How to Fest
- Accessibility Commitment & Requests
- Festival Accessibility & Assistive Technology
- Film Accessibility Features Quick List
- Accessible Parking, Shuttles, & Paratransit Services
Please email accessibility@sundance.org or call (435) 776-7790 for accessibility inquiries and requests.
At Sundance Institute, we are committed to creating an environment where all community members feel valued and thrive. Inclusion, racial equity, and accessibility drive our institutional excellence, and we aim to reflect these across our organization and in all our programs and platforms. Our goal is to make all experiences, both in-person and online, as accessible as possible.
We are committed to providing:
- Audio description whenever possible.
- ADA compliant venues for Institute events.
- Minimum of one open caption in-person screening per title (when available).
- 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 or questions 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 are not guaranteed.
General Comments & Suggestions
Festival accessibility is an ongoing effort with many improvements still in progress; your feedback is critical in helping us create the most inclusive experiences possible. To send accessibility-related feedback or comments while attending 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 provide an opportunity for individuals to share anonymous feedback. 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.
The Sundance Institute is committed to offering program and platform experiences that are inclusive and accessible for our audiences and artists. Below are accessibility, assistive technology and venue features that we provide to guests joining in-person and online. Festival-goers are encouraged to contact the Accessibility team directly to discuss any additional individualized accessibility accommodation requests outside of this list by emailing us at accessibility@sundance.org.
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 Accommodations
We provide the following in-person Festival accessibility accommodations to guests.
Photosensitivity Precautions
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.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)
Assistive Listening Devices are available for all screenings of Festival films at Festival theaters. Our ALDs are wireless receivers that amplify film audio in a compatible headset or neck loop with an adjustable volume setting. Please note that we 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.
Audio Description Headset (AD)
The Festival encourages all filmmakers to provide an audio description track with their films. If an accessible version of the film is submitted, we’re able to accommodate audio descriptions at all Festival theaters. AD headsets can be requested in advance by emailing us at accessibility@sundance.org. We cannot guarantee availability of headsets for requests made on-site.
Open Caption (OC) & Subtitles for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH)
We are committed to offering one open caption in-person screening of every film when possible (some titles may offer more than one). For Non-English language films a version with SDH will be used for an open caption screening. Closed captioning devices are available upon request at every non-open-caption screening. Open caption screenings are noted as such in the digital program guide.
Closed Captioning Devices (CC)
The Festival requests that all filmmakers also provide closed-captioned versions of their films for all non-open caption screenings. Caption viewing devices display film dialogue on a small OLED screen on a bendable support arm that sits directly in the patron’s field of view. Caption viewing devices can be requested in advance at accessibility@sundance.org. We cannot guarantee availability of devices for requests made on-site.
American Sign Language (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
We strive to make our spaces as accessible as possible. For that reason, all official Festival theaters and venues are ADA-compliant. 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. 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 the 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 are able to 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.
Photosensitivity Precautions
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.
Audio Description (AD)
Sundance Institute encourages all filmmakers to provide an audio description track with their films. If an accessible version of the film is submitted, we’re able to accommodate AD for online screenings. Online viewers have the ability to turn audio description on and off on their personal viewing screens via the AD toggle.
Closed Captioning (CC) & Subtitles for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH)
The Festival requests that all filmmakers provide closed-captioned versions of their films compatible with our online Festival Platform. Online viewers have the ability to turn captions on and off on their personal viewing screens via the CC toggle. All non-English language Festival films will be screened in their original language with English subtitles. When available, an SDH version will show online. Subtitled films are noted as such in both the digital and print program guides.
Please email accessibility@sundance.org or call (435) 776-7790 for accessibility inquiries and requests.
Check back in January for a list of films by accessibility feature.
Parking
ADA Placards: The Sundance Film Festival honors all DMV-issued ADA placards; however, accessible and general parking at each official Festival theater and venue is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. A DMV-issued ADA placard does not guarantee parking at official Festival theaters and venues. The Sundance Film Festival does not issue any accessible parking permits.
As a city-wide service, ADA parking is free in Park City for those displaying a placard. All official City-parking lots that are open offer ADA spaces. Additional ADA spaces are available at the top of China Bridge (entry from Marsac Avenue), Brew Pub, and Galleria Parking Lots.
Please note, there is no parking of any kind on Main Street, and with limited accessible parking nearby (China Bridge, Brew Pub, and Galleria Parking Lots), 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 who 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 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 your return trip, contact Valley Ride to 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 the UTA Paratransit Service website or by calling the number for UTA Paratransit Service in Salt Lake Counties at (801) 287-2263.
