| Universal Signs' screening
at the FGFF was a Smashing Success. Thank you LA fans for coming out
in droves to see our little movie. There was
a
fantastic
energy
surrounding the screening. We could not have wished for a better audience – laughing,
crying, and asking the most insightful questions! Very sophisticated! THANK
YOU for embracing our message and sharing the love!
The enthusiasm and
excitement burst from the theatre and spilled into the courtyard after
the screening. It was wonderful to meet so many fans! Anthony
Natale (Mr. Holland's Opus), Troy Kotsur (Number 23 and Broadway's Big
River), Lupe Ontiveros (Real Women Have Curves) and Deanne Bray (Sue
Thomas: FBEye and HEROES) participated in the screening and question
and answer
session and many impromptu photo sessions with fans in the courtyard.
With four nominations including Best Cinematography -
Daniel Watchulonis and Best Director - Ann Calamia, Universal Signs WON
BEST ACTOR - Anthony Natale and BEST ACTRESS - Sabrina Lloyd. Thank you
FGFF for recognizing the commitment and talents of these outstanding
individuals! Sadly, Sabrina was unable to make the awards night. However,
Anthony's acceptance speech was a HIGH POINT of the night! FilmThreat.com
writes, "One of the highlights of the award ceremony occurred when
Anthony Natale, who is Deaf, accepted his Best Actor award for UNIVERSAL
SIGNS. As part of his acceptance speech, which he signed and was [interpreted]
for the audience, Natale taught everyone how to say “feel good” in
sign language." It was an AMAZING night! Thank you Feel Good Film
Festival!
Click the arrows to navigate the photo slide show from
Feel Good Film Festival.
 
Want to see photos from the Feel Good
Film Festival Awards night? Click
here!
Watch a clip of
Anthony Natale accepting his award for BEST ACTOR at the Feel Good Film
Festival. Need Quicktime? Download
it here.
Past Festivals
Opening Night Film for the 2009
Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival
With overwhelming praise, cheers and applause,
Universal Signs was an enormous success at the opening night
of the Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival. Anthony Natale,
Ann Calamia,
and Catherine Miller participated in a wonderful question and answer
session after the screening. Catherine MacKinnon, festival director,
along with her staff created a magical night! We are so thankful to have
been able to participate in this terrific festival celebrating Deaf film,
Deaf culture and Deaf performing artists.
Click the arrows to navigate the photo slide
show from TIDFAF.
 SNEAK
PREVIEW:
2008 Philadelphia Film Festival
Universal Signs participated in the 2008 Philadelphia
Film Festival as a special screening/sneak preview. We were overjoyed
that audiences (Deaf and hearing) turned out in droves to see the film
waiting in lines around the block to gain admission. Universal Signs
sold-out both sneak preview screenings, one of which was in a 460-seat
theater, the festival’s largest venue.
-
Sunday,
April 6, 2008, 2:15pm
Prince Music Theater -
SOLD OUT
Featuring a Q&A session with actors Anthony Natale & Sabrina
Lloyd and filmmakers Ann Calamia and Catherine Miller!
-
Tuesday,
April 8, 2008, 4:45pm
Ritz East 2 -
SOLD OUT
Featuring a Q&A session with filmmakers Ann Calamia and Catherine Miller!
The audiences had an overwhelming positive response to the film, and Universal
Signs, despite not being eligible for jury awards because of its
sneak preview status, took home the Audience Award for Best
Feature Film with a ballot score of 4.66 out of a possible
5. At the Philadelphia Film Festival last year, this same award was
won by La Vie En Rose, which went on to win the Oscar® for
Best Actress.
Click the arrows to navigate the photo slide
show from the Philadelphia Film Festival.
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