Accessibility

A core value of Inside Out’s guiding strategic plan is that Inside Out is accessible and inclusive: a safe and welcoming space for filmmakers and film fans from around the world. We respect, reflect and celebrate our communities’ diversity and strive for inclusion of all persons.

Inside Out endeavours to be a leader in the film festival industry on the provision of accessibility supports for artists and audience members with disabilities. Click below on Industry-wide Projects for information on Inside Out led initiatives to increase accessibility. Click on Accessibility Practices to view our current practices.

Accessibility Policies and Practices

Inside Out is committed to improving accessibility for all audience members by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers. The Reel Access discount is available for BIPOC folks, students, seniors, under-waged patrons, and patrons living with disabilities. Valid for regular in-person and digital screenings during the 2023 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival from May 25th – June 4th.

For more information on accessible ticketing or to inquire about Reel Access discounts for All Access passes, please email us at boxoffice@insideout.ca

Free Youth and Senior Matinees

In-person screenings: For youth (24 and under) and seniors (65+), we offer free tickets for weekday screenings that begin before 6pm. Tickets cannot be reserved in advance and must be picked up in person at the Inside Out Box Office at TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St. West) on the day of the screening, limit 1 ticket per person, limited quantities available.

For digital screenings: a range of free content is available. Check our website or choose the “Free Content” filter on our Festival schedule page.

Physical Accessibility

TIFF Bell Lightbox is a physically accessible venue as are all Inside Out party and reception venues.

Support Persons

One support person accompanying a person with a disability will be allowed to enter Festival events and screenings free of charge, provided the main attendee has a ticket. Support persons are required to obtain a free ticket from the box office (subject to availability). For any questions, please email access[at]insideout.ca

Support Persons

One support person accompanying a person with a disability will be allowed to enter Festival events and screenings free of charge, provided the main attendee has a ticket. Support persons are required to obtain a free ticket from the box office (subject to availability). For any questions, please email access[at]insideout.ca

Service Animals

Inside Out welcomes people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed at our venues in areas that are open to the public.

For further information, please contact access[at]insideout.ca

CaptiView Devices

Captiview devices are available for english language films that have closed captions. These will be accessible from the TIFF Box Office.

Film Captioning

Inside Out is committed to achieving our goal of captioning or full subtitling for all films selected to screen at the 2023 Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival. In-person screenings will include open captions and ASL interpretation for film introductions and Q&As is available upon request. To confirm captioning for a screening choose “Accessible Titles” on our Festival schedule page, or check film information for any Digital Cinema screenings.

For more information or to request ASL interpretation for a screening, please email us at boxoffice[at]insideout.ca

100% of the films will have captions or full subtitles for all our 2023 programming, depending on content that is provided. In 2021, 69% of our features and 73% of our shorts were fully captioned or subtitled.

ASL-Interpreted Films

If you would like to request ASL interpretation (American Sign Language) for a screening, please email access[at]insideout.ca.

All interpreting requests must be booked 72 hours in advance.

Relaxed Screenings

Now that in-person screenings are up and running again, Inside Out will be having a relaxed screening for two films at a 25% capacity.

Scent Allergies / Sensitivities

We encourage our patrons to refrain from wearing perfume, cologne and other scented products when visiting the theatres; however, we cannot guarantee a scent-free environment. Should you have an allergy to scented products and require a change in your seating location, please consult with our venue staff and we will relocate you to comparable seating where possible.

Toronto Festival Accessibility

Inside Out is a lead organization in the Reel Access initiative that aims to improve the accessibility of film festival programming in Toronto and beyond.

Reel Access

Inside Out’s Reel Access discount is available for BIPOC folks, students, seniors, under-waged patrons, and patrons living with disabilities. Valid for regular in-person and digital screenings during the 2023 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival from May 25th – June 4th.

For more information on accessible ticketing or to inquire about Reel Access discounts for All Access passes, please email us at boxoffice@insideout.ca

Ticketing, Venue and Box Office Accessibility
  • All of our venues are wheelchair accessible. All of our venues welcome service animals, guide dogs, and a support person accompanying a patron living with a disability.
  • Inside Out offers a discounted Reel Access 5-Pack ticket package available to BIPOC folks, students, seniors, underwaged patrons and patrons living with a disabilities. Valid for in-person and digital screenings during the 2023 Inside Out Film Festival. Must be in Ontario to view digitally.
  • Students, seniors, underwaged patrons and patrons with disabilities are eligible for a 15% discount on in-person and digital screenings.
Accessible Parking:

Accessibility parking can be located across the street at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (370 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1J9) located across the street from TIFF Bell Lightbox. Pricing between $8 – $15 depending on the time of day. 

For any questions about parking, please contact access[at]insideout.ca

Screening Accessibility

All festival films screening at TIFF Bell Lightbox will be accompanied with open captions or English subtitles (all languages will be subtitled, including English). All festival films screening via Cinesend will have the option to enable captions.

For any access needs (or accessibility concerns) for upcoming Inside Out events, please contact access[at]insideout.ca

Any ASL interpreter requests must be booked 72 hours in advance.

Industry-wide Projects to Increase Accessibility

Reel Access Project + Accessibility Resource Guide

Funded by the Toronto Arts Council, this 2019-2020 project brought together film festival representatives and disability activists/consultants to address obstacles to accessibility at film festivals in Toronto. The project held a well-attended Discovery Forum in May of 2019 to bring the discussion of accessibility to the foreground. A follow-up in-person forum planned for 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 and replaced with an industry survey on accessibility improvements. The project also created an Accessibility Resource Guide for film festivals.

The Accessibility Resource Guide is part of the Investment Readiness Program funded by the Government of Canada’s​ SI/SF Strategy​.

Creating a Culture of Accessibility

In 2020, with funding from the Investment Readiness Program of Employment and Social Development Canada, Inside Out initiated a project to investigate the feasibility of a central toolhouse to provide accessibility supports, equipment and services to event producers in Toronto with the aim to increase overall accessibility. When the toolhouse was deemed not currently feasible, the project dug deeper to look at what kind of change was needed for accessibility to be prioritized throughout the culture of an organization. The result is a useful report of case studies on organizational transition that can lead to a “culture of accessibility” in all organizational operations.  Download a copy of that report here.

Industry Accessibility Advisory Initiative

This 2020-21 project is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts and focused on developing a standard set of policies and procedures for the advancement of accessibility in the film festival sector. Led by an Advisory Committee of festival reps and disability activists and in partnership with the Creative Users Project, the project aims to release a standard document of policies and procedures by the end of 2021.

For more information on Inside Out Accessibility Initiatives, contact access[at]insideout.ca