Deaf Awareness Week, co-ordinated by UK Council on Deafness is a campaign in which many different organisations participate, each able to promote their own work within the broad spectrum of deafness.

Many organisations collaborate and work together in a joint campaign of UK wide national and local events to raise awareness of the needs of the 1 in 6 deaf or hard of hearing people in the UK.   Deaf Awareness Week aims to promote the positive aspects of deafness, promote social inclusion and raise awareness of the huge range of local organisations that support deaf people and their family and friends.

Cinema and d/Deaf awareness

There are many ways in which cinemas and exhibitors can get involved to promote d/Deaf awareness within their organisations and for audiences. From staff learning some basic BSL signing to programming more captioned subtitled films to always adding subtitles to social media content, here are some resources to get you started.

d/Deaf awareness online

When planning film exhibition initiatives online it is important to think about access and inclusion for everyone.

Things to think about regarding d/Deaf awareness and online film exhibition:

  • Include films with closed captioned / subtitled options. Check individual films and VOD platforms for availability.
  • Add captions to videos on social media
  • Include or enable closed captions on live broadcasts for example on Facebook Live or Zoom
  • Include a BSL interpreter where possible for film discussions
  • We recommend using professional subtitling services to ensure consistency of accessibility and quality. You can find professional subtitling services here, some of which offer advice and training.

Share your experiences

We would love to know about your film or cinema project at Inclusive Cinema. If you’d like to submit your own case study, please download this Inclusive screening case study template and submit it to toki[at]filmhubwales.org, so we can share your experiences, too.

Resources

Guide to Online Film Clubs
read more
Learn how to plan and run an online workshop
read more
ICO: Developing Deaf Audiences for film
read more
Encounters: Watch HERE. NOW. THIS (12A) short film programme online
read more
Jo Wootten: Tips for working remotely when you’re deaf (with BSL videos)
read more
Jo Wootten: Captioning remote meetings and other useful resources for deaf people
read more
The Fringe Guide to Adapting Events for Deaf and Disabled Audiences
read more
Visible Cinema
read more
How to Make Sure You’re Not Excluding Deaf People from Arts Events
read more
Subtitling and audio description
read more
Digital Resources for Subtitling
read more
Everything There is to Know About Subtitling & How it is Done
read more
BSL Zone: Deaf Funny Programme 6
read more
How do I add captions to my Page's video on Facebook?
read more
Power in Our Hands and films about deaf community
read more
5 ways to make your venue more accessible for D/deaf people
read more
Tips for working most effectively with a BSL/English Interpreter
read more
Enabling Closed Captions on Facebook Live Broadcasts
read more
Closed Captioning on Zoom
read more
Do's and Dont's of Designing for Accessibility
read more
Lights, camera, caption! Why subtitles are no longer just for the hard of hearing
read more
YouTube Help: Add your own subtitles and closed captions
read more
Learn BSL from home in your own time with www.british-sign.co.uk
read more
Why You Should Always Add Subtitles to your Videos (and How!)
read more
How to Create Custom SRT Files for Video Subtitles
read more
Stagetext: How to subtitle your online content
read more
Matchbox Cineclub: subtitling and advice services
read more
Substital app: add subtitles to videos online
read more
Is Your Social Media Accessible to Everyone? These 9 Best Practices Can Help
read more
Deaf and Disabled access in film exhibition
read more
The Deaf Visual Archive
read more
Nothing About Us Without Us: An Overview of Disability/ Deaf Representation in Film
read more
BFI Player: FREE archive film "On the Level"
read more

Essential British Sign Language for Cinemas

The best way to market to Deaf audiences - Nikki Stratton

Relaxed screenings are screenings where the environment has been adapted to be more welcoming and accessible to people with additional needs.

These could be people living with dementia, autism, or other neurodiverse people. These screenings are identifiable by some adjustments such as altered lighting, volume of sound, arrangement of the venue, and usually don’t have trailers, and customers are encouraged to get up and move around, or speak or make noise if they want to/feel the need to. Screenings are usually introduced so that everyone attending realises talking and movement is allowed.

Here is a list to signpost you to some UK venues who currently host Relaxed Screenings or Autism-Friendly Screenings:

UK Relaxed Screenings

Manchester | Relaxed events at HOME

Greenock | Fun Film Club at the Waterfront

Dunoon |  Autism Friendly screenings at Studio Cinema

London |  Relaxed Screenings at BFI Southbank  

Leeds |  Relaxed Screenings at Hyde Park Picture House

Glasgow |  Take 2 Access at Glasgow Film Theatre  

Glasgow |  Access Film Club at Glasgow Film Theatre 

Belfast, Glengormley & Coleraine |  Autism friendly screenings at Movie House Cinemas 

Stockton |  Relaxed performances and screenings at ARC  

Dundee |  Relaxed Screenings at DCA

Worthing | Autism Friendly screenings at Worthing Theatres  

Neath |  Relaxed Screenings at Gwyn Hall     

Walsall, Dudley, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester & Coventry | Autism Friendly Screenings at Showcase Cinemas  

Saffron Walden |  Relaxed Screenings at Saffron Screen        

London |  Relaxed Screenings at Barbican      

Hebden Bridge |  Autism Friendly (Relaxed) Screenings at Hebden Bridge Picture House

Birmingham |  Relaxed events and screenings at Mac  

Canterbury | Accessible film screenings at Gulbenkian    

Chester | Relaxed Screenings at Storyhouse

Merlin Cinemas |  Penzance, Redruth, Falmouth, Torquay, Ilfracombe, Okehampton, Coleford, Cromer, Kingsbridge, Prestatyn  |  Autism friendly screenings at Merlin Cinemas