PORTLAND (AP) – The seventh annual Maine Deaf Film Festival, designed to showcase film and video by and for the deaf community, will be held April 4 at the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus.

Festival organizers say the student-run event provides a platform for people to learn about, appreciate and celebrate deaf culture, issues and art.

All films chosen for the festival are written, produced, created and performed by deaf and hearing-impaired individuals and production companies.

The event is sponsored by USM’s American Sign Language Club.