Solar Flares: Deaf Heritage is a special screening and exploration of Scotland’s Deaf heritage that is often overlooked by a hearing and English language dominated society. This collection of 3 short films opens the door to Scotland’s deaf heritage through the lens of deaf filmmakers.
Established in 2002, Solar Bear is a company that specialises telling untold stories. In partnership with Filmhouse, it brings a summer tour of screening events and workshops to Edinburgh. After travelling across Scotland to venues and schools in Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Inverness, the Solar Flares: Deaf Heritage screening event comes to audiences in the Capital.
The screening event is part of a wider Solar Flares: Deaf Heritage programme, launched in 2020 with deaf BSL user Trudi Collier as Project Co-Ordinator, having commissioned 8 projects. The programme is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and aims to find new, creative ways to celebrate deaf heritage. To mark the end of the tour the screening will coincide with the launch of a multimedia legacy resource that is the Solar Flares: Deaf Heritage website. The project will conclude next year in 2023 as the aims of the Scottish Government’s first BSL National Plan are delivered.
The screening event includes DeafFest 2022 shortlisted film Scotland, Forgive Me, a meditation on belonging and connection with one’s country accompanied by breath-taking visualsby Glasgow based cinematographer and filmmaker Will Clark.
Glasgow born Scott Campbell’s film Deaf Kilmarnock, Their Story captures the memories and experiences of members belonging to the Ayrshire Society for the Deaf as their club faces an uncertain future. Despite a history in Scotland of a variety of clubs for deaf people stretching back 100 years, many once thriving establishments have recently closed their doors for good.
Highland born artist Ruaridh Lever-Hogg’s documentary Deaf Creatives journeys through Scotland’s creative landscape from the perspective of deaf creatives. Narrated by Lever-Hogg himself, the film examines historical figures through discussions with contemporary deaf artists.
Creative Director/CEO at Solar Bear, Jonathan Lloyd said “Solar Flares: Deaf Heritage is a celebration of stories from the past, present and future of Scotland’s deaf community. These stories create an important legacy and deserve a wider audience.”
Filmhouse run monthly BSL supported screenings. Each screening is captioned, and there is always a BSL interpreter present in the foyer to answer any questions and provide support for buying tickets and drinks.
The event on Sunday 25th September from 2 – 4pm at Filmhouse Edinburgh is free but ticketed. The films are appropriate for 12+ audiences and are in BSL with English subtitles. The after-show Q&A held in the Filmhouse Café will be interpreted in BSL and English.
To book visit www.filmhousecinema.com.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 