How to Fest
- Accessibility Commitment & Requests
- Festival Accessibility & Assistive Technology
- Film Accessibility Features Quick List
- Accessible Parking, Shuttles, & Paratransit Services
Accessibility Commitment and Requests
Please email accessibility@sundance.org or call (435) 776-7790 for accessibility inquiries and requests.
In alignment with our core values, Sundance Institute is committed to improving the overall experiences of our staff, audiences, and artists. We consider inclusion, racial equity, and accessibility the drivers of institutional excellence, and it is our aim to make all our programs and platforms reflect these core values at every level. Our goal is to make our experiences (in-person and online) as accessible as possible for all participants.
We are committed to providing:
- Audio description wherever possible.
- ADA compliant venues for Institute events.
- American Sign Language – English interpretation at Institute events upon reasonable request.
- CART transcription at Institute events upon reasonable request.
- Easy access to request accommodations, meeting requests as best we can.
- Easy access to offer feedback and recommendations to the Accessibility Team.
- Ongoing accessibility assessments of all Institute and Festival in-person and online venues in partnership with the disability community.
How to Reach Our Accessibility Team
Accessibility Requests
If you have an accessibility request, question, or feedback for the accessibility team, please contact accessibility@sundance.org or use the accessibility hotline at (435) 776-7790. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests made in advance; requests made within seven days of the event may not be guaranteed.
General Comments & Suggestions
Our Festival accessibility is an ongoing effort with many improvements still in process; your feedback is critical in helping us create the most inclusive experiences possible. To provide us with feedback or comments during your experience at the Sundance Film Festival, email us at accessibility@sundance.org.
Participate in a Survey
Sundance Institute participates in the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard to increase data collection within the Film Event Industry and to provide an opportunity for individuals to share anonymous feedback with our team. This is a tool created and managed by FWD-Doc, a group of filmmakers with disabilities and active allies. Visit the FWD-Doc Website for more information about this initiative.
Thank you to Easterseals Disability Services and Rev for supporting our accessibility and inclusion initiatives.
Festival Accessibility and Assistive Technology
The Sundance Institute is committed to offering program and platform experiences that are inclusive and accessible to all of our audiences and artists. Below are accessibility, assistive technology, and venue features that we provide to guests.
Website Accessibility Widget
At the bottom left side of your screen is a blue circle with a Userway icon. This widget allows you to adjust your screen settings to best match your preferences.
In-Person and Online Accommodations
We provide the following in-person and online accessibility accommodations to guests.
Subtitled Films
All Festival films will be screened in their original language with English subtitles. Subtitled films are noted as such in both the digital and print program guides.
Photosensitivity Precautions
Check back in January for a list of films with photosensitivity warnings.
On-screen imagery may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy seizures or have other photosensitivities. Screenings identified with such content will have a viewer warning at the start of the screening and be listed in advance in the program guide, however, individual viewer discretion is advised.
In-Person Accommodations
We provide the following Festival in-person accessibility accommodations to guests.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
Assistive Listening Devices are available for all screenings of Festival films at all Festival theaters. Our ALDs are wireless receivers that amplify all film sound in a compatible headset or neck loop with an adjustable volume setting. Please note that we only have a limited supply of devices. To ensure availability of an ALD, please request in advance by emailing us at accessibility@sundance.org. We cannot guarantee availability of ALDs for requests made on-site, but we will do our best to fulfill them.
Audio Description Headset (AD)
The Festival encourages all filmmakers to provide accessible versions of their films. As long as an accessible version of the film has been submitted, we’re able to accommodate audio descriptions at all Festival theaters.
Closed Captioning Devices (CC)
The Sundance Film Festival requires that all filmmakers provide closed-captioned versions of their films for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Our CaptiView devices display film dialogue on a small OLED screen on a bendable support arm that sits directly in the patron’s field of view. CaptiViews can be requested in advance at accessibility@sundance.org. We cannot guarantee availability of devices for requests made on-site, but we will do our best to fulfill them.
American Sign Language (ASL)
Check back in January for a list of events with ASL.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be offered at select events, talks, and Q&As following film screenings. Event descriptions will identify if ASL will be provided. If you prefer ASL accommodations for any Festival event or screening outside of this list, please request this in advance at accessibility@sundance.org.
We recognize and support the value of various sign languages (Pro-Tactile ASL, Black ASL, etc.) as well as the value of CDI and BIPOC interpreters. We encourage patrons to be descriptive in their request for interpretation so that we can do our best to fulfill the accommodation in a way that supports attendees’ belonging and communication preferences.
Service Animals
Service animals trained to specifically assist people with disabilities are welcome at all official Festival theaters and venues. All other pets/animals are not allowed.
Wheelchair Accessibility
All official Festival theaters and venues are ADA-compliant, and we strive to make our spaces as accessible as possible. These spaces are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage patrons to request a wheelchair space in advance at accessibility@sundance.org. Patrons may also request a wheelchair space by speaking with a Festival staff member as soon as they arrive at any theater. Please note, we cannot guarantee availability of spaces for requests made on-site, but we will do our best to fulfill them.
Companion Seating
Companion seating is available at all theaters for family and friends of individuals utilizing a wheelchair space. Companion seating refers to the three seats nearest to the wheelchair spaces that may be reserved by those who request the wheelchair spacing to ensure they may sit with their group. Individuals sitting in the companion seat section are required to have a ticket to all screenings. Please contact us if you have questions about companion seating at specific theaters.
Online Accommodations
We provide the following online Festival accessibility accommodations to guests.
Audio Description (AD)
Check back in January for a list of films with AD.
The Festival encourages all filmmakers to provide accessible versions of their films. As long as an accessible version of the film has been submitted, we’re able to accommodate AD for online screenings. Online viewers will have the ability to turn audio description on and off on their personal viewing screens via the AD toggle.
Closed Captioning (CC)
The Sundance Film Festival requires that all filmmakers provide closed-captioned versions of their films for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Online viewers will have the ability to turn captions on and off on their personal viewing screens via the CC toggle.
Film Accessibility Features Quick List
Please email accessibility@sundance.org or call (435) 776-7790 for accessibility inquiries and requests.
Please check back in January for a list of films by accessibility feature. This information will also be updated throughout the Film Program.
Accessible Parking, Shuttles, & Paratransit Services
Parking
ADA Placards: The Sundance Film Festival honors all DMV-issued ADA placards; however, accessible and general parking is first-come-first-served and limited.A DMV-issued ADA placard does not guarantee parking at official Festival theaters and venues. The Sundance Film Festival does not issue any sort of accessible parking permit.
Please note, there is no parking of any kind on Main Street, and with limited accessible parking nearby, we encourage all patrons to take the shuttle system to the OId Town Transit Center.
Paratransit Services and Shuttles
All Festival routes have wheelchair-accessible shuttles, and drivers are trained to provide assistance to those who may need it.
Park City (Summit County)
Park City Transit offers door-to-door paratransit service for passengers who are unable to use the fixed-route service. Guests planning to utilize this service must apply at least three weeks prior to the Festival.
How to Apply: For information about paratransit service and for an accessibility eligibility application, please contact the Park City Paratransit Certification Office at (435) 615-5353 or TTY at (435) 615-7041 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Park City (Service at Kimball Junction/Redstone Theater)
All High Valley Transit buses are ADA accessible. High Valley Transit (HVT) also provides Valley Ride (an ADA paratransit service) for passengers with a temporary or permanent disability who qualify. Valley Ride is provided within three-quarters of a mile (on either side) of HVT’s fixed routes. All Park City Mobility riders are automatically eligible for Valley Ride service.
How to Enroll: Visit High Valley’s Transit’s ADA Complementary Paratransit page for more information about this service. To enroll, please contact High Valley Transit at (435) 336-3021 or valleyride@highvalleytransit.org.
- If you need a round trip within Summit County outside of the city, Valley Ride can schedule and provide the trip.
- If you need a round trip within Park City, Park City Mobility can schedule and provide the trip.
- If your trip starts in Park City Municipal’s boundaries and ends in Summit County outside of these boundaries, Park City Transit is responsible for that trip. For the return trip, you should contact Valley Ride, and we will take you back to Park City.
Utah Transit Authority (Salt Lake City)
Utah Transit Authority (UTA) also offers door-to-door paratransit service for passengers and locations that qualify. UTA’s fixed route bus and TRAX light rail service offers lift-equipped or low-floor buses and trains for wheelchair accessibility. To be considered for UTA Paratransit Service, riders must contact the UTA Mobility Center. Further information about paratransit services in Salt Lake City is available at UTA Paratransit Service website or by calling the number for UTA Paratransit Service in Salt Lake Counties at (801) 287-2263.
