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.
- Relaxed Screenings (RS) – Relaxed screenings are in relaxed conditions for neurodivergent audiences. These include dimmed lights and lower volume levels.
- Audio Description (AD) – 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 fromvenue staff.
- Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) – 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.
- British Sign Language (BSL) – 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.
Queens Film Theatre
Queen’s University, 20 University Square, Belfast, BT7 1PA
- Wheelchair accessible
- Level access
- Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
- Entry & exit well lit
- Hearing loop
- Accessible bathroom
- Entrance accessible by vehicle
The nearest Changing Places toilet is in the Ulster Museum. It is open from 9am – 5pm from Monday to Saturday.
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 Avenue
Castle Court Shopping Centre, First Floor, Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1DD
- Wheelchair accessible
- Lift available
- Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
- Accessible bathroom
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.
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).
Beanbag Cinema
5 Exchange Place, Belfast, BT1 2NA
- Wheelchair accessible
- Level access
- Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
- Entry & exit well lit
- Accessible bathroom
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.
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).
Black Box
18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA
- Wheelchair accessible
- Level access
- Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
- Entry & exit well lit
- Drop bar available
- Hearing loop
- Accessible bathroom
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.
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).
Cineworld
Odyssey Place, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ
- 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
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.
Transport information:
The closest bus stop is Odyssey.
The closest train station is Titanic Quarter (16 minute walk).
Masonic Screen
197 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1AD
- Wheelchair accessible
- Level access
- Entry & exit well lit
- Accessible bathroom
- Entrance accessible by vehicle
The nearest Changing Places toilet is in The Odyssey.
Transport information:
The closest bus stop is Tower Street.
The closest train station is Titanic Quarter (12 minute walk or an 8 minute bus).
Odeon Belfast
Unit 13SF, 1 Victoria Square, Belfast BT1 4QG
- 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
The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Victoria Park Shopping Centre.
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).
PS2
31- 35 High Street, Belfast, BT1 2AB
- Gallery space is wheelchair accessible
- Entry & exit well lit
- Drop bar available
- Accessible bathroom
- Entrance accessible by vehicle
- 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.
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).
St. Comgall’s – Ionad Eileen Howell
Divis St, Belfast BT12 4AQ
- 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).
The Watson
2-14 Little Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2JD
- Wheelchair accessible
- Event on ground floor with level access
- Accessible bathroom
- Entrance accessible by vehicle
The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
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).
Ulster University
York St, Belfast BT15 1ED
- Wheelchair accessible
- Lift available
- Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
- Entry & exit well lit
- Accessible bathroom
- Entrance accessible by vehicle
The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
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).
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.