Everyone is welcome at Cork International Film Festival.
CIFF offers a range of accessible services across our venues, screenings and events so that every audience member can engage, participate and feel valued.
Read more about our accessible services below, along with a selection of events that we are excited to present at our 70th Festival this month.
ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR PROGRAMME
We are committed to making films accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences. All non-English films are presented with English subtitles.
Selected screenings also feature:
Closed Captions (CC): Available via personal captioning devices. The following events will have Closed Captions:
- Saipan (Fri 7 Nov)
- Six Weeks On (Tue 11 Nov)
- Climate in Therapy (Wed 12 Nov)
- Better Go Mad in the Wild (Thu 13 Nov)
- The Ice Tower (Thu 13 Nov)
- First Take (Thu 13 Nov)
- Doc Day (Fri 14 Nov)
The following events will have Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation:
- Doc Day. (Fri 14 Nov)
- A Quiet Love (Sat 15 Nov)
For blind and visually impaired audiences, the Triskel offers a hearing loop system for all cinema screenings. This is not available at the Arc Cinema or The Everyman.
Look for the symbols above in the programme and online listings.
RELAXED SCREENINGS (FAMILY & YOUNG PEOPLE)
Below is additional access information about what you can expect at each of our Family screenings at the Festival, for families who might be attending with a young person with autism or sensory sensitivities.
THE EVERYMAN
Family Gala: Lady and the Tramp and Tales from the Magic Garden
- TVs/music in the entrance will be turned off before and after the screening
- Lights remain on at a low level in the theatre during the performance
- Guests are free to talk and leave their seats during the performance
- Where possible, dryers in the toilets will be manually lowered to reduce noise – please follow signage
ARC CINEMA
Little Amélie (Amélie Ou La Metaphysique Des Tubes), Family Friendly Shorts and Fantastique
- During sensory-friendly screenings, the ARC makes a variety of adjustments to accommodate individuals with sensory sensitivities. This includes:
- Reducing the volume of the film
- Dimming the lights
- Eliminating sudden or startling sounds
- Guests are free to move around, vocalise, or take breaks as needed, creating a relaxed and accepting atmosphere
- Where possible, dryers in the toilets will be manually lowered to reduce noise
SENSORY PACKS
A limited number of Sensory Packs are available at selected events. These will contain Fidget Toys and Ear-defenders. We recommend that you can book them by emailing access@corkfilmfest.org
HIDDEN DISABILITIES SUNFLOWER
CIFF is affiliated with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower which supports people with non-visible disabilities, conditions, or chronic illnesses. The sunflower lanyard, bracelet, or badge signals that the wearer may need extra help, time, or understanding. Our trained volunteers, identifiable by their sunflower lanyards, are always happy to assist.
ACCESSIBLE VENUES
Together with our venues, we are committed to increasing accessibility and inclusion for audiences and artists alike.
All CIFF cinemas and film venues in Cork city and county are wheelchair accessible with step-free or ramped entry, adapted toilets, and priority seating areas.
The Festival Box Office is located at The Arc Cinema (North Main St), the Hub is at the Moxy Hotel (Camden Quay), and Club is at Intermission (Carey’s Lane). Note: while Intermission is wheelchair accessible, the Pav is not.
Our team and venue staff are available to provide assistance, and we encourage you to contact us in advance with any specific requirements.
BOOKING TICKETS
- Concession rates are available for students and under 25s, senior citizens, jobseekers, and those with disabilities.
- Personal Assistants/Carers attend free of charge.
- Tickets can be booked online, via the myCIFF app, by phone, or in person.
- Our box office team will be happy to advise on seating and accessibility options.
If you have any access needs, questions, or suggestions, please contact us in advance so we can support your visit. Email access@corkfilmfest.org or call 021 427 1711.
ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION
We have taken steps to improve our communication channels to ensure that CIFF’s website and social media content are compatible with screen-readers as well as accommodating other visual and auditory needs for our audiences.
Our website has accessibility features that help improve the visual experience for those who need it.
Our Social Media content includes alt-texts for the photos and text based content, helping users relying on screen-readers to better experience our content.
The Access page on our website outlines all the accessibility information that audiences may require prior to attending the venues and events. We are also available at access@corkfilmfest.org if you have any queries beforehand.
Our on-site Volunteers are trained to help audiences and attendees improve upon their CIFF experience.
ACCESSIBILITY VOLUNTEERS
Our Volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring that all attendees, regardless of their needs, have a seamless Festival experience. All our Volunteers will be informed and trained to help enhance the accessibility at CIFF.
They will provide on-the-ground support, responding to accessibility-related queries, and ensuring our venues are welcoming and accessible for everyone.
