Danish Cinema To Increase Accessibility Options
The Danish Film Institute has announced an initiative to increase the accessibility of films to the visually impaired and hard of hearing, through subtitles, visual signing and audio description.
As of 1st July 2016, all feature films that receive production support from the DFI will be made available to cinemas with Danish subtitles, although cinemas will not be forced to provide subtitled screenings.
DFI CEO, Henrik Bo Nielsen, says: “Under the new conditions for support, Danish subtitles will be produced for all Danish films. At the same time we will test how new technology can meet the needs for groups that do not usually come to the movies. Visual signing will be a part of this endeavour.”
The Danish Film Institute has also collaborated with the Danish Blind Association on six new Danish movies to provide a more inclusive approach to audio description. Technology has been developed to provide audio description via smartphone and headphones so that users can enjoy audio description at the same showing as everyone else.
John Heilbrunn, Vice President of the Danish Blind Association, says: “This is great for our members, who have long asked for audio description… We can now talk about the same films, and can choose from the same cinemas as everyone else.”
Flaskepost Fra P and Der Kommer En Dag are currently available with audio description, and in the autumn Fuglene Over Sundet and Iqbal Og Superchippen will also be available.