Deaf President Now!
Deaf President Now! is a 2025 American documentary film, directed and produced by Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim. It follows the 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University, when a hearing candidate was elected over other deaf candidates.
It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2025, and was released on May 16, 2025, by Apple Original Films.
Premise
Follows the 1988 student protest at Gallaudet University, a university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing people, when a hearing candidate was elected over other deaf candidates. Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Jerry Covell, Greg Hlibok, Tim Rarus and I. King Jordan appear in the film.Production
In December 2024, it was announced Nyle DiMarco and Davis Guggenheim had directed a documentary revolving around Deaf President Now for Apple Original Films.Release
It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2025.It also screened at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 11, 2025. It was released on May 16, 2025.
Reception
Critical reception
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "A fine entry in the generally prolific 'Birth of a Movement' documentary genre, Deaf President Now! illustrates what is and was distinctive about the Deaf rights movement, but also the elements that connect it to many recent campaigns for visibility and recognition."Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film four out of four stars and wrote, "Roger Ebert famously described cinema as a machine that generates empathy. This movie is that machine: a relentless engine field by idealism and craft."