Accessibility at Cinema/Chicago
Cinema/Chicago is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment at all of our programs and events. We strive to provide an enjoyable viewing experience for all patrons. We invite feedback on how to improve our accessibility practices to accommodate a broader, more inclusive audience for all our programs.
We will continue to work with filmmakers and distributors to provide access to films in the form of captions and audio description. Screenings with these accessibility options will be listed on this page.
Audience members with disabilities can gain early access to any festival screenings if desired. Please speak with a Theater Manager when you arrive at the theater and they will assist you. Seating typically begins 30 minutes prior to screening start time. Companion pricing available, please email our accessibility or box office teams for more information.
For Accommodation requests or feedback, please email us at access@chicagofilmfestival.com, call us at 312.683.0121 x202, or fill out our Accommodation Request Form.
Accessibility at the Chicago International Film Festival
Venue Accessibility
The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival is held at multiple locations around the city. Please follow the links below to learn more about each venue, including transportation and accessibility options. Though all of our venues are ADA accessible, not all access fits everyone’s needs. If you have any specific questions or concerns about venue accessibility (i.e. ramps vs. elevators, accessible door function, ADA restroom details, ect.), please contact access@chicagofilmfestival.com.
Screening & Event Accessibility
Click or tap a heading below to learn more about accessibility options at the festival.
Screenings & Events with Open Captions
Open Captions are available for the select screenings listed below. Live Open Captioning via CART will be provided for all Q&A’s following Open Captioned films and for all Industry Day presentations.
Finding Your Laughter
Arlieta Hall, Brittany Alsot | U.S.
Logan Center, Performance Hall
The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd
Tim Blake Nelson | U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06 
Best of CineYouth 2026
Various | China, Mexico, Taiwan, U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04
City & State Shorts: Journey Within
Various | The Philippines, U.S.
Chicago History Museum
Screenings with Audio Description
Audio Description are available for the select screenings listed below.
SUMO: Spirit Weighs Nothing
Erik Shirai | Japan, U.S., U.K., Denmark
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 14
SUMO: Spirit Weighs Nothing
Erik Shirai | Japan, U.S., U.K., Denmark
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 14
Screenings with Assisted Listening Devices
Screenings at AMC NEWCITY 14, Gene Siskel Film Center, Music Box Theatre, Chicago History Museum, and the Logan Center for the Arts have Assisted Listening Devices and/or use a T-Coil system. These provide either amplified theater audio or the film’s designated assisted listening track. For more information about a particular screening, please contact access@chicagofilmfestival.com.
Screenings & Events with Closed Captions
There are a limited number of closed-captioned films available via CCAP at The Music Box, AMC New City, and via our streaming platform. There are a limited number of devices at each location. A Closed Caption screening does not automatically include visual language support for the possible Q&A that follows some screenings.
Please contact access@chicagofilmfestival.com to inquire about the availability for any specific film or request additional access.
SUMO: Spirit Weighs Nothing
Erik Shirai | Japan, U.S., U.K., Denmark
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 14
SUMO: Spirit Weighs Nothing
Erik Shirai | Japan, U.S., U.K., Denmark
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 14
Fatherland
Paweł Pawlikowski | Poland, Germany, Italy, France
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1
Fatherland
Paweł Pawlikowski | Poland, Germany, Italy, France
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06
The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd
Tim Blake Nelson | U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06
The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd
Tim Blake Nelson | U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06
The Only Living Pickpocket in New York
Noah Segan | U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 14
Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star Stuff
Nanette Burstein | U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04
ASL Interpreters
ASL Interpreters are available by request. When they have already been assigned to an event, they will be added to this page. If you would like to request an ASL interpreter, please fill out the Accommodation Request form or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.
ADA Priority Entrance
In addition to reserved accessible seating, we offer ADA Priority Entrance. This will allow those who need accessible seating priority entrance into the theater so they can choose the seats that will make the film most accessible to them. If you would like to request ADA Priority Entrance, please fill out the Accommodation Request for or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.
Sensory
For those with sensory sensitivities, there will be sensory items (ear plugs, sunglasses, fidget tools) available at the AMC New City, The Music Box, and GSFC. Staff and volunteers will also be equipped in showing you to a quiet space when asked for assistance.
Quiet Room
A sensory-friendly quiet room space will be available at AMC NEWCITY 14. It is located on the second floor, just past the red carpet. The room will be open October 17th–27th, will open 30 minutes before the first screening, and will close halfway through the last screening each day.
Service Animals
Service animals are always allowed. Emotional Support animals are not permitted.
Companion Pass
Attendees who require assistance during the event can request a Companion Pass for an attendant or aid to accompany them. The Companion Pass does not grant access to any events without the ticketed patron. If you would like to request a Companion Pass, please fill out the Accommodation Request form or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.
Masking
We do not have any blanket mask requirements at this time.
The following screening is a Mask Required Screening.
Additional Accommodations
If something that is not listed here would make our event more accessible to you, please fill out the Accommodation Request Form or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com to discuss what options we may have available for you.
Accessibility Frequently Asked Questions
All event venues are fully wheelchair accessible for audiences, with no-step entrances or ramp access, and elevators. All venues offer wheelchair-designated spaces, companion seating, easy-access theater seating, and accessible restrooms. Those who have specific seating requirements can notify a staff member or theater manager and get early access to all screenings.
All of our non-English-language films have English subtitles. Select in-person and virtual films will have Closed Captions (CC) or Audio Description (AD) available. Please note, not all venues will have CC devices available. Select in-person films will screen with Open Captions (OC). These screenings will be announced and publicized on our website and program guides.
CART Captioning will be available at select Q&As and panels.
Open captions always are in view and cannot be turned off, whereas closed captions can be turned on and off by the viewer.
An assistive listening device are personal technologies that will amplify film or microphone audio. Please note, not all venues will have ALD’s, and not all ALD’s will be compatible with Audio Description.
While all of our theaters offer wheelchair accessible spaces, companion seats, or other accessible seating options, these are first-come first-serve. Please note if you have an accessibility need you do get early access to the theater, just notify a staff person or theater manager. To reserve a spot you can do any of the following:
- Fill out this Accommodation Request Form
- Call our Box Office Hotline at (312) 332-3456
- Email us at ticketing-info@chicagofilmfestival.com
ASL Interpreters are available upon request. Please fill out the Accommodation Request Form to request an interpreter. Please note that any requests made less than a week before your scheduled screening cannot be guaranteed.
The Chicago International Film Festival does not provide 1:1 interpreters, personal aids, or guides. Attendees who require these can request a Companion ticket for their selected film. This will allow them to provide the necessary accommodations to accompany them without the purchase of an additional ticket.
Our Accommodation Request Form is great for giving feedback as well! You can also fill out the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard to give us feedback.
You can email us at access@chicagofilmfestival.com or call 312.683.0121 x108
For Filmmakers
Creating accessibility assets for your films means that a wider, more diverse audience has access to your work. Your captions and audio description are as much a part of your film’s completion as the editing and coloring and should be submitted to festivals along with your film.
Download our Film Submission Accessibility Resource Guide
Filmmakers submitting their films to Cinema/Chicago with one or more of these assets are eligible for a 20% discount on their submission fee through Filmfreeway. To inquire about the discount, please email entries@chicagofilmfestival.com.
Captions are a textual transcript of a film’s dialogue, sound effects, and music. Captions are different from subtitles in that subtitles only contain a transcript of dialogue. Captions are primarily created for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, but have grown in popularity with many audiences.
Captions can be presented to audiences in different ways. Open Captions are visible on the big screen for everyone in an audience to see. Closed Captions can be viewed on a personal closed caption device, only visible to an individual audience member. In the case of online content, closed captions can be toggled on and off.
Audio Description is a verbal description that provides context to key visual elements of a film. The Audio Description is carefully planned so as not to overlap with a film’s dialogue or important auditory cues. Audio Descriptions are primarily created for blind or visually impaired audience members to make film programming accessible.
Here is an example of Audio Description:
There are many ways to create these assets for your film! Many independent captioners and audio describers are available for collaboration.
There are also websites like REV and 3Play where you can upload your film to have your captions or audio descriptions generated. It’s important to QC, review, and edit errors when using services like these. For more curated captions or audio description, companies like All Senses Go are a great option. They can work with you to fulfill your creative vision for your captions.
Find Audio Describers for your film
Find Captioners for your film
