The full program and free ticket links are now available for the Sign on Screen Film Festival. The festival will take place at the National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, from 6pm Friday May 22 – 5pm Sunday May 24 2026. All events are Auslan <> English interpreted, all screenings are captioned with hearing loop capability, all films are Deaf-led and the entire weekend is free to all!
You can book your free tickets for individual events or full day passes. Registrations are essential.
Click on each event below to see details:
SIGN ON SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL
Friday 22 May: Gala Opening
6 pm: Opening Night Gala – Arc Cinema & Courtyard
Screening of Award Winning Deaf-Led shorts followed by a catered opening night celebration
Saturday 23 May
9:30 am: Auslan TV History – Arc Cinema
Presented by Julian Walsh
10:30 am: Capturing the Past: The Role of Film in Deaf History Collections – Arc Cinema
Presented by Breda Carty
Moderated by Jillian Mackenzie
11:45 am: Australian D/deaf & Hard of Hearing Film Creatives Gathering – Kookaburra Room
Moderated by Nathan Borg and Sam Martin
2 pm: Film Screening: Retreat (Feature Drama) – Arc Cinema
4:30 pm – 9 pm: Marlee Matlin Double Feature: The First Deaf Oscar Winner – Arc Cinema
- 4:30 pm – 6:15 pm: Not Alone Anymore (Documentary)
- 7 pm – 9 pm: Children of a Lesser God (Drama)
Sunday 24 May
9 am – 10 am: Conversation Breakfast – Courtyard
Grab your coffee and pastries from Dom’s deli & bar and meet in the courtyard to discuss the films you’ve seen so far! Conversations in any language are welcome.
10 am – 11 am: Deaf Creatives: Pathways to Deaf-Led Narratives – Arc Cinema
Presented by Sofya Gollan
Moderated by Sam Martin
11 am – 12 pm: ‘Maligagu’ – Our Land, Our Stories – Arc Cinema
Presented by Rodney Adams
Moderated by Sofya Gollan
1 pm – 3.15 pm: Film Screenings – Arc Cinema
- Imagined Touch (Short Doco)
- Deaf President Now! (Feature Drama)
3.30 pm – 4.45 pm: Closing round table discussion with special guests of the festival – Arc Cinema
An opportunity to come together at the end of the festival to hear from special guests about their key takeaways, festival highlights and where to next ideas.
