Welcome to the 2026 Belfast Film Festival Access Guide
Belfast Film Festival is committed to ensuring our festival is as accessible as possible for our audiences. This access guide brings together everything you need to know about access and inclusion at Belfast Film Festival 2026. If you have any additional questions or require additional support, please feel free to contact our team who will be more than happy to help.
What is Sparks+
SPARKS + is a new project as part of our 26th anniversary year. The project is dedicated to developing underserved and underrepresented audiences, these include Belfast’s significant global majority, eastern european communities, working class communities, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities. As part of this project, we have furthered our efforts to make each of our events as accessible as possible. Adding additional support and information that may benefit audience members and reduce barriers to attendance.
The Sparks + project has been made possible with the support of BFI Audience Projects Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.
Enhanced Access Screenings
Throughout the programme, our Enhanced Access Screenings can be identified by the following tags next to screening and event times. To view a pdf of our guide including a full list of our accessible screenings, DOWNLOAD THE ACCESS GUIDE HERE.
Relaxed screenings are in relaxed conditions for neurodivergent audiences. These include dimmed lights and lower volume levels.
AD cinema provides a live commentary of the film’s visuals. For audience members who are blind or partially sighted, AD is delivered through personal headsets or headphones which can be collected from venue staff.
Descriptive subtitles transcribe dialogue and relevant aspects of the soundtrack, including music and sound effects, attempting to give Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers an equal experience to those who are able to watch films without descriptive subtitles.
Interpreted BSL includes the presence of a trained professional who translates spoken English into BSL and BSL into spoken English in real time. When present, they will be visible to all audience members under appropriate lighting.
Ticketing Information
Belfast Film Festival is committed to ensuring our festival is as accessible as possible to our audiences. Therefore we offer d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent patrons a Personal Assistant/Companion ticket at no charge. Please notify the box office prior to booking if you require this provision, by contacting us at boxoffice@belfastfilmfestival.org, or calling our office at 02890 325 913.
We aim to keep our festival affordable. Most of our events are Pay What You Wish (PWYW) starting at £6. For events with set prices, you can access a concession rate if you are:
a student
a person with a disability
over 65
unwaged
All venues offer a limited number of wheelchair‑accessible spaces, available on a first‑come, first‑served basis. You can reserve one by selecting the Wheelchair Space Reservation Ticket, or by contacting the box office at boxoffice@belfastfilmfestival.org.
Venue Accessibility
Each of our partner venues has different types of access. See below for a list of what facilities and provisions each venue has.
Wheelchair accessible
Level access
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Accessible bathroom with hoist facilities (Changing Places)
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Disabled parking bays
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Divis Tower. The closest train station is Grand Central Station (16 minute walk or a 14 minute bus).
Wheelchair accessible
Level access
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Hearing loop
Accessible bathroom
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Transport information: The closest bus stop is College Green. The closest train station is Botanic Station (7 minute walk or a 5 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in the Ulster Museum. It is open from 9am – 5pm from Monday to Saturday.
Wheelchair accessible
Lift available
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Accessible bathroom
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Castle Court.The closest train station is Grand Central Station (15 minute walk or a 15 minute bus). Note: The Avenue is located on the first floor of Castle Court Shopping Centre, directly above the entrance to Royal Avenue. The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
Wheelchair accessible
Lift available
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Drop bar available
Designated quiet space
Hearing loop
Accessible bathroom
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Odyssey.The closest train station is Titanic Quarter (16 minute walk).The nearest Changing Places toilet is in The Odyssey. Note: There is taxi access to the front of the Odyssey, with a walk of approximately 150 metres through the Odyssey to enter Cineworld. The entrance to Cineworld is on the first floor, which is accessible by escalator or lift.
Wheelchair accessible
Level access
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Accessible bathroom
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Lower Donegall Street. The closest train station is Grand Central Station (20 minute walk or a 12 minute bus). Note: The entrance to the Beanbag Cinema is down a narrow, cobblestone alleyway. The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
Wheelchair accessible
Level access
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Drop bar available
Hearing loop
Accessible bathroom
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Lower Donegall Street. The closest train station is Grand Central Station (20 minute walk or a 12 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm. Note: The entrance to the Black Box is located on a cobblestone road. Vehicle access is available by request to the venue, otherwise the street is pedestrianised.
Wheelchair accessible
Level access
Entry & exit well lit
Accessible bathroom
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Tower Street. The closest train station is Titanic Quarter (12 minute walk or an 8 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in The Odyssey.
Wheelchair accessible
Lift available
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Drop bar available
Designated quiet space
Hearing loop
Accessible bathroom
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Pottinger’s Entry High Street. The closest train station is Lanyon Place (15 minute walk or a 12 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Victoria Park Shopping Centre.
Gallery space is wheelchair accessible
Entry & exit well lit
Drop bar available
Accessible bathroom
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Bridge Street. The closest train station is Grand Central Station (16 minute walk or a 12 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm. Note: The gallery space is located on the ground floor. The workshop space is yet to be confirmed, but is likely to be on the first floor which is currently only accessible by stairs. The nearest car park is High Street.
Wheelchair accessible
Event on ground floor with level access
Accessible bathroom
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Central Library. The closest train station is York Street Train Station (18 minute walk or a 9 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
Wheelchair accessible
Lift available
Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
Entry & exit well lit
Accessible bathroom
Entrance accessible by vehicle
Transport information: The closest bus stop is Ulster University Belfast. The closest train station is York Street Train Station (14 minute walk or a 6 minute bus). The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
Some aspects of accessibility for screening events are subject to change, so please check the event listings at belfastfilmfestival.org or contact us at isabella@belfastfilmfestival.org.
