Deaf Jam

Deaf Jam

Directed by Judy Lieff
Produced by Steve Zeitlin, City Lore
American Sign Language (ASL) poetry changed Aneta Brodski's life.

Videos

Sign Language is who I am.

Overview

Genre
Arts, Minorities, Social Issues, Human Interest, and Culture
Synopsis

In this high energy documentary, Aneta Brodski seizes the day. She is a deaf teen introduced to American Sign Language (ASL) Poetry, who then boldly enters the spoken word slam scene. In a wondrous twist, Aneta, an Israeli immigrant living in the Queens section of New York City, eventually meets Tahani, a hearing Palestinian slam poet. The two women embark on a collaboration/performance duet - creating a new form of slam poetry that speaks to both the hearing and the Deaf.

“Poetry, friendship and respect transcend politics...Delightful and endearing, utilizing upbeat music and clever graphics, Deaf Jam immerses us in the richness and complexity of deaf culture and gives us a unique perspective into a world so vibrant, so diverse, it may forever change the way we see the non-hearing.” Barbara Pokras, A.C.E. - Woodstock Film Festival.

Stage
finished
Running time
70 and 53 minutes

Credits

  • Judy Lieff ... Director/Producer
  • Steve Zeitlin, City Lore ... Co-Producer
  • Keiko Deguchi ... Editor
  • Claudia Raschke ... DOP
  • Melissa Donovan ... DOP

Production Details

Prod. Co.
made-by-hand, llc
Country
United States
Years of Production
2004 - 2008
Locations
New York City (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan), Washington DC
Prod. Partners
Steve Zeitlin, City Lore, ITVS

Distribution Details

Release year
2012
Festivals
Thessaloniki Doc FF, Woodstock FF, Mill Valley FF, Starz Denver FF, Doc Edge FF (NZ), Goteborg Int'l FF, SF Indie FF, EIDF International FF,NY Jewish FF @ Lincoln Center, EIDF Int'l FF, Folkets Bio FF (SE), One World Art FF (CA), Arts in Action (AU)
Awards
Best Documentary - Greenpoint FF, Honorable Mention - Cinedeaf FF, Rome
Distribution
Cinephil (international sales)
Broadcast (Acq.)
Independent Lens, EBS (Korea), Swiss TV, Taiwan (Ski Digi Entertainment Co.), BR Germany
Language
American Sign Language and Spoken English
Subtitles
German, Spanish, Korean

Photos

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