Alison Smith: Accessibility at the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (in Glasgow next week!)

Main photo: Still from Almost…. Directed by Teresa Garratty.

What if there was a mainstream film festival where EVERY film screened had subtitles so you weren’t stuck with that one screening out of 200 that you can watch? Well Scottish Queer International Film Festival 2-6 October 2019 (SQIFF) in Glasgow has that. 

A large number of panel sessions and introductions have BSL interpretation. You can book BSL interpreters/notetakers for any other events or for workshops and there is also Live captions, induction loops, large print programmes, and Audio Description. Do they do a BSL and captioned trailer – yes. Films by Deaf filmmakers? They are in there. You’ll be totally spoilt for choice.

Until I got involved in SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) 2 years ago, I didn’t realise how important this was. Now I believe if SQIFF can do it with a small team and a small budget (compared to the large film festivals), other film festivals should be able to.

SQIFF employs local captioners to make sure the whole programme – and other film events they put on throughout the year – all screen with subtitles or captions. The Festival’s success means that other film festivals in Scotland are following in improving accessibility, and funding body Film Hub Scotland are supporting this work.

SQIFF itself every year shows a fantastic range of films representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Queer, intersex + communities. The Festival also facilitates individuals and organisations to programme and host events.

Last year members of LGBTQ+ Muslim group Hidayah came along to a screening, taking advantage of free tickets for anyone who needs and travel costs. This is crucial as many of Hidayah’s members are asylum seekers and refugees. This year that organisation are getting involved in hosting Queer Islam with Hidayah with a BSL interpreted discussion after short films on Saturday 5 October.

I’m the Access and Engagement Coordinator for SQIFF, so my role is reaching out to community groups and individuals, supporting those such as members of Hidayah to attend. I’ve also had my own poem films shown at previous festivals and last year I hosted a Q+A with poet Donna Williams aka Firefly after a Deaf Shorts screening, which also featured Dickie Hearts Deaf Vs the Dead. SQIFF takes its guests out for a meal during the Festival, which included booking a BSL interpreter to support Donna and I at one of the meals. 

This year Almost… written by award-winning filmmaker Teresa Garratty and funded by BSLBT is part of Luv Sucks on Thursday 3 October. What Is Happiness?, Claire Clark’s BSL poem, is showing as part of Queer Scotland, Welcome to the Ball a beautiful short where a child learns ASL in the hope of making a new friend is in SQIFF Shorts: Intimacies on our opening day (2nd October) and I’ve programmed and will host Sexxxy Beasts and Wheelchairs with input from Jamie Rea, a Deaf artist and actor.

Tickets to film festivals can be costly. SQIFF has a sliding scale policy of £0-£8 at every event, which means people can chose to pay according to what they can afford with no proof required, so it’s affordable to everyone. It’s been fantastic to be part of a team that is Deaf aware, Disability aware (I have hidden disabilities as well so it’s personal too). So, I’m working on a film festival that puts people at the heart of things.

Part of my role is also arranging a Quiet Space to give people time out away from the intensity and noise of the festival. This features soft lighting, beanbags, noise-cancelling headphones, books to read, and a comfy sofa. I’ve been told by a people that the space last year meant they could stay for longer, get rest, and enjoy themselves. After the 2018 Festival, we found a small hand-made zine in the space. The zine documented the anonymous author’s SQIFF experience and said the Quiet Room meant that they could be there the whole weekend. The access symbols SQIFF uses (CC, AD, induction loop, wheelchair accessible) were cut out and glued inside… I cried when I saw it.

Being inclusive isn’t just about physical access for audiences but also about the team looking after each other. Last year’s SQIFF took place in early December. I was working at the same time my dad was in hospital…but you know life goes on and you have day to day responsibilities. I was running between the hospital and the festival. Each day Helen the Festival Co-ordinator told me ‘go home we’ll manage’. I decided to stay as going home meant over-thinking and worrying. Being at SQIFF meant I was surrounded by my Queer family and had a lot of support, cups of tea, and hugs. And yes I did use the Quiet Room. So for me SQIFF isn’t just about putting on fantastic films that make you laugh, cry, think, and learn that are accessible to boot. It’s about the people who run it and make it happen.

It’s important to say that SQIFF’s audience view all films screening with captions as normal – most events sell out, proving that films with captions don’t put off hearing audiences. 

But all of this can’t happen without a Deaf audience and it’s sometimes a struggle to get fellow Deafies along to captioned and BSL interpreted film events. Take One Action Film Festival  also in Glasgow as well as Edinburgh, which finishes on Sunday 29 September, has captioning for its opening and closing night films, PUSH and Ken Loach’s latest, Sorry We Missed You, with BSL interpreted discussions after. They have taken on SQIFF’s accessibility and ticketing model. You have to support these events – my social media feed is full of complaints about the lack of choice and subtitles/captioning/BSL. So please rather than complaining to each other we need to get out and see some fantastic films and give festivals that include us the support they deserve.

SQIFF 2019 takes place 2 to 6 October at the CCA and other venues in Glasgow. See www.sqiff.org for more information and tickets.

Alison Smith is a performance poet/filmmaker and arts consultant.