An upcoming documentary highlighting how cultural spaces in Hackney are becoming more inclusive to the deaf community has earned two prestigious film awards.
Now Hear This follows Marion Marincat – who founded Sownd Affects after becoming profoundly deaf at the age of 26 – as his organisation teams up with Oscar Acoustics to revolutionise some of Hackney’s most beloved grassroots venues.
The Vortex Jazz Club, SJQ and Paper Dress Vintage were all fitted with Oscar Acoustics’ SonaSpray, an acoustic finish made from recycled materials which absorbs sound rather than reflecting it.
The change has created a more comfortable atmosphere for all visitors, with guests now staying for longer on average and bar staff reporting improved focus and reduced fatigue.
Oscar Acoustics Managing Director Ben Hancock has tinnitus and was a key part of the mission to make these venues more inclusive. He told East End Review: "I've seen the difference at SJQ.
“I went to the gig where they opened the doors to people with audio sensitivity, and speaking to the audience, it was clear what a huge difference it had made. The sound was out of this world. People who would normally have had to leave early were staying for the whole set”.
The film documenting this process, produced and directed by Craig Norley, has now received Best Documentary Feature Film at the Barcelona Planet Film Festival as well as Best Short Documentary at the Berlin Indie Film Festival Awards.
Hancock said seeing the documentary win two awards in quick succession was “one of our company's proudest moments”.
“I loved the project”, he added. “Marion's story really moved me – I understood what he was trying to do and instantly saw we could make a real difference. These awards show that the industry is starting to wake up to something.
According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), around 18 million people in the UK – a quarter of the population – are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus. According to Hancock, up to a third of the UK population are considered noise-sensitive.
Poorly designed acoustic environments can mean these people are excluded from work, educational settings, or cultural and social spaces.
“Hackney's three venues prove it's achievable, but it's just the start”, Hancock continued. “Every public space needs to include acoustic design from the outset. We can't keep treating this as an afterthought when it affects one in three people.
“Better acoustics don't just help that third – they make spaces calmer, clearer and more comfortable for everyone”.
Norley added: "We treated sound as a storytelling device, not just a technical requirement. By capturing authentic soundscapes in complex environments, from specialist acoustic chambers to Hackney’s vibrant venues, we wanted viewers to feel the contrast between a space that welcomes you and ones that quietly exclude you”.
Now Hear This is fully captioned and subtitled in eight languages. It is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026, with screening details and distribution information to be announced.
