Inclusive cinema and national descriptive subtitle guidelines advance cultural participation in Slovenia

Screenings combine several accessibility services, including descriptive subtitles for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, audio description for persons who are blind or partially sighted, and Slovenian sign language interpretation during supporting activities.

Accessibility information is provided in advance, allowing visitors to independently select suitable screenings and participate in shared cultural experiences rather than separate events.

Alongside the screenings, a national milestone has also been achieved. A multidisciplinary working group coordinated by the cinema prepared Guidelines for the Preparation of Descriptive Subtitles in Slovene. Descriptive subtitles include not only dialogue but also key sound information and are considered essential for access to audiovisual works for persons with hearing loss. The document aims to enable full accessibility of films across cinemas, television and online platforms and to raise awareness that descriptive subtitles are an important tool for participation and inclusion in society.

The guidelines were developed in cooperation with translators, public broadcasting accessibility services, sign language professionals and disability organisations, ensuring that the recommendations reflect real user needs.