Principal photography has wrapped on A Hand Rises, the BFI and BBC-backed debut feature from director Louise Stern and producer Helen Simmons (Hoard).
The six-week shoot took place on location in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent.
The film’s synopsis reads: In A Hand Rises, a death ruptures a close-knit deaf community, and power dynamics shift as people begin to question the woman they’ve all looked up to.
Leading the predominantly deaf cast are Raffie Julien, Brian Duffy, Matty Gurney, and Claire Wetherall. Stern, best known for her visual art work, is fourth-generation deaf and grew up attending the deaf school her parents taught at and her siblings attended.
Stern said in a statement that with her debut she aims to examine what it truly means to communicate and has developed a unique and immersive style of filmmaking in terms of the use of gesture and signing, “telling the story of deaf people through our native physical language means all veils fall away and only emotion is left. A hand rises in excitement.”
Simmons added: “Louise is a visionary artist and filmmaker, and I cannot wait for people to experience the world she has created. A Hand Rises will be like nothing audiences have seen before. We have assembled an incredible cast and team on this, and it’s a pleasure to be working with BBC Film and the BFI again.”
A Hand Rises is produced by Helen Simmons and Manon Ardisson (Witches, Gods Own Country), who developed the project. Chloe Culpin is a co-producer. The film was developed by BBC Film. Financing comes from BBC Film and the BFI.
Eva Yates, Director of BBC Film, said of the flick: “Louise is an exceptional writer, artist and now filmmaker – it has been a great pleasure to work with her and her brilliant producing team in crafting this screenplay and building her wonderful ensemble of cast. Her rigour, compassion, and sharp eye promise a truly original film.”
