Special Recognition: Depth of Research - Latest Generation Film Contest

Special Recognition: Depth of Research

When Silence Spoke Louder

Dari Cho, Emily Lee, and Derrick Fujioka

Honolulu, Hawaii

Special Recognition: Depth of Research

 When Silence Spoke Louder

 Dari Cho, Emily Lee, Derrick Fujioka

 Honolulu, Hawaii

Directors Statement: 

We created this documentary to examine how decisions made by those in power can shape language, identity, and community for generations. Our film focuses on the Milan Conference of 1880, a turning point in Deaf history when educators voted to prioritize speech over sign language, leading to the widespread suppression of signing in Deaf education. We were motivated to tell this story because its consequences extend far beyond the past and continue to influence conversations about communication, education, and cultural identity today. Our interest in this topic comes from personal experience. Emily was born hard of hearing and lost her remaining hearing following cochlear implant surgery, while Dari grew up as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), raised within Deaf culture and American Sign Language. These lived experiences shaped our understanding of language as more than a tool for communication—it is a foundation for identity and belonging. Learning about the Milan Conference revealed how many modern debates surrounding Deafness can be traced back to a historical moment when Deaf individuals were excluded from decisions that directly affected their lives. Our vision for the film was to connect history with human experience. Rather than presenting the Milan Conference as a distant historical event, we sought to show its lasting emotional and cultural impact. We structured the documentary to highlight the progression from change to resistance and ultimately to reform, emphasizing how communities respond when their language and identity are threatened. Interviews and personal perspectives allowed us to bridge past and present, illustrating that this history is not finished but ongoing.

Quotes from Reviewers:

"This film does a really nice job highlighting a largely underrepresented story. Bravo on that. I very much appreciate learning something that was almost entirely new to me about the suppression and abuse perpetrated against the Deaf community. Thank you for that."

"The film is an excellent compilation of printed archival sources from 1880 to the present. The narration and writing is well executed."