Rite of Identity

For my MFA thesis, I created a 2D animated film about a deaf child, Hana, who has exceptional artistic talent but struggles with an overwhelming soundscape. Hana, which means “one” in Korean, is a visual and collective representation of deaf people’s childhood stories. The film is shaped by American Sign Language (ASL) poetry format and is loaded with deaf symbols and motifs. The film is four minutes long.

Festivals:

• BUFF Festival, Sweden

• Clin d’Oeil Festival, France - Best Animation Award

• UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

• Deaffest - nominated for Best Artistic Short

• 1904 Film Festival - Best Narrative Short Film Award

• ReelAbilities New York (https://reelabilities.org/newyork/films/) and Toronto

• Squeaky Wheel’s 19th Animation Fest

• Rocky Mountain Deaf Film Festival - Best Experimental Film Award

• Maine Deaf Film Festival

• Deaffest on Tour, UK