Film production by deaf entrepreneurs, making accessible films for a hearing-impaired audience
- Solution
- Supervisuell film productions
- Organization
- Supervisuell
- Country of Implementation
- Norway
- Region
- Europe
- Subregion
- Northern Europe
- Start Year
- 2014
- First published
- 03.12.2024

Solution details
“To achieve true accessibility, we need to be entrepreneurs. We are here to serve, not to be served. ” Finn Arild Thordarson, Founder/CEO, Supervisuell AS
Supervisuell AS, based in Sandefjord, Norway, is a mid-size social enterprise founded by deaf entrepreneurs. Its film production unit, the company’s largest department, creates accessible films for the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind audience, mainly funded publicly. From 2019 to 2024 the team, comprising deaf and sign language-fluent people, produced over 400 videos, providing permanent jobs for seven deaf individuals and temporary positions for another 30 annually.
Problems Targeted
Deaf and hard of hearing individuals often encounter barriers in the media industry, such as language challenges, lack of experience, and limited networking opportunities.
Solution, Innovation and Impact
Supervisuell AS is a social enterprise that runs various projects organized by and targeting people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Supervisuell’s largest unit produces films and videos specifically for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind audiences. The company consists solely of deaf, hard-of-hearing, and sign language-fluent hearing employees. An annual salary is approximately €60,000. Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals are involved in all aspects of video production, including management, directing, filming, editing, digital art/illustration, animation, lighting, and sound. Deaf actors and writers contribute to creating authentic narratives and performances that resonate with the deaf community. Supervisuell primarily produces video materials for children, as this is the age group where access to sign language is most crucial for people with hearing disabilities. Supervisuell produces high-quality artistic films, children’s fairy tales, rhymes and songs, informational videos, and educational material used from grade 1 to post-secondary, university, and beyond. The company also focuses on creating material that supports elderly deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind people to stay connected and up to date in an ever-changing world. In total, all videos published have been collectively played over 1.8 million times.
Funding, Outlook and Transferability
Supervisuell AS has three primary sources of income: public funding from Stiftelsen Dam (approximately 70 per cent, coming from the government’s lottery profits), the National Library of Norway (around 20 per cent), and self-financing through sales of video services (about 10 per cent). Future projects include international collaborations and the creation of a co-working space for deaf freelancers. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)
Media
Pictures
Related information
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