We are very thankful that our service continues to be sponsored by the cinema industry, film distributors, the UK Film Council, the major organisations representing people with hearing or visual impairments and technology companies. Without the support of these sponsors the service would simply not be able to operate. You can read about our sponsors and visit their websites below.

 

The UK Film Council

The UK Film Council is the strategic agency for film in the UK. Their £500,000 Cinema Access Programme was a pioneering programme to improve facilities for people with hearing and sight impairments. In 2004, over 100 UK cinemas were equipped with subtitle/caption and audio description equipment to enable more people to enjoy the cinema experience. Full details HERE

10 Little Portland Street, London W1W 7JG, UK
email: info@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
web: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

 

Cinema Exhibitors' Association
and the UK cinema industry

The CEA is the trade body representing almost 90% of UK cinema exhibitors including Apollo Cinemas, Cine-UK/UGC, National Amusements, Odeon/UCI and Vue/Ster Century, along with smaller circuits and independent cinemas.

In the late 90's CEA set up the Industry Disability Working Group, involving major representive bodies, to investigate ways in which to improve access to cinemas and films for disabled people - particularly those with sensory impairments.

CEA have been instrumental in helping with the planning of the UK Film Councils' pioneering Cinema Access Programme.

22 Golden Square, London W1F 9JW, UK
email: cea@cinemauk.ftech.co.uk

 

Film Distributors' Association
and UK film distributors

FDA is the trade body representing UK theatrical film distributors. Its members include the UK offices of all the multi-national distributors, including Buena Vista (Disney), Columbia TriStar, Entertainment, Pathé, Twentieth Century Fox, UIP, Warner Bros. and several locally-based independent companies. Taken together, FDA members' releases account for over 95% of UK cinema admissions.

In 2001, FDA issued a protocol for the supply of subtitled and audio described materials. Since then, its members have released more than 350 films with subtitles and/or audio description. The range of 'accessible' titles rises week by week.

22 Golden Square, London, W1F 9JW, UK
email: info@fda.uk.net
web:www.launchingfilms.com

 

DTS - Digital Theater Systems, Inc

The DTS Cinema Subtitling System (DTS-CSS) is installed in around 100 UK cinemas and operates in the same way as the company’s cinema digital sound system, where a CD-ROM containing both the captions – which are projected directly onto the screen – and audio description tracks is synchronised with a standard film print. Available as a standalone system, DTS-CSS can work with a single inventory of prints and the appropriate CSS discs to provide subtitling, captioning and audio description in any required language, or languages, throughout the world.

DTS is a digital technology company dedicated to delivering the ultimate entertainment experience. DTS decoders are in virtually every major brand of 5.1-channel surround processors, and there are more than 200 million DTS-licensed consumer electronics products available worldwide. Additionally, DTS is featured on more than 20,000 cinema screens worldwide. Founded in 1993, DTS is headquartered in Agoura Hills, California and has offices in the UK, Japan and China.

No. 5, Tavistock Estate, Ruscombe Lane, Twyford, Berkshire RG10 9NJ, UK
email: dtsinfo@dtsonline.co.uk
web: www.dtsonline.co.uk

See What's available? for detailed info.

 

Dolby Laboratories, Inc

Dolby Laboratories is the developer of sound systems used worldwide in applications that include motion picture sound, consumer entertainment products and media, broadcasting, and music recording.

The Dolby ScreenTalk system is installed in around 70 UK cinemas and produces cinema subtitles, audio description for movies, and cinema advertising images. Subtitles can be switched on for selected performances of a movie, without modifications to the film print and audio description files can be beamed via an infrared headphone system, without any impact on the rest of the audience.

There are more than 1 billion Dolby-licensed consumer electronics products available worldwide.

Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8QJ, UK
email: info@dolby.co.uk
web: www.dolby.co.uk

See What's available? for detailed info.

 

ITFC - Independent Television
Facilities Centre Ltd.

itfc are Europe’s leading provider of subtitling and audio description to the entertainment industry. The vast majority of cinema releases with subtitles and audio description are prepared by itfc - over 300 to date. itfc also provides a range of other facilities including video post production, DVD authoring and in vision signing.

28 Concord Road, Acton, London W3 0TH, UK
email: info@itfc.com
web: www.itfc.com

 

RNID - changing the world
for deaf and hard of hearing people

RNID is the largest charity working to change the world for the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this with the help of our members, by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, providing services and through social, medical and technical research.

19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL, UK
email: informationline@rnid.org.uk
web: www.rnid.org.uk

 

RNIB - Royal National Institute
of the Blind

RNIB is the UK's leading organisation offering information, support and advice to over two million people with a sight problem. Its pioneering work with the public and private sector helps anyone with a sight problem - not just with braille, Talking Books and computer training, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges, such as accessing digital television. RNIB campaigns with government and industry to ensure that people with a sight problem have equality of access and opportunity.

105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE, UK
email: helpline@rnib.org.uk
web: www.rnib.org.uk

 

Freeney Williams Ltd.

Freeney Williams Limited (formerly Access Matters Limited) is one of the UK's leading disability and diversity consultancies and has been instrumental in the planning of the UK's 'accessible' cinema network. It provides a wide range of services to help organisations meet the obligations of the Disability Discrimination Act as well as associated diversity and equality based legislation.

Services include Training and Development, Access Audits, Website audits & Development, Policy Design & Development, Assistance in meeting the new Public Sector Duty to Promote Disability, Equality.

Freeney Williams Ltd. 37 Buckingham Road,
Brighton BN1 3RP
email: enquiries@freeneywilliams.com
web: www.freeneywilliams.com

 

 

The companies/groups above are members of the 'Cinema Access Disability Working Group' - a group set up by the Cinema Exhibitors' Association to find ways to improve access to cinemas and films, for people with physical and sensory impairments.

The companies below help us to create awareness of and publicise accessible cinema nationwide.

 

 

Arts Alliance

Arts Alliance Digital Cinema (AADC), the pioneer provider of digital cinema services, installs and operates the UK Film Council's Digital Screen Network (DSN). The world’s first large scale digital deployment is a core part of the UK Film Council’s strategy for improving access to specialised film and broadening the range of films available to audiences throughout the UK.

More information about the DSN is available at www.ukdsn.com

9-11 North End Road, London W14 8ST, UK
email: office@artsalliancemedia.com 
web: www.artsalliancemedia.com

 

Screentrade Magazine

Since its launch in February 2002, Screentrade has quickly established itself as the favourite Exhibitor journal in Britain, Europe, and now America. It covers, in-depth, all aspects of Cinema Exhibition and Film Distribution.

In addition to recognising the film industry to be very people-oriented, Screentrade has become renowned for its honest and cutting-edge interviews with senior management and regularly covers technical, managerial, concessions and retail issues - that impact on everyday decision making - in dedicated sections each issue. Access issues are also periodically covered.

Screentrade goes direct to named decision-makers in the UK, Europe, USA & Canada (and shortly Russia), making it arguably the most influential exhibitor journal among its territories' movers and shakers.

Screentrade is published four times annually and coincides with the run-up to ShoWest, Cinexpo and CineAsia trade shows.

Screentrade Magazine, PO Box 144,
Orpington, Kent BR6 6LZ, UK
email: info@screentrademagazine.co.uk
web: www.screentrademagazine.co.uk

 

Pocket Films

Pocket Films publish clear and concise cinema and film guides in a convenient pocket sized format. Their monthly 'Pocket Films Calendar' guide (published in association with the Radio Times) currently reaches almost 700,000 film lovers every month.

The guide is extremely useful to people planning their cinema visits and now includes information on subtitled & audio described shows, which helps to raise awareness of the difficulties that sensory impaired people face when pursuing their passion for film.

Pocket Films Ltd. Rosedale House,
Rosedale Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2SZ
email: pocketfilms@yahoo.com
web: www.pocketfilms.com

 

PhoneAnything

PhoneAnything is the leading supplier of phone technology for delivering information to disabled users. Their voice portal is the only phone system to provide access to websites, email, WAP sites and internet radio. Their web-over-phone technology is unique in providing phone access to websites, allowing the majority of visually-impaired individuals who do not have computers to access the internet.

They provide a range of services including web-over-phone lines for providing instant access to websites through any phone (used on this website), talking email services and bespoke voice portal services. Contact them to extend access to your information for your disabled end users.

PhoneAnything, PO Box 390,
Cambridge CB4 1ZW
email: info@phoneanything.com
web: www.phoneanything.com

 

Cobweb Solutions

Cobweb Solutions provides uninterrupted 24/7 internet & email services.

Cobweb is Europe’s leading provider of Hosted Microsoft Exchange solutions and is one of only four Microsoft Gold Certified Partners in the world - and the only one outside the USA. The company is the power behind our website and is the ‘approved’ supplier of Internet solutions to many well known name companies.

Their capability is internationally recognised and has won many industry awards, including Microsoft EMEA 'Hosting partner of the Year', ISP Awards 'Best Application Service' and the Microsoft 'best small business solution in western Europe' Award.

Cobweb Solutions, South Barn, Cams Estate, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8UT, UK
email: sales@cobwebsolutions.com
web: www.cobwebsolutions.com

 

About this service:

Subtitled and audio described cinema enables people with less than perfect hearing or vision to enjoy film, presented in its original, and best form - the cinema.

This service - 'Your Local Cinema .com' - is the only listings service created exclusively for accessible cinema. Our service can be found wherever there is internet access - at home, the workplace, school, a library, an internet cafe, or the thousands of wi-fi hotspots and internet kiosks throughout the UK and Ireland.

The service serves as a one stop shop both for the cinema industry and for public audiences interested in accessible screenings UK-wide, which are listed clearly each week. We have a weekly email newsletter, notifying thousands of people of accessible shows in their area and our database of people interested in accessible cinema continues to increase. If you would like to receive our bulletins, or if you run a cinema and would like to have your accessible shows publicised, please email us at subtitles@yourlocalcinema.com.

But we have developed into much more than a comprehensive listings service. We now have a UK based 24/7 telephone call centre for general enquiries. Hearing impaired people can contact us by email, text message or fax, and we provide a 'web over phone' and 'talking website' service for our visually impaired users.

Our service also includes more and more subtitled and audio described versions of official movie trailers, where text or a voice-over helps to explain what’s occurring on screen.

We also produce 'accessible' film websites for film studios and distributors. For example, Ray – the widely acclaimed story of Ray Charles, who refused to let his blindness deter him – was naturally of particular interest to blind and partially sighted people. So we teamed up with its UK distributor to produce a version of the official Ray website that was appreciably more accessible than a standard movie website. With a link directly from the official UK website, an accessible website contains all the same content but in a far clearer format, easier for visually impaired people to navigate. More importantly, it works with screen reader software – popular ‘speaking’ software that helps visually impaired people to ‘read’ websites.

An accessible website can also includes a subtitled and audio described version of the official trailer and when the film is on release in cinemas, all subtitled and audio described shows can be clearly listed, utilising our 'web over phone' and 'talking website' technologies.

Related media/press articles here

In 2005 the 'Your Local Cinema .com' website & information service won an international 'Webaward - Standard of Excellence' award. Details here.

email: subtitles@yourlocalcinema.com
web: www.yourlocalcinema.com