Cinema Access Programme 

This scheme aims to make film accessible to people with sensory impairments by increasing take-up and use of accessibility technologies by cinemas.

In 2003, £350,000 was made available through the Cinema Access Programme to help cinemas purchase subtitling and audio-description technologies that improve the cinema-going experience for people with hearing and sight impairments. 

YourLocalCinema.com (a site listing access-friendly screenings in the UK) has received financial support and there is an ongoing funding initiative, the Film Print Provision strand, to help distributors produce fully accessible film prints.

Around 230 cinemas have specialist viewing equipment and it is routinely installed in new cinemas.  Yourlocalcinema.com has become the film listings website of choice for film-goers with sensory impairments.

Improving the cinema experience for film goers with sensory impairments is a priority Distribution and Exhibition and was a priority for support through the Capital and Access Fund in 2007.

Please note: no funding is currently available for cinemas.