Festivals are a cornerstone of the Canadian screen industry. They serve as hubs where professionals connect, relationships flourish, deals are made, and audiences passionately engage with films and filmmakers. However, there are currently no guidelines to ensure accessibility at these events, meaning that most festivals exclude people with disabilities.

The Screen Festival Accessibility Program is designed to change that. This multi-year initiative will establish Canadian standards to make industry events accessible for all. We will work closely with festivals across the country to pilot and refine these standards through community engagement, research, training, and the publication of a best practices guide. We will also develop a framework to measure results and impact.

Our goal is to transform Canada’s festival landscape from coast to coast to coast and create a pathway for the disability community to engage in this essential part of the Canadian screen sector.