If you break sound down into its simplest elements, it turns out to be nothing more than a wave — a vibration that travels through space and transforms into a voice, music, or the sound of rain. Gesture is one of the oldest methods of conveying meaning, from which complex systems of non-verbal communication eventually developed. Text is composed of simple symbols to which humanity once agreed to assign meaning. All of these are simple structures — different ways of transmitting and reading experience.
When a system comes under strain, the basic structures are often the ones that prove to be most resilient, helping a space remain open to different people and their various ways of engaging with the world.
Accessibility is not an extra built-in feature, it is one of the fundamental supports — a structure of presence, an infrastructure of equality, and a practical test of whether declared values actually work in reality.
This year, we invite audiences to explore different ways of engaging with cinema and to reflect on which simple structures help society remain open to diverse experiences and different forms of engagement with cultural events.
So that everyone can have the best possible festival experience, in addition to the formats already familiar to many — audio description for people with visual impairments, descriptive subtitles, and sign language interpretation — we also provide on-site assistance. All you need to do is notify the team about your visit in advance.
This year, the initiative will also reach a wider festival audience — to try other experiences of engaging with cinema and to understand better why accessibility at cultural events matters.
Here below we share more details on this.
SCREENINGS WITH AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Audio description — is an additional, specially recorded audio track, a voice that describes what is happening on screen: the characters' actions, emotions, the setting, and so on. This format helps blind people and those with visual impairments to watch films — to follow the story and fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere.
The programme of the 23rd Docudays UA includes thirteen films with audio description:
Audio description at the 23rd Docudays UA: screening schedule and how it works
To watch films with audio description, you will need a smartphone, headphones and the MovieReading. Select and download the film you plan to watch from the catalogue, during the screening, the audio track will automatically synchronise with the film.
For the festival team, it is important not only to create audio description for the blind community, but to do so together with them. Blind viewers, as well as cultural and civic figures, are therefore involved at various stages of the preparation process.
SCREENINGS WITH DESCRIPTIVE SUBTITLES
Descriptive subtitles convey important sounds, music, and the overall atmosphere of a film. They help people with hearing impairments better understand and follow the events on screen. These subtitles are already embedded in the films in the festival program, so no additional settings or equipment are required.
EVENTS WITH SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION
The opening ceremony and key events of the human rights programme RIGHTS NOW! will be interpreted into sign language.
A guide to the RIGHTS NOW! events
To better understand how to communicate with People with Hearing Impairments, we have invited Ivanna Mykhailenko who is a deaf activist and Chair and co-founder of NGO World of Silence to the Human Library. Come and talk on the 9th of June at 12:00. For more on the theme of accessibility within the human rights programme, see below.
The events will take place in the open air Lectorium near the entrance to Zhovten Cinema. Full Human Library programme here.
Human Library events on accessibility
On digital accessibility and barrier-free online spaces: Dmytro Popov, UNDP digital accessibility consultant in Ukraine and Director of Digital Accessibility Laboratory LLC.
When: 6th of June at 12:00
On Deaf culture and the specifics of communicating with People with Hearing Impairments:Ivanna Mykhailenko, Deaf activist, Chair and co-founder of NGO World of Silence.
When: 9th of June at 12:00
On supporting veterans who have lost their sight and advancing accessibility in Ukraine: Vladyslav Yeshchenko, a blind veteran with the call sign 'Saper', co-founder of the We Will See Victory Foundation, and Valeriia Yeshchenko, Foundation manager and the veteran's wife.
When: 10th of June at 12:00
RIGHTS NOW! event on accessibility
On the integration of veterans with disabilities, barrier-free design, and the changing face of Ukrainian society: Oleksandr Teren, veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, civic activist, author and host of the inclusive travel show Blown Away, or All Inclusive.
When: 6 June at 16:00
Shhh, I'm Watching a Film!: Joining the Experiment
Together with the 03:00 Foundation, we invite audiences to take part in a small festival experiment and try watching films with their eyes closed — relying only on sound, voice and their own imagination.
Before screenings with audio description, volunteers will offer blindfolds and a postcard with a QR code through which you can share your impressions and help draw more attention to the importance of accessible formats in cinema.
We will also be collecting feedback on social media, and festival merch will be given away in a draw among participants.
Descriptive subtitles at DOCU/SYNTHESIS
As part of the interdisciplinary arts programme DOCU/SYNTHESIS at Docudays UA, a thematic selection of media art by Ukrainian women artists will be presented, dedicated to the experience of women during the war and a feminist reflection on contemporary life. The works will also feature descriptive subtitles for people with hearing impairments.
A list of projects is available at the link.
Come with Me!: On-site assistance at Zhovten Cinema
We can meet you on location, help you find your way around the space, escort you to the screening hall, and show you how to make use of the festival's accessible formats. Let us know when you plan to attend a screening or event:
+380971290686, [email protected] — Vira
We continue to work towards making cinema and the festival experience open to all people and all ways of engaging with the world.
See you at Docudays!
The 23rd Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine and the Ukrainian State Film Agency. The opinions, conclusions, or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the governments of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies exclusively with the authors and editors of the publication.
