Video description: This video highlights the groundbreaking panel at The Impact Lounge during the Sundance Film Festival 2025, featuring Deaf creators and filmmakers discussing Deaf-centric filmmaking, visual storytelling, and creative activism.

The video opens with a tri-view of the Impact Lounge, showing Shoshannah Stern signing “thank you” in a conversation, Mez moderating the panel, a wide shot of the audience, and Nyle discussing the CODA film. The scene transitions to a white background with the Sundance Film Festival 2025 logo. Yellow text reads: “Recap of the Groundbreaking Panel at The Impact Lounge,” while black text highlights the topic: “Deaf-Centric Filmmaking: Redefining Visual Storytelling and Creative Activism with Groundbreaking Deaf Creators and Filmmakers.” The ML2 logo is displayed at the bottom right.

Additional clips showcase Melissa Malzkuhn, Shoshannah Stern, Marlee Matlin, and Nyle DiMarco. Marlee Matlin expresses gratitude, saying, “Thank you guys for all coming up today and to witness this, first Deaf film directors. When I watched the film, we sat together. I was fidgeting a lot, and she (Shoshannah) remained silent.”

Shoshannah responds, “I knew about Marlee’s experience, and I will never forget it. She is extraordinary and ordinary at the same time. Her success doesn’t mean that she hasn’t had to carry what all Deaf people go through and then still having to navigate the work world and the world will still make you feel alone.”

Nyle then shares, “I want Deaf people to be involved because this reality show is about filming Deaf individuals having conversations, which hearing people cannot fully capture. They promised to hire Deaf individuals, and they hired me. When [Apple TV producers] learned about the DPN story, they expressed that it’s a must to be shared.” A clip shows the audience waving hands the Deaf way, followed by applause. Melissa gives Marlee a high five as Marlee signs “beautiful!”

Melissa asks, “This is a short clip with significant potential; we have stories and technologies… What is the last thing that you want the world to know?” Marlee responds, “Make sure that our Deaf children know that, it’s ok to write movies. It’s ok to write. It’s ok to direct. It’s ok to produce, it’s ok to be lawyers. It’s ok to be teachers, it’s ok to be whatever they want to be.” Nyle concludes, “Make this into a movement rather than just a moment!”

The video wraps up with smiles from the panelists, and the closing slide shows the logos for Sundance Film Festival, Motion Light Lab, Gallaudet University, Visual Language and Visual Learning, with the message, “With thanks to the Impact Lounge and the Elevate Prize Foundation.