Accessibility

Special attention is thus being given to people who are unable to access cultural events due to social and financial insecurity, distance or physical impediment. FIFDH is also committed to ensuring the optimal participation of speakers and participants with disabilities in the various Festival activities.

On this page you will find information about:

Support and welcome

Location and access

Inclusive offers

Website, social media and digital communication

Support and welcome

Contact

The festival is raising awareness of inclusion and accessibility issues among its team and staff, who are also receiving information on the measures implemented. Do you have accessibility requirements or any other needs to feel welcome? Please contact us as early as possible so that we can provide the best possible support during the Festival.

For any questions concerning your visit to the Festival, please contact our dedicated team.

By phone : +41 (0) 22 809 69 09
By email : billetterie@fifdh.org

Pricing measures

• 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 screening of the FIFDH. In 2025, 200 people attended a free screening of the film Sultana’s Dream by Isabel Herguera.

Location and access

The main venues of the FIFDH and the vast majority of other venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility.

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

The Simon movie theater of the Cinémas du Grütli, as well as other partner venues such as the Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (MICR) are equipped with a hearing loop system. Find out more information about these places on this page.

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

Inclusive offers

Audio description

Audio description is essential for making films and videos accessible to visually impaired 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.

French sign language translation

Several FIFDH Forums and discussions are interpreted into French sign language in order to include people who are deaf or hard of hearing and to encourage the equal participation of all participants.

You can re-watch these events on our YouTube Channel and our Resources and Media platform.

• For an inclusive and antivalidist sexuality (FIFDH 2024).
• Carte blanche to Rokhaya Diallo. Climate equity: women on the front line (FIFDH 2024).
• Growing up and living among the able-bodied (FIFDH 2023).

Relax screening

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 

Cultural mediation

The FIFDH perceives cinema as a tool for mediation, an opportunity to engage with diverse audiences. By showcasing impactful and creative films, we facilitate unique opportunities for dialogue among people from varied backgrounds. 

In an effort to transcend social, cultural, generational, and geographical barriers, the Festival collaborates with numerous institutions throughout the Canton.

Website, social media and digital communication

In 2023, the website had been redesigned to improve the legibility and accessibility of its content, in particular by now using the hyphenation point (‧) instead of the midpoint. This character maximises ease of reading and digital inclusion for visually impaired people by being ignored during vocalisation. In addition, a contrast option has been implemented, allowing users to navigate in either dark or light mode. Fonts can also be enlarged, improving legibility and making reading more accessible. The use of alternative texts – on the Festival’s website and social networks – also enables image description when the image is inaccessible to the user.

In our video productions, the addition of subtitles allows everyone to enjoy and interact with our content, whether they have a hearing impairment or prefer to watch videos without sound. Similarly, the ability to mute videos is also offered to enhance the user experience in all circumstances and situations.