Open City Documentary Festival strives to be as accessible as possible so please contact us if you have any access needs on info[at]opencitylondon.com.
Descriptive Subtitles
The following programmes will screen with descriptive subtitles, meaning that all audio heard in the film is captioned, including speech but also sound effects, music and other sound:
Combined Programme: Unreachable Objects, Wed 7 May, 8:30pm, Rich Mix (Cinema)
In the Manner of Smoke, Sun 11 May, 2pm, Close-Up
Step-free access
All festival venues are wheelchair accessible (see details for each venue below).
Barbican – Cinema 1 is accessible via the Silk Street entrance to the Barbican Centre via lift. Two boxes at the rear of the auditorium each have space for one wheelchair user and a companion. Please book early and ask for these seats. Cinema 2 is located at Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican Centre’s main Silk Street entrance. There are a couple of steep, dropped kerbs and an incline to negotiate between the two sites. The auditorium has three wheelchair spaces and a number of seats with step-free access.
Bertha Dochouse – There is a lift and step-free access to the screen, with 1 wheelchair space in the cinema.
Burley Fisher Books – The ground floor of the shop, where the workshop will be happening, is wheelchair accessible. We do not have a wheelchair accessible toilet – the closest wheelchair accessible public toilet is at Haggerston Station, a 10 min walk away.
Close-Up Cinema – There is wheelchair access and 1 wheelchair space in the cinema. There is a manual ramp available which staff can install over the step to enter the building from the street.
Fishtank Workshop – The building is fully wheelchair accessible and there are wheelchair accessible toilet facilities.
ICA – Cinema 1 and Cinema 2 are accessible via ramp. There is space for 2 wheelchairs in each cinema. Please let the ICA know about any accessibility requirements at the time of booking as they may need to adjust the seats in advance. Both cinemas are fitted with induction loops for those wearing hearing aids.
Live Arts Development Agency (LADA) – LADA is wheelchair accessible by lift.
Rich Mix – The main entrance can be accessed via a ramp on Bethnal Green Road. Once inside, lifts provide access to all gallery/performance spaces and all three cinema screens, each of which has wheelchair bays.
Tate Modern – All events in the Starr Cinema have a step-free access route available, space for wheelchairs and a hearing loop. Works screened as part of the Starr Cinema programme will be captioned.
UCL East (Marshgate) – The UCL East campus has been designed to be fully accessible. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is car-free, but there are Blue Badge disabled parking facilities and drop-off points on the campus. Accessible parking can be arranged – please email ucleast@ucl.ac.uk.
Content Warnings
Open City Documentary Festival is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment. This includes being sensitive to topics which may cause emotional or physiological distress. Content warnings that alert the audience to potentially distressing material will be included at the beginning of each screening and are listed in full below:
Weds 7 May
VALIE EXPORT
- contains flashing images and scenes of war, self-harm and sex
Christelle Oyiri
- contains flashing images and scenes of racism
Sanrizuka 1: Peasants of the Second Fortress
- contains sustained intense sound and violent scenes
Combined Programme: Unreachable Objects
- contains flashing images
Films that Fuck
- contains flashing images, strong language and scenes of homophobia, racism, and strong sex
Thurs 8 May
Partition
- contains flashing images, sustained intense sound and discussion of war and displacement
Just Evidence 1. Towards A Black Testimony: Prayer/Protest/Peace
- contains flashing images and scenes of war, racism and transphobia
Voices from Gaza + Palestine Will Win
- contains scenes of war and violence
Moving Statics 1: Early Movements
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that Bouddi contains the voices of deceased persons.
Fri 9 May
Sanrizuka 3: The March of The Earth
- contains sustained intense sound and violent scenes
Combined Programme: Available Light
- contains flashing images
Combined Programme: When The Sun is Eaten
- contains flashing images
Sat 10 May
Manal Issa, 2024 + The Diary of a Sky
- contains sustained intense sound and scenes of war
Moving Statics 3: A Journey through a Face – In This Life’s Body
- contains discussion of racism and death
The Clock, or: 89 Minutes of “Free Time”
- contains flashing images
Les fantômes du hard – Chapters 1 & 2
- contains flashing images and pornographic scenes
Sun 11 May
Combined Programme: a river holds a perfect memory
- contains discussion of displacement and suicide
Closing Night: Kouté wva
- contains strong language, and discussion of murder and grief
Weds 14 May
Sanrizuka 5: Kashima Paradise
- contains sustained intense sound and violent scenes
Thurs 15 May
Sanrizuka 6: Solidarity Struggles: Sanrizuka – Larzac
- contains sustained intense sound and violent scenes