平等機會節

We invite students and colleagues to the screening of Bridge of Signs (www.bridgeofsigns.org). The event will feature a 70-minute film screening, followed by a sharing session and a Q&A session with the Co-director.

Bridge of Signs (手勢的橋樑) is a feature-length documentary telling the story of three Hong Kongers who grew up in households with Deaf parents. Raised between Hong Kong Sign Language and Cantonese, these individuals identify as CODAs – children of Deaf adults. Interpreting comes naturally to CODAs. Their eyes are sharper and their ears keener than most. What can we learn from people who live as bridges of communication in a society that overlooks sign language? This documentary is an attempt to answer that question while raising awareness about those who have dedicated their lives to Hong Kong Sign Language, an endangered language unique to Hong Kong. Bridge of Signs is funded and supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC).

About the Co-director:

Dr. Arthur Lewis Thompson is a linguist, filmmaker, and interdisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersections of language, identity, and cultural expression. Born in Los Angeles, he developed a passion for languages early, studying abroad in Chongqing during high school with AFS. He earned a BA in Chinese and Linguistics from SOAS, followed by an MPhil at the University of Cambridge. Arthur completed his PhD in Linguistics at HKU in 2019, where he co-founded a lab dedicated to Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL). As a filmmaker, Arthur directed Bridge of Signs, a documentary funded by the HKADC, delving into the lives of CODAs (children of Deaf adults) and cultural significance of HKSL. Arthur's creativity lies in transforming the everyday into profound explorations of identity and non-dualism. He is a member of the Point Line Mean collective and is currently finalizing postproduction on a narrative short film shot on location in Hong Kong.

Post-screening Sharing Speaker: Dr. Arthur Lewis Thompson (in English)
Trailer: www.bridgeofsigns.org
Film Runtime: 70 mins
Film Language: Cantonese (Chinese and English subtitles)

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