Synopsis
Director: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim
Producers: Jonathan King, Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim, Amanda Rohlke, Michael Harte
U.S., 101 min
The story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard of… Deaf President Now! recounts the thrilling eight days of historic protests held at Gallaudet University in 1988 after the school’s board of trustees appointed a hearing president over several very qualified Deaf candidates. The protests marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, with an impact that extended well beyond the Gallaudet campus, and paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Deaf President Now! features exclusive interviews with the five key figures of the movement, including the Gallaudet Four—Jerry Covell, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Tim Rarus and Greg Hlibok—alongside dean I. King Jordan, as well as archival and scripted elements. The film also incorporates an experimental narrative approach called Deaf Point of View, using impressionistic visual photography and intricate sound design to thrust the audience into the Deaf experience. Co-directed by Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim (STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie) and Nyle DiMarco (Deaf U), the film is a “propulsive” (Variety), “inspiring” (The Hollywood Reporter), and “awesome, empowering, riveting story” (FirstShowing.net).
