'Telling' movies for every viewer with care

On a cold, sunny Wednesday morning in Beijing, Xu Wei, who is visually impaired, joined about 40 other attendees, including people with different disabilities, at a community center in Xicheng district to "watch" the Chinese street dance film One and Only.

The experience inside the screening room differed from a regular movie showing. During gaps between dialogue and sound cues in the film, detailed audio descriptions explained what was happening — describing the scenery, the action and even the actors' body language.

The version screened that day was created by Guangming Cinema, which takes its name from the Chinese words for "light and brightness". The volunteer-run nonprofit organization focuses on producing accessible films for people with visual impairments.

"I've come here four times to enjoy these films. It really means a lot," Xu says. "The audio-described version allows not only people with vision loss, but also others with physical or cognitive challenges, to experience movies fully." Xu, now in his 50s, was born with a visual impairment.

The screening in Beijing was part of a nationwide program marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on Dec 3 each year. This year, Guangming Cinema partnered with more than 100 community cultural centers across the country to host accessible film events.

China is home to over 17 million individuals with visual impairments, one of the largest such populations in the world, underscoring the scale and importance of such initiatives in the country.

What audiences experience at Guangming Cinema screenings may look simple — but the work behind it is anything but straightforward.

Founded in December 2017 by volunteers from the Communication University of China, Guangming Cinema has involved more than 800 faculty members and students over the past eight years in producing, promoting, and distributing accessible films.

To adapt a single 90-minute movie, the team first watches it 10 times, studying every detail. They then draft a narration script of 20,000 to 30,000 characters, explains Fu Haizheng, one of the program's initiators and a teacher at CUC.

Three student volunteers, two mentors and one visually impaired participant then work together for 28 days to complete an accessible version. Guangming Cinema has produced more than 800 such films.

However, it is never easy to "tell" a movie to people with visual impairments. Hu Fang, a project volunteer, still recalls a simple yet unforgettable question from a child in the audience: "What is the color red?"

That moment made her realize just how little sighted narrators understand about the experience of visually impaired moviegoers. "What we take for granted may be completely unfamiliar to them," she says. Since then, Hu and her colleagues have worked to ensure their descriptions not only match the visuals, but also the way audiences perceive the world through sound.

"The improvements have been remarkable," praises Cao Jun, a visually impaired film enthusiast and deputy chair of the Beijing Association of the Blind. "The narration quality has improved rapidly — and the sound design is now more immersive and three-dimensional. The range of films has expanded from classics and blockbusters to animations, thrillers and more. Distribution has also grown from being limited to Beijing to reaching audiences across the country."

Over the years, the team has organized numerous screenings nationwide. To reach as many people as possible, Guangming Cinema's volunteers work closely with local disability organizations and schools. After creating an accessible film, they provide both the content and support, while partners host the screenings and connect with local audiences. Many films are also available for free on cable and online platforms.

The initiative has reached all 2,244 special education schools across China. "Each year, we send every school a secure hard drive containing our accessible films for the students," says Fu.

These screenings offer more than just entertainment — they deliver a valuable social experience. "Accessible cinema adds color to our lives and gives us a reason to go out. Chatting with other visually impaired friends at these events is enjoyable, and it also gives us more to share with sighted people," Cao notes.

According to Fu, their surveys show that the willingness of visually impaired people to watch Guangming Cinema films has increased from 13 percent to 63 percent within just a few years.

Looking ahead, Fu hopes that increased accessible guidance and support will allow people with various disabilities, not just the visually impaired, to better enjoy films, exhibitions, museums and other cultural experiences, giving everyone equal access to the arts.