 […]
Kristen LopezContributorHollywood & Entertainment I write about entertainment, focusing on disabled representation. Emily Blunt is in talks to play a deaf and blind woman, continuing the problems of disabled representation. (Photo by Erica Price/WireImage)GETTY In the disabled community there’s a term: “cripping up.” It’s in reference to when an able-bodied person puts on the role of […]
FORWARD – March 21, 2019 By Jenny Singer Yes, Chella Man’s full identity is complicated — he even says so himself. “There is an extreme lack of representation for young, Deaf, queer, Jewish, Asian, transgender artists — sorry, that is a mouthful!” he told Teen Vogue in October 2018. “I decided to be my own representation.” And so he has. The […]
THE HEKTOEN INTERNATIONAL – Sign Gene: the first deaf superhero film By Paul Dakin Published March 19th, 2019 If the superhero genre really is “about transformation, about identity, about difference,” then the description can readily be applied to Sign Gene, the world’s first deaf superhero film. Written and directed by Emilio Insolera, who was born […]
I recently landed myself on a mainstream film set for the first time in a long while and I was prepared for the usual. Getting left out, falling behind, not understanding much and generally feeling kind of useless. This was all totally for no reason… Read More at: the Limping Chicken https://limpingchicken.com/2019/03/15/23398/
HARPER’S BAZAAR – It’s been a life-changing year for former Hollyoaks star Rachel Shenton. In 2018, the actor and writer won an Academy Award for her powerful short live film The Silent Child, helping to generate awareness and an understanding of deafness…Read more at https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a26793031/oscar-winner-rachel-shenton-after-hollyoaks/
He’ll play Jericho, who is able to possess other people’s bodies through eye contact.BY MATHEW RODRIGUEZMARCH 19 2019 3:15 PM EDT32.2K SHARES Trans YouTube star, artist, and model Chella Man is about to add “actor” to his resume. The 20-year-old genderqueer artist has been case in the role of Joseph Wilson, or Jericho, in the upcoming […]
By Kyra Lisse || Contributing Writer The scene opens to an adolescent boy, his face framed with… Read more at: The College Reporter http://www.the-college-reporter.com/2019/02/24/contributing-writer-reviews-the-sign-for-love-film-screening-a-must-see/
Lauren Ridloff was initially a fan of “The Walking Dead” before joining the cast in season 9. She adored the AMC series so much that her husband would Facetime the television screen to her so that she could watch while feeding their newborn in another room. Ridloff, a former kindergarten teacher, began acting professionally in […]
By MATTHEW DESSEMJAN 19, 201911:35 PM In an interview with the Press Association, The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil said she turned down a recent offer to portray a deaf woman in hopes that a deaf actress would be cast in her place. Jamil made her comments in the wake of a conversation about disability representation sparked by Bryan Cranston’s role […]
By Kris Kosaka Emilio Insolera’s “Sign Gene” gave the world its first deaf superheroes. But after writing, directing, producing and starring in the film himself, you might argue that Insolera is the one with the superpowers… Read more at: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2018/11/13/films/deaf-filmmaker-emilio-insolera-flexes-superpowers-sign-gene/#.XGqlMi2ZPRY
NOVEMBER 2, 2018 by MATTHEW HERNON Traditionally, deaf characters in Hollywood films have been portrayed as tragic figures who struggle to communicate and subsequently rely on others to get by. Looking to buck that trend is deaf director and actor Emilio Insolera with his first feature-length movie Sign Gene. Set predominantly in Japan (as well […]
By Neil Genzlinger Nov. 1, 2018 Bernard Bragg, a trailblazer for deaf performers who in 1967 became a founder of the National Theater of the Deaf in Connecticut, died on Oct. 29 in Los Angeles. He was 90. The actress Marlee Matlin, a longtime friend, confirmed his death. Mr. Bragg, who was born deaf to deaf […]
A recent Twitter storm spiraled as the Deaf community responded to an article published by The Hollywood Reporter (THR) highlighting John Leonetti’s new film; “The Silence”, which premieres in December. The film features a hearing actor playing a Deaf role, which was subject to criticism from Deaf people including Deaf actress Marlee Matlin and Deaf model Nyle […]
Sara Novic is a Deaf writer and assistant professor of creative writing at Stockton University. Her first novel, “Girl at War,” was released by Random House in 2015. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. The Deaf community uses a capital “D” to differentiate between people who identify with Deaf culture and identity, […]
By MICHAEL RECHTSHAFFEN One wouldn’t normally expect to find such dazzling sound design in a production conceived and directed by a deaf filmmaker, but that’s just one of the unexpected surprises surrounding Emilio Insolera’s “Sign Gene.” Energetically blending elements of “X-Men,” “The Da Vinci Code,” 007 and martial arts wuxia while giving shout-outs to such […]
PACIFIC STANDARD Emilio Insolera’s new film uses the underground history of sign language as the premise for a superhero thriller. COBY MCDONALD APR 10, 2018 When Emilio Insolera was…Read more at WHEN SIGN LANGUAGE IS A SUPERPOWER