"A groundbreaking work of art, a wonderfully different, beautiful film that showcases creative captioning and visual and audio poetry." - Josh Flanders, Chicago Reader

"An uncategorizable work that draws upon elements of documentary, narrative filmmaking, essay films, and city symphony movies." - Pat Mullen, POV Magazine

From 2011 to 2013, a spate of robberies occurred in Los Angeles high schools. The stolen goods? Tubas. In this “groundbreaking work of art” (Josh Flanders, Chicago Reader), hard of hearing filmmaker Alison O’Daniel blurs documentary and fictional elements to explore what it means to listen. Through several d/Deaf people telling stories in a unique game of telephone, THE TUBA THIEVES unfolds not as a mystery around stolen instruments, but as a sonic experience that examines the nature of sound itself. All screenings presented with open captions. Film Center exclusive. 


Awards & Nominations

Nominee - NEXT Innovator Award, Sundance Film Festival
Nominee - NEXT: WAVE Award, CPH:DOX
Winner - Best Sound Design, Athens International Film and Video Festival


The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected with open captions. The theater is also hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu