Sundance Review: “Deaf President Now!”

Deaf President Now! (Nyle DiMarco/Davis Guggenheim, 2025) 4½ out of 5 stars

If you ever need reassurances about the power of protest, look no further than Deaf President Now! Based on the 1988 protest of the same name, this invigorating documentary tells the story of how students at Gallaudet University, the oldest university designed specifically for the deaf and hard of hearing, fought to have the first deaf president in the school’s 124-year history. And despite belonging to a population that was and is largely overlooked, they made sure their unwavering beliefs were heard for the first time.

One of the most fascinating parts to witness within the film is how quickly collective anger can transform into an organized coalition. The fury here stems from the appointment of Elizabeth Zinser, a hearing woman, as the university’s president, a decision made by a board composed almost entirely of hearing members. The consensus was that no deaf person was yet ready to operate at such a high level in a “hearing world,” the most well-intentioned of them believing that they could help usher in that change in the future. But the students were done with promises about the future, so they shut down the school and started a revolution.

While the movement was massive within the school, this movie excels in engaging with it on a personal level. It features totally uninhibited interviews from four of the students who led the cause, and it is easy to feel the passion that drove their actions. Each of their very different personalities are so easy to see, and it is nothing short of inspirational to witness them use and defy their differences to fight for the same goal.

Their perspectives are thoughtfully imagined through the innovative sound design. Not only does the use of audio reveal the experience of the students, but it also shows the limited perspectives of the hearing people in power. Along with the purposeful editing, it does a great job of putting its subjects and their opponents side-by-side and allowing the latter to tell on themselves.

The editing also perfectly weaves the impressive amount of archival footage together for maximum impact. The material is already riveting, but the way it is used in this documentary creates further meaning. And although I am not typically a fan of reenactment, the little bits used here are unimposing and work to add a texture to the sea of archival clips and interviews.

While the film never draws direct comparisons to our present, it is difficult to ignore the continued need today for the message the students had then. And in a time where true change feels rare, Deaf President Now! is a much-needed example of what is possible when people don’t settle for less than what they know is right.

Hannah Tran

Hannah Tran is a filmmaker, writer, and friendly neighborhood barista from Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Film and English and is currently working on her first feature film. In her spare time, she can be found attending film festivals, running a local book club, and, of course, devouring as many movies as possible.