Accessibility

The main venues of the FIFDH and the vast majority of other venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility. The number of seats available for people with reduced mobility is however limited: we therefore kindly ask you to notify the box office in advance, if possible, by calling +41 (0) 22 809 69 09 or sending an email to access@fifdh.org.

• The Maison communale de Plainpalais is the main venue of the Festival. For information on accessibility at La Maison communale de Plainpalais, click here. For information on accessibility at Théâtre Pitoëff (1st floor of the Maison communale de Plainpalais), click here.

• Several Festival events and screenings take place at the Cinémas du Grütli. For information on accessibility at the Cinémas du Grütli, click here.

• The Festival takes place in different venues in Geneva. Below is a list of the venues and their accessibility information.
  • Fonction: cinéma (Maison des Arts du Grütli): you will find information on accessibility here.
  • Théâtre du Forum Meyrin: you will find information on accessibility here.
  • Bains des Pâquis: you will find information on accessibility here.
  • Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG): you will find information on accessibility here.
  • Théâtre de la Parfumerie: you will find information on accessibility here.

For more information on accessible venues in Geneva, click here.

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are authorised on all the sites, including in the screening rooms.

Additional Accessibility Measures

• Walkers are available to make waiting in lines easier (in the Maison communale de Plainpalais).
• Reusable straws and cups are provided at the Festival bars.
• A Sunflower badge or lanyard, or an ‘I am autistic’ card may be worn to indicate a non-visible disability. Already used by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Geneva Airport, this system helps Festival staff and volunteers provide tailored support.

Audio description is essential for making films and videos accessible to visually impaired and blind people. It takes the form of a voice-over describing what is happening on screen – in order to enable everyone to follow the plot. Every year at the FIFDH, several films are shown with audio description and subtitles via the Greta application, thanks to Regards Neufs.

Using the Greta Application

We recommend that you complete these steps in advance, for example at home. Here’s how to proceed:

Before the screening

1. Connect your smartphone to the internet (for example, at home).
2. Download the Greta application, for instance from the Regards Neufs website.
3. Activate the “audio description” option in the settings.
4. Log in or create an account (if you create an account, you will receive an e-mail to confirm your registration. You will need to click on it before you can log in).
5. Search for the desired film in the “events” category.
6. Download the audio description.

In the theater

1. Upon entering the theater, open the chosen film in the Greta app.
2. When the film starts, during synchronization, you will hear a sound similar to a heartbeat for a few seconds.
3. Synchronization happens automatically, and the audio description will start in your headphones.

Tips and information

• Internet access is not required during the film if the audio description has been downloaded in advance. Synchronisation works offline.
• Make sure your phone’s microphone is not covered. The app uses your phone’s microphone to synchronize the audio subtitles.
• Fully charge your phone before the screening.

Subtitles

• All foreign language films are subtitled in French. All French films are subtitled in English.
• All French films are now also subtitled in French. This allows for broader understanding.

Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SME)

The subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SME) are integrated directly into the image and visible to everyone. They reproduce the dialogue and sound information necessary for understanding. These are not colour-coded SME subtitles.

Live transcription, or surtitling, is a service generally used in the performing arts and is particularly beneficial for people who are deaf or visually impaired. During the discussion sessions held as part of the Forums, the speakers’ words are transcribed in real time and immediately displayed on screen (in French only). This service, provided by SWISS TXT, facilitates understanding, eases daily life, and ensures equal participation in the FIFDH Forums.

The following venues are equipped with hearing loop systems:

• The movie theaters of the Cinémas du Grütli
• The Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG)
• The main auditorium of the Bio Cinema
• The Théâtre du Forum Meyrin (rows J to O)

To benefit from this, please switch your hearing aid to T-coil mode in these rooms. Find out more information about these places on this page, as well as in the directory of venues equipped with magnetic loops.

The FIFDH offers Relax screening

• A relaxed and caring environment
• An adapted welcome

During a Relax activity, the codes are a little more flexible. For example, the public can:

• Move
• Talk
• Express their emotions

During a Relax activity at the FIFDH, there are:

• People at the reception desk wearing Relax t-shirts
• A soft light in the cinema
• The sound of the film is lowered
• The cinema door is open

Relax activities in Geneva are organised by Out of the Box Association 

If you have a disability and require an assistant, a free ticket can be reserved for this person (online or at the box office).

All ticket holders are eligible for the discounts offered by the Festival:

• Reduced rate: AVS, unemployed, AI, asylum seekers, members Function: Cinema, AACDG members.
• Youth rate: Under 20s, apprentices, students.
• 20 years/20 francs: Holders of the 20 years/20 francs card. The 20 years/20 francs rates are subsidized by the City of Geneva, the Fond intercommunal des communes genevoises and the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

Established several years ago, solidarity tickets provide people facing precarious situations and socio-cultural associations with the opportunity to attend a determined screening of the FIFDH. In 2025, 200 people attended a free screening of the film Sultana’s Dream by Isabel Herguera.