Seeing the Funny Side

Project overview Part of BFI Comedy Genius, Sign for All collaborated with Women Over Fifty Film Festival (WOFFF) and The New Black Film Collective (TNBFC) in screening silent short films for the deaf community in Birmingham’s MAC and London’s Stratford East Picturehouse. The screenings also included stand up Deaf Comedian Rinkoo Barpaga. Why the project … More

Disability and Access

The UK cinema sector is recognised as a world-leader in terms of its work to support and welcome disabled cinema-goers. Many of the changes made by UK cinema operators in this regard pre-empted and indeed went further than the requirements placed on cinemas, and others providing goods, facilities or services to the public, by the … More

Top 10 ways to make your venue more accessible

Taking steps to make your venue more accessible is beneficial to everyone – from shops trying to increase sales to attractions aiming to increase footfall; and from wheelchair users to young parents out and about with prams. Here are some top tips for making your venue as accessible to as many people as possible.

Deaf Conversations about Cinema

Project overview The project was set up in January 2016 after a successful six-month residence working with David Ellington as ‘Agent for Change’ funded by Art of England (South West). Watershed’s aim is to develop more inclusive cinema that welcomes D/deaf people to enjoy and be able to chat about films. Aims Focused on engaging … More

Subtitling and audio description

To ensure the maximum number of people can benefit from watching films in your venue, you may wish to hold screenings with HOH subtitles (HOH stands for ‘Hard of Hearing’) or audio description, which serve Deaf or hard of hearing and partially sighted or blind audiences respectively. It’s important that cinemas are welcoming to all … More

History of Place

Enjoy our participative digital storytelling, explore our themes and blogs which cover our hunt through the archives, and the life stories we found there. Read our stories, bringing alive people and places in photos and quotes.