Zhejiang expands barrier-free film screenings

Volunteers guide a man to his seat at a cinema in Nanhu district, Jiaxing. [Photo/Tide News]

For the 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec 3, cities across Zhejiang province hosted public screenings as part of the province's growing "Light Cinema" program, which produces and presents barrier-free films for people with visual impairments.

In Jiaxing's Nanhu district, residents gathered at Qixing subdistrict to experience the audio-described version of One and Only. As the lights dimmed, narration filled the spaces between dialogue, explaining scenes, expressions, and movement.

Creating a film that can be understood by ear is a demanding process. As viewers cannot perceive visual impact or body language, the production team must recreate every visual cue through narration.

According to the Light Cinema team, a single accessible film can require more than 3,000 pauses and a shot-by-shot breakdown. A two-hour film often results in more than 20,000 words of narration, with even split-second scenes refined repeatedly over the course of a month.

The program began pilot runs in Nanhu district and Zhuji city two years ago before expanding across Zhejiang. Since August, it has been rolling out nationwide, aiming to make cinema more inclusive for visually impaired audiences.