Relaxed Screenings
Our relaxed screenings are adapted to be welcoming to people with autism, other neurodivergence or additional support needs. At a relaxed screening, you can expect:
- No adverts or trailers
- Lights dimmed, not fully dark
- Sound at a lower volume
- A limited number of ear defenders available to borrow (suitable for child to adult sizes)
- Descriptive captions
- Audiences are welcome to make noise or move as needed.
- We will reduce capacity on these screenings to allow more space between audience members.
Upcoming relaxed screenings will be listed on this page as soon as details are available, or you can sign up to the relaxed screenings newsletter by clicking here.
You can also check the listings in your community by checking our calendar by clicking here.
Relaxed screening of Flow in Lochinver
Upcoming Relaxed screenings
There are currently no planned relaxed screenings.
Background
Between April – May 2025 we delivered three ‘relaxed’ screenings to communities in Sutherland on our touring route. We want Screen Machine to be as welcoming as possible, and thanks to funding from the Anne Duchess of Westminster Fund, we were able to run a pilot project to introduce relaxed screenings into our programme in Bettyhill, Durness and Lochinver.
Informed by training from Dimensions – an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities, autism, behaviours of distress and those with complex health needs, and support and training we received from Oska Bright, the world’s leading festival for films made by or featuring people with learning disabilities or autism – our screenings were welcoming to people with autism, other neurodivergence or additional support needs.
Facts about relaxed screenings
Dimensions report that ‘Autism Friendly Screenings (AFS) have been running for 15 years now, and as we approach the ¾ million visits milestone, we haven’t seen provision change to suit the new demand.
Over the last few years, the [UK Cinema Association] UKCA has seen approximately a 300% increase in enquiries about AFS, and Dimensions continues to receive enquiries asking for more opportunities and accessible times.
Our research over the years has found that 90% of people would go to AFS more often, if more films were shown. Their top reason why; to be able to see the same films as everyone else.
And, 90% of people prefer the cinema over streaming (60% of whom only if it’s AFS), with the chance to see films on the big screen being the most popular reason why. Over 70% would see older films.
AFS is considered by over half of respondents as “the only normal thing we can do” and 100% of people rated AFS as important, with over half rating them as incredibly important.’
If you would like more information about how to access Screen Machine, click here