Have you ever sat in the cinema feeling frustrated because you couldn't follow what was happening on the screen?
Many cinemas are equipped with a system that delivers audio description (AD) through a headset, which is provided when you collect your ticket. The audio description runs each time the film is shown and is undetectable to anyone not wearing a headset. This means you can attend any screening of films with audio description and sit anywhere in the auditorium.
Like a narrator telling a story, audio description is an additional commentary describing body language, expressions and movements.
Audio description in your area
Find out which cinemas provide audio description in your area at Your Local Cinema or telephone them on 0845 056 9824. The call centre is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Let them know which town you are in and they'll tell you if there are any audio described films being screened in your area. Alternatively, you can email ad@yourlocalcinema.com
Cinema ticket scheme
You can apply for a Cinema Exhibitor's Association (CEA) card which entitles you to two-for-the-price-of-one tickets in all participating cinemas if you either:
For more information visit the CEA card website or telephone 0845 123 1292.
Bollywood Film Project
RNIB has undertaken this Bollywood Audio Description project to look at the specific needs of ethnic minority blind and partially sighted people in the UK. We hope to establish a potential market for audio described Bollywood films and develop a working relationship with the Bollywood film industry.
Our work involves developing links with organisations supporting blind and partially sighted people in the UK and India to enable audio description provision in both countries.
For information on this project visit our Bollywood project page or email audiodescription@rnib.org.uk
More information
For more information about audio description in cinema please email audiodescription@rnib.org.uk or telephone 0303 123 9999.