Accessibility At Sheffield DocFest 2025
Registering for Assistance at the Festival
If you need help during your time at the festival, would like to request assistance, or just have a question about this information, our Head of People & Access, Maria Stoneman, will be able to advise and offer guidance
Please call +44 114 276 5141 or send an email to access@sheffdocfest.com.
Industry Passes
A Concession Pass price is available for those in receipt of a social assistance benefit. This pass does not increase to a Last Minute Rate.
Students, 30 & Under, and ODA Country Resident concession prices are also available.
For Industry audiences with non-ticket related access enquiries, please email access@sheffdocfest.com
Ticket Information
£9.50 Concession price for screenings and events at The Crucible Theatre, Montgomery Theatre and Opening Night.
£7.50 Concession price for screenings at the Showroom, Curzon and Light Cinemas.
Concessions are available to claimants, full-time students, over 60s and Blue Light Card holders, as well as those who cannot afford standard prices via our DocsForAll concession.
We operate concessions on a trust basis and do not ask for proof of status.
Wheelchair spaces are subject to availability and must be booked in advance.
Festival Guides
Check out our Public Guide, plus accessible versions you can bookmark or download. All of our Accessible Public Guides are available in different formats here or by following this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fcqKx5Qo5iFjMcRwp35Wm1UG9ccg4fDR
Our currently available guides include:
- Standard Public Guide as a downloadable PDF
- Plain Text (graphic-less) version of the Public Guide as a PDF for easier reading or a Google Doc to download and edit as you'd like. Also available with:
- Tinted Background (#FFF2CC)
- White Text on Black Background
- Tinted Background (#FFF2CC)
- Large Text (18pt)
- OpenDyslexic – A font designed by and for people with dyslexia.
- An HTML-based website version if preferred for screen readers is also available here or by following this link: https://tickets.sheffdocfest.com/plain-text-public-guide
If you'd like to request any additional accessible materials, please contact boxoffice@sheffdocfest.comand we'll do our best to provide them.
Personal Assistant / PA Ticket Scheme
Complimentary tickets are available for Personal Assistants, Carers or Sign Language Interpreters assisting someone attending an event who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or holds a CEA Card or international equivalent. Please book your ticket as normal, then email boxoffice@sheffdocfest.com with proof of DLA or CEA Card to request your complimentary ticket.
Support for Those with Young Children
Sheffield DocFest is a breastfeeding-friendly event, and those with babies should feel welcome to breastfeed at all festival venues. If you require support with childcare during the festival, there are options available to you that you can take advantage of in Sheffield.
Mental Health & Wellbeing Support for Festival Attendees
In response to the urgent need to address the wider industry's responsibility, to support the mental health of those people who work in our industry, and address the underlying causes, Sheffield DocFest has partnered with experienced Mental Health Practitioners to provide free Wellbeing checks during this year's Festival.
Deaf Audiences & British Sign Language Requests
British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation is available to book on a limited, first-come, first-served basis to passholders.
If you are interested in using this service to attend sessions, Q&AS, and networking events, please email access@sheffdocfest.com for information. The deadline for your requests is 17:00 on the 29th May 2025.
Events with British Sign Language Interpretation
Screenings, Sessions, and Events that have BSL interpretation will be listed through the button below.
Further BSL-interpreted events will be added here as and when they have been requested.
Descriptive Subtitles Screenings
Click on the button below for a list of screenings with Descriptive Subtitles (English or foreign language films with subtitles of the dialogue and additional description of non-dialogue sound)
We will continue to update this information, please check back for an updated list.
Live Captions
At the Crucible Theatre, all introductions, Q&AS and Talks will have Live Captions.
All Industry Sessions taking place in the Crucible Theatre, Crucible Playhouse, and Montgomery Theatre will have Live Captions throughout. Some sessions in Channing Hall and Crucible Adelphi will have captions if the session format is appropriate.
Click on the button below for a list of events with Live Captions (events where the introduction, conversation and Q&A will have live captions on screen.
English Language Subtitled Screenings
Click on the button below for a list of Subtitled screenings (Foreign language films with English Subtitles Throughout)
Blind & Visually Impaired Audiences
Click on the button below for a list of Audio Described films. We will continue to update this information, please check back for an updated list.
Podcasts that are Audio Only and appropriate for blind & visually impaired audiences can be found by clicking on the following buttons below
Alternate Realities, Quiet Hours and Relaxed Screenings
The quiet hours at the Alternate Realities Exhibition are open to everyone, but specifically those who are neurodivergent, autistic, or living with dementia who will benefit from a more relaxed, quieter space.
During the quiet hours, we welcome immunocompromised audiences to attend, as we will ask all audiences during this time to wear a mask.
Is a Relaxed Screening for Me?
Seating
You can select your seats when you arrive in the auditorium. You may sit with your family or friends, or there are some single seats if you prefer.
Please leave space between yourself and other groups and retain your selected seats for the duration of the performance if possible.
Before the screening
Doors will open approximately 30 minutes before the screening start time, and no trailers will be shown. The programme will be introduced by someone from the DocFest team or the venue.
During the screening
Our house lights will remain on a low level throughout the screening, and the volume will be turned slightly down. You will be able to move freely around the space and leave and return to the screening as needed. You will be able to make noise.
For all our Relaxed Screenings, please click on the button below:
Festival Map and Sheffield Geography
Sheffield is built on 7 hills. If you are navigating Sheffield for the first time, please be aware that if you arriving by train, there is a long incline ramp from the train station to the Showroom Cinema and Delegate Centre. Hotels and venues are all a short walk away but are up hills and slight inclines.
A map of all the venues can be found by click on the button below
Blue Bay Parking in Sheffield
Wheelchair Hire
Accessibility by Venue
For information about the different accessibility provisions available at each of our festival venues, including the seating dimensions for each cinema venue, please click on the button below, which is in a downloadable format
If you have any questions, please email boxoffice@sheffdocfest.com. Please note, there may be limited availability depending on the venue.
Distance to Venues from the Delegate Centre (S1 2BX)
The Light Cinema - 11 minutes walk
Curzon Cinema - 11 minutes walk
Crucible Theatre - 8 minutes walk
The Montgomery - 10 minutes walk
Channing Hall - 9 minutes walk
Cutlers Hall - 14 minutes walk
Site Gallery - 2 minutes walk
Sheffield Cathedral - 14 minutes walk
The Botanist - 10 minutes walk
Tampers Sellers Wheel - 4 minutes walk
Hygge (Pounds Park) - 9 minute walk
Slug & Lettuce - 13 minutes walk
Peddler Warehouse - 32 minutes walk
Birdhouse - 5 minutes walk
Winter Garden - 7 minutes walk
