The 2007 Sydney Film Festival just became more accessible, implementing a new initiative called Accessible Cinema which aims to improve physical access to cinemas for the disabled, as well as creating a program of films dedicated to the stories of those living with a disability. Kathryn Loughman reports.

This year’s Sydney Film Festival made cinema more accessible for a broader range of movie-goers with the inclusion of a new category of films called Accessible Cinema. The initiative was devised in collaboration with Accessible Arts NSW and aims to bring a more diverse range of films to the Festival, as well as encouraging improved physical accessibility for people with a disability in cinemas around Australia.

The cooperation between the two organisations has ensured that all Festival venues are wheelchair accessible, that there are hearing loops for all sessions at Dendy and George St Cinemas, and that some sessions will be captioned and audio described. Further to this, there will be an Auslan interpreter available at some seminars and special events throughout the Festival.

Nick Hayes, Sydney Film Festival’s Operations Manager, says, “We look forward to and are working towards making the Festival more accessible as a whole. This is only the first step, but we are committed to continue making Sydney Film Festival accessible for all movie-lovers.”

Accessible Arts NSW CEO Sancha Donald says the organisation works “to promote the inclusion of people in arts through education, advocacy and training so people can participate as an audience or at a participatory level.” According to Donald, Accessible Cinema will benefit the arts community in general by representing a broader section of people and providing the community with “the opportunity to see fascinating, funny, interesting films which they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to see,” as well as increasing awareness of specific disabilities and informing the community of the difficulties faced daily by people living with disability.

Ally Woodford, project manager at Media Access Australia (formerly the Australian Caption Centre), says, “Any increase in access to film in Australia, be it through captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired, or audio description for vision impaired, is a positive step forward.”

But as well as improving physical access to cinema, the initiative will also provide a strand in the Festival program for a range of Australian and foreign films made by or about people with a disability. Dan Monceaux, an independent filmmaker whose film A Shift in Perception is showing as part of Accessible Cinema, says film is important in representing those who don’t have a voice and in celebrating difference. “All minority groups should have a visible place in society, whether they’re being represented directly or being portrayed,” he says.

His 16-minute film is about three women living with blindness, reminiscing about the seemingly small things in life that too often are taken for granted.

Monceaux, an award-winning animator, became interested in this story through a community cultural project in his city of Adelaide. After meeting the women involved in the project, he and his partner wanted “to interpret their words in a visual way. We feel a great responsibility to share people’s inspiring stories,” he says.

“I think there’s a prevalent train of thought in society that disability somehow makes life an unpleasant experience. But we wanted to reveal these vivacious women’s lives that are full of joy and wonder and show that they were experiencing life in a more imaginative way than a lot of people.”

The use of black and white film juxtaposed with colour in A Shift in Perception is impressionistic and intended to give viewers a sense of the women’s world, says Monceaux who believes film has always been instrumental in shaping public opinion.” By starving people of colour, it suddenly has impact as it reappears, intensifying the sensory experience.”

Another film showcased is Rachel: A Perfect Life by filmmaker Fiona Cochrane, that follows one woman’s experience leading up to and including her surgery for epilepsy.

Cochrane, who is also a qualified doctor, says “It is essential to portray a wide variety of people through film and television. It is only via exposure to people and things outside our direct realm of experience that we are able to break down stereotypes and prejudices and begin to understand more global issues.”

Other films in Accessible Cinema include the true life-stories of: Blindsight, about a group of blind Tibetan teens who trek up Everest; Phoenix Dance, about an accomplished dancer’s journey back to the stage after losing a leg; and the 2007 Sundance Film Festival award winner Hear and Now, which documents a couple’s experiences with cochlear implants.

Sancha Donald says, “It is inspiring to see that the Sydney Film Festival is also screening films that challenge community perceptions and stereotypes of people with a disability. It is also a powerful way to showcase the ability and achievements of people with a disability.”

The Sydney Film Festival ran from the 8th – 24th June 2007.