Deaf President Now!

Last updated
Deaf President Now!
Deaf President Now poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed by
Produced by
  • Nyle DiMarco
  • Davis Guggenheim
  • Amanda Rohlke
  • Jonathan King
  • Michael Harte
CinematographyJonathan Furmanski
Edited byMichael Harte
Music by
Production
company
Distributed by Apple Original Films
Release dates
  • January 28, 2025 (2025-01-28)(Sundance)
  • May 16, 2025 (2025-05-16)(United States)
Running time
101 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • American Sign Language

Deaf President Now! is a 2025 American documentary film, directed and produced by Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim. It follows the 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University, when a hearing candidate was elected over other deaf candidates.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2025, and was released on May 16, 2025, by Apple Original Films.

Premise

Follows the 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University, when a hearing candidate was elected over other deaf candidates. Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, Tim Rarus and I. King Jordan appear in the film. [2]

Production

In December 2024, it was announced Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim had directed a documentary revolving around Deaf President Now for Apple Original Films. [3]

Release

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2025. [4] It also screened at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 11, 2025. [5] [6] It was released on May 16, 2025. [7]

Reception

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 100% of 44 critics' reviews are positive.The website's consensus reads: "Deftly chronicling a pivotal flashpoint in deaf community activism while skillfully folding inclusivity into its style, Deaf President Now! is a documentary that heartens as much as it informs." [8] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [9]

Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "A fine entry in the generally prolific 'Birth of a Movement' documentary genre, Deaf President Now! illustrates what is and was distinctive about the Deaf rights movement, but also the elements that connect it to many recent campaigns for visibility and recognition." [10]

Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film four out of four stars and wrote, "Roger Ebert famously described cinema as a machine that generates empathy. This movie is that machine: a relentless engine field by idealism and craft." [11]

Accolades

The film is nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the 77th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. [12]

References

  1. ↑ "Deaf President Now!". Sundance Film Festival . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Deaf President Now!". Apple TV+ PR . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Apple Original Films announces groundbreaking new documentary film "Deaf President Now!" featuring the historic Gallaudet University protests". Apple TV+ PR. December 10, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Deaf President Now!". South by Southwest . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ Smith, Kate (February 5, 2025). "2025 SXSW Film & TV Announces Final Slate". South by Southwest. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 11, 2025). "AppleTV+ Sets Spring Premiere For Documentary 'Deaf President Now!' – SXSW". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Deaf President Now!". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Deaf President Now!". Metacritic . Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (January 30, 2025). "'Deaf President Now!' Review: Davis Guggenheim and Nyle DiMarco's Doc Gives the Deaf Rights Movement a Compelling Spotlight". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  11. ↑ Zoller Seitz, Matt (May 16, 2025). "Deaf President Now!". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Deaf President Now!". Television Academy. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
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