Agenda

The Itinerant Deaf Cinema Festival returns for its third edition, confirming its place as a unique event within the Italian cultural landscape. From May 22 to 24, 2026, the festival will take place at the Museo del ’900 – M9, also under the patronage of the Department of Linguistics of Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, offering three days full of events open to everyone.
The initiative represents a valuable opportunity to explore and engage with Deaf culture through cinema. The program, both national and international in scope, is designed to be fully accessible: all activities will be available in LIS (Italian Sign Language), International Sign, and spoken Italian, and all films will be subtitled in Italian and English.
At the heart of the festival are the international competition short films, which provide an original and contemporary perspective on Deaf cinema and its many artistic expressions. Alongside the screenings, audiences will have the opportunity to attend meetings with artists, directors, and industry professionals, as well as talks, performances, and experiential activities designed to foster dialogue between Deaf and hearing communities.

Among the most significant moments is the roundtable dedicated to drafting the International Manifesto of Deaf Cinema, conceived as a space for discussion and shared reflection on the present and future of this art form. The festival will also host the Ritmi Visivi Award ceremony, presented by an international jury composed of experts in the fields of art and Deaf cinema, alongside the Audience Award.
Special attention is also given to younger generations: each day includes activities for families and children, with workshops, games, and bilingual screenings in LIS and Italian. This provides an opportunity to introduce younger audiences to sign language and promote an inclusive culture from an early age.

The program unfolds over three eventful days. On May 22, the festival opens with a sign language aperitif, followed by the opening ceremony featuring a Visual Vernacular performance by artist Nicola della Maggiora and the first screening session of the competition short films.

May 23 will focus on meetings with the jury, further screenings, and the award ceremony, culminating in the official festival party.

On May 24, the program turns to discussion and in-depth exploration, with the roundtable for the International Manifesto of Deaf Cinema, followed by out-of-competition feature film screenings, both in the morning and evening, in the presence of special guests and the directors participating in the international competition.

The Itinerant Deaf Cinema Festival thus presents itself as a space for encounter, discovery, and participation, promoting linguistic and cultural diversity while supporting and celebrating Deaf cinema.

Festival capacity is limited. Booking your pass in advance is required. To choose and reserve your pass online, please visit:
https://sites.google.com/view/cinemasordo-itinerante/prenota-il-tuo-pass

Full program here: https://sites.google.com/view/cinemasordo-itinerante/programma