The event featured a live set from the film’s composer Daniel Padden along with The One Ensemble and projections of Super 8mm film shot along the original route of James Duthie’s trip to the Arctic Circle.

The One Ensemble

Samuel Dore, the talented deaf actor who will play the character of Duthie, gave an eloquent talk about his role in the film, and shared his insights into what life must have been like for a profoundly deaf young man back in 1951.

French actress Marie Denarnaud traveled to Scotland from Paris specially for the occasion & read aloud from Duthie’s journal ‘I Cycled Into the Arctic Circle’.

Samuel Dore & Marie Denarnaud

With grace & style she bravely handled Duthie’s text which includes peculiar, old-fashioned words like ‘perigrination’ & Scots towns such as ‘Kirkcaldy’.

A short ‘teaser film’ directed by Matt Hulse called ‘God Gives Nuts But He Does Not Crack Them’ was also screened which features Samuel & Marie in character.

The short film enjoyed its premiere earlier in the week at The Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams, a unique & original film festival established by Mark Cousins & Tilda Swinton.

BBC2′s See Hear filmed the launch.

The event was skillfully BSL interpreted by Jo Ross.

Matt Hulse would like to thank CCA Glasgow for their in-kind support & help in making the event such a success.

James Duthie’s account of his epic, 3,000-mile adventure will be made accessible for the first time in years in a new film of his story.

The factory worker, who was deaf and could not speak, set off on his global quest armed only with a blanket, a few jumpers and his diary.

Now his words will feature on a new animated interactive website, Dummy Jim, which will be launched at a ceremony in one of Glasgow’s trendiest nightspots.

The event is aimed at promoting and raising funds for the new film, which will be partly shot in the north-east.

Mr Duthie, known affectionately to friends as Dummy Jim, completed his journey in 1951. His tale is being brought to the big screen by award-winning film-maker Matt Hulse.

His script is based on the journal Mr Duthie kept during his trip.

The diary was eventually published but has not been available for several years.

A spokesman for the film-makers said: “The website offers an opportunity to explore Duthie’s world in advance of the film’s making. Users can travel on a pedal-powered journey, experiencing its highs and lows and learn a little sign language.”

The launch party will feature a live set from the film’s composer, Daniel Padden, and his band, The One Ensemble. The party, in the city’s CCA venue, also offers the chance to meet the film’s stars, including deaf actor Sam Dore who plays Jim.

(This report originally featured in The Press and Journal and was written by Jamie Buchan).