Accessibility

As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering an inclusive festival experience, IDFA is working to remove several access barriers in our programming and services. Our goal is to be as accessible as possible to all members of the audience and our professional guests. We look forward to remaining transparent and accountable as we share our progress with you.

Check this page for up-to-date accessibility information about IDFA throughout the year. For questions, comments, and suggestions, we invite you to get in touch with us via the contact methods provided below.

Location accessibility

Do you have reduced mobility? After you have purchased your tickets, please send an e-mail to service@idfa.nl. Our staff can then reserve a seat for you in the cinema, and if necessary, assist in informing you about the location of your screening(s).

If you are a support worker visiting the festival with someone in a wheelchair, please purchase your own ticket and then email service@idfa.nl to reserve your seat in the cinema.

We strive to make our festival locations accessible for visitors who are blind, deaf, or use a wheelchair, but unfortunately, some of our venues still contain access barriers.

De Balie – Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10

• Wheelchair accessible. The main entrance of the building has an elevator. All rooms are accessible via stair lifts.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• In the cinemas, wheelchair spaces are available upon request. Please reserve in advance via service@idfa.nl.
• There are no disabled parking spaces nearby.
• There is no telecoil available.

Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond – Nes 45

• Wheelchair accessible. Everything is on ground level.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• In the cinemas, wheelchair spaces are available upon request. Please reserve in advance via service@idfa.nl.
• There is no telecoil available.
• There are no disabled parking spaces in the neighbourhood.

DeLaMar Theater – Marnixstraat 402

• Wheelchair accessible.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• In the cinemas, wheelchair spaces are located in the first tier. There are spaces for an attendant as well. Please reserve in advance via service@idfa.nl. Mobility scooters cannot enter the screening room; you can change to a regular chair or use a borrowed wheelchair.
• There are two toilets for wheelchair users available: one in the Grand Cafe and one in the Red Foyer.
• Both earbuds and an induction loops are available, although the induction loop is not guaranteed to work with all hearing aids. You can borrow the earbuds and the induction loop at the cloakroom.
• The street in front of the main entrance is car-free, but exceptions are allowed to drop off people with disabilities in front of the theater. The parking garage Q-Park Europarking on the Marnixstraat has two disabled parking spaces.

Eye – IJpromenade 1

• The entire building is wheelchair accessible. The elevator to get to the reception desk is located to the right of the main entrance stairs. All floors of the building are accessible via elevator.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• Each cinema has two wheelchair spaces available, but they must be reserved in advance via service@idfa.nl. In Cinema 1 the spaces are in the front row. In Cinema 2 they are in the back row.
• There are toilets for wheelchair users on floors in the basement, on the ground floor, on the first floor, and in the exhibition area.
• There is an induction loop in all four cinemas. If you require a reception box or neck receiver (depending on the hearing aid you use), this can be obtained from the front desk.
• There are two disabled parking spaces in the parking garage of the A'DAM Tower; it is recommended to take the exit 'A'DAM Tower' when leaving the parking garage, which has a wheelchair-friendly automatic outside door.

Kriterion - Roetersstraat 170

• Wheelchair accessible. The K1 cinema, where IDFA screenings take place, is on the ground floor. There are rooms for wheelchairs in all cinemas along the aisles.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• There is no telecoil available.
• There are no disabled parking spaces in the neighborhood.

Koninklijk Theater Carré – Amstel 115-125

• Wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator to the first floor (Loge foyer) and fourth floor (In de Nok).
• The Grand Café Carré on the ground floor is accessible to disabled visitors.
• It is not possible to enter the cinema with a mobility scooter. If you come to the theater with a mobility scooter, you can use a rental walker or wheelchair to get to your seat in the cinema. When the screening is finished, an employee will return the rental walker or wheelchair to your seat so that you can return to your mobility scooter. During the screening, we will park your mobility scooter near the cinema.
• In the cinema, there are three wheelchair spaces, next to which there is room for one or two attendants. These spaces are downstairs in the Stalles. Please reserve in advance via service@idfa.nl.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor, on the left and right sides.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• Telecoil available (please inquire with theater staff in the cloakroom on the ground floor, deposit: €10). The theater has a telecoil with headphones and a telecoil that you can connect to your own hearing aid.
• There is disabled parking within 100 meters of the venue.

Het Ketelhuis – Pazzanistraat 4

• Wheelchair accessible. The foyer, Cinema 2 and Cinema 3 are located on the ground floor. Cinema 1 is on the first floor and is accessible by wheelchair lift. However, it has a limited size and is unfortunately not accessible for electric wheelchairs.
• In each Cinema, 1 wheelchair space can be created in the first row. Please reserve in advance via service@idfa.nl.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor, next to the wheelchair lift.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• The Ketelhuis offers listening support via MobileConnect in all cinemas.
• There is a disabled parking space next to Het Ketelhuis. This space can be entered from the Westergasbrug, then please report to the porter.

Pathé de Munt – Vijzelstraat 15

• Wheelchair accessible.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• In the cinemas, the following spaces are available for wheelchair users:
  • Cinema 9: 1 wheelchair space in the 3rd row from the top.
  • Cinema 10: 1 wheelchair space in the 3rd row from the top.
  • Cinema 11: 2 wheelchair spaces in the 4th row from the bottom.
  • Cinema 12: 1 wheelchair space in the 4th row from the top
  • Cinema 13: 1 wheelchair space in the 4th row from the top.
• There is no telecoil available.
• The nearest disabled parking space can be found on the Amstel at number 30.

Pathé Tuschinski – Reguliersbreestraat 26

• Wheelchair accessible (there is an elevator via the Arthouse entrance).
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• In the cinemas, wheelchair places are as follows:
  • Tuschinski 1: there are 4 wheelchair spaces in the back row of the stalls.
  • Tuschinski 2: there are 2 wheelchair spaces in the bottom row.
  • Tuschinski 3: there is 1 wheelchair space in the 5th row from the top.
  • Tuschinski 4: there is 1 wheelchair space in the top row.
  • Tuschinski 5: there is 1 wheelchair space in the second top row.
  • Tuschinski 6: there is 1 wheelchair space in the top in the 4th row from the top.
• Telecoils are available.
• The nearest disabled parking space can be found on the Amstel at number 30.

Tolhuistuin – IJpromenade 2

• Mostly wheelchair accessible. At the moment it is uncertain if there will be space for a wheelchair in the two VR cinemas.
• Inside the building is an elevator, but it is not suitable for an electric wheelchair.
• A toilet for wheelchair users is available (with assistance for the lock). The floor manager of Tolhuistuin has the key and can be contacted to open the toilet.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• There is no telecoil available.
• There are no disabled parking spaces nearby, but Tolhuistuin does have a private parking space. It would be possible to park up to 2 or 3 cars there, but this must be done in consultation with the Tolhuistuin on the evening itself. Please note this parking space is not directly next to Tolhuistuin: the parking space is located at Tolhuisweg 5, and Tolhuistuin is at Ijpromenade 2.

Film screenings with closed captions and audio descriptions

In partnership with Stichting Audivisual Toegankelijkheid (SAVT - the Audiovisual Accessibility Foundation), IDFA offers a selection of Dutch films that are accessible to visitors who are blind or deaf or hard of hearing.

Visitors can simply download the Earcatch or Subcatch apps on their smartphone for free audio descriptions or closed captioning for the film they are watching, and follow along directly in the cinema.

Closer to the festival, we will share the list of IDFA films that are accessible with these two apps. Please note the closed captions and audio descriptions are typically in Dutch.

Low stimulus screenings

During the festival, IDFA will offer three low stimulus screenings at the Ketelhuis for visitors with autism. These screenings will take place during the mornings (exact dates to be announced). The cafe will be closed during these screenings to minimize the auditory input.

We will announce the dates and film titles for these screenings closer to the festival.

Talks with live subtitling

This year, IDFA aims to offer several talks with live subtitling for audiences who are deaf or hard of hearing. We will provide more information as soon as it is available.

Contact

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions about accessibility at IDFA, we would like to hear from you. Visitors with disabilities can get in touch with us in the following ways:

Telephone: +31 (0)20 6273329

Email: service@idfa.nl

Mail:
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
Frederiksplein 52
1017 XN Amsterdam
Nederland

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