Deaf News: Magical Christmas drama Tree Fairy dominates awards at Deaffest 2015

The magical Christmas drama Tree Fairy has dominated the awards at this year’s Deaffest Deaf film and arts festival, held in Wolverhampton.

At Saturday night’s award ceremony, the film won the Best British Film award plus Best Director for Louis Neethling.  Child actor Olivia Jordan-Caws also took home the Best Actress trophy.

Brian Duffy, co-creator and one of the stars of the sitcom Small World, won the Best Actor award, while Best Documentary went to Scottish Islanders, directed by Camilla Arnold.

The Best International Film award went to Spanish film Psychiatric Maintenance, directed by Jose Miguel Rodriguez.

There were also two special awards for lifetime achievement and contribution to Deaf media and filmmaking, which went to Deaf directors Bim Ajadi and John Maidens.

The awards were presented by See Hear’s Clive Mason, with a variety of famous Deaf people giving the awards, including an emotional speech from Wendy Daunt, who presented an award with legendary signer Jerry Hanifin.

There was also comedy from Deaf comedian John Smith, a VV performance by Matty Gurney, and dancing from Billy Read.

As well as film screenings, the festival hosted talks, workshops, a marketplace full of stalls, and late night parties with entertainment from a variety of Deaf performers.

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