To My Father

In March 2022, at the 94th annual Academy Awards, Troy Kotsur became the first Deaf man to take home the best supporting actor Academy Award for his moving portrayal of Frank Rossi in CODA. During his emotional acceptance speech, Troy paid tribute to his dad, or as he so eloquently put it, his “hero”. To My Father, is the story behind the speech that moved millions. Through American Sign Language (ASL), Troy narrates his courageous journey of achievement, drawing viewers into the world of the Deaf and presenting the challenges he faced to fit into the hearing world. The film explores his inspirational relationship with his dad who made it his mission to excel at ASL so he could be the best possible father to Troy. While growing up, Leonard Kotsur instilled a deep belief into Troy that he could achieve anything he set out to accomplish and encouraged him to "follow his spark" and pursue his passion for acting.