SWITS, BIFF for the Deaf Sponsor

The Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) will be presenting it’s ninth season of films February 14th through 23rd, 2014.

SWITS sponsors ASL Films at BIFF

Last year SWITS advocated for and sponsored the expansion of this increasingly popular film festival to include films specifically for the deaf, hearing impaired, and the broader film-going community. The featured films are not only produced and directed by individuals from the deaf community, but also include actors from the community. Building on the success of last year’s program, SWITS is proud to be able to present this series of films again for the upcoming season.

Why BIFF for the Deaf

Not just nationally, but within the broader stateline region there exists a community within the community. Many individuals of the deaf community interact primarily with American Sign Language (ASL) being their first language. One of the state’s foremost educational facilities serving the deaf community is the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. WSD is located in Delavan, Wisconsin just 20 minutes from downtown Beloit where the majority of the BIFF films will be screened. In the interest of encompassing and welcoming all cultures present in the regional community and beyond, it was only natural to reach out to and welcome the deaf community. SWITS is very proud of being able to make this happen for our community.

ASL Films Growing Popularity

As evidence of the increased appreciation for films for the deaf, the 2014 Honorary Chair for BIFF is none other than director and producer Mark Wood, owner of ASL Films. You may already be familiar with ASL’s increasing body of work including:

• Versa Effect – Screened last year at BIFF
• Black Sand – Screened last year at BIFF
• Hard Man
• Gerald
• Wrong Game… and more.

ASL Films as an Art Form

The broader hearing community tends to have some misconceptions about the deaf community and ASL. SWITS would like to help educate people about these misconceptions. For example, ASL is not the English language interpreted into sign language. ASL is an individual language all its own with a beauty, nuance, and expression that is unique. This beauty and expression is raised to an art form and can be expressed in film as presented through the artistry of Mark Wood, ASL Films, and the actors and actresses performing. SWITS is glad to be able to help highlight the art form of ASL film.

Uniquely Suited to Service The Deaf Community

During the last twelve years, SWITS has built an extensive team of highly skilled, professionally trained and certified interpreters specializing in medical, legal, and governmental services. As such SWITS is uniquely qualified to provide related services for those attending the film festival. SWITS’ professional ASL interpreters will be on hand for each of the screened ASL films along with other presentations.

In The Can
Sponsored ASL Film for BIFF 2014

Join us at BIFF

Of course we hope that you will mark your calendar, come out and join us at the BIFF screening of In The Can and meet Mark Wood. In the interest of raising awareness of and appreciation for the art form of ASL film we would encourage you to tell your friends and bring them with you to BIFF this year.

See you at BIFF!

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Tickets and Information

Tickets for In The Can and more information about BIFF for the Deaf can be found by visiting the BIFF website. www.beloitfilmfest.org