Assam: Workshop held on implementation of accessibility standards in feature films for Persons with hearing and visual disability

Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 30 (ANI): The Central government under the directives of the Supreme Court has brought out guidelines with the aim of achieving universal access to cinema. The objective is to ensure the accessibility of films for persons with hearing and visual impairment.

Henceforth, cinema needs to have accessibility features like open captioning or closed captioning or Indian Sign Language for the hearing impaired and Audio description for the visually impaired. These guidelines were elaborated by Rajib Lochan Borthakur, Regional Officer, Central Board of Film Certification(CBFC), Guwahati, in a Workshop held at PWD Convention Hall in Guwahati on Friday.

He requested the film industry to cooperate so that universal accessibility is achieved in cinemas.

Sailendra Pandey, Member of Advisory Panel, CBFC, North East India Region, Guwahati said that, for a start, films in more than one language need to adopt features by 15th September 2024.

“Feature Films participating in festivals need to include accessibility standards from 1st January 2025 and by 15th September 2026, all theatrical feature Films are mandatorily required to provide accessibility features. The Guidelines are applicable for films that are certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for cinema halls. The producers are required to deliver the film for certification with accessibility features,” Sailendra Pandey said.

The Audio-Visual Workshop was participated by several eminent film-makers of Assam along with Film Video Editors, DI Colorist, Sound Engineers, Film Exhibitors and film enthusiasts.

Film-makers and technocrats raised several pertinent queries about the implementation of the Accessibility Standard. One of the top Accessibility Standard providers for films in the country- XL Cinema’s CEO- Ms.Dipti Prasad also virtually participated in the Workshop from Mumbai. During the workshop, several distinguished members of the Advisory Panel of CBFC were present.

This workshop was conducted for the first time in the Northeast.