From June 14 to 17, DSO Executive Director Winnie Luk is heading to the Banff World Media Festival 2026 (BANFF) with an incredible delegation of disabled creatives. We’re excited to reconnect with our community in Alberta and proud to support the festival’s Diversity of Voices (DOV) initiative.
Since 2024, BANFF has been a partner in our Screen Festival Accessibility Program (SFAP). This multi-year initiative focuses on piloting and refining accessibility standards through community engagement, research, and training, and will result in a best practices guide for festivals and events, as well as a framework to help measure impact and track progress. Other partners include the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), the Reelworld Film Festival, and the Reel Asian International Film Festival.
It’s encouraging to see accessibility continue to grow at BANFF. For 2026, they’ll offer ASL interpretation at Opening Welcome Remarks and the Canadian Producers Panel, as well as AI-powered closed captioning for the Cascade and Petrak sessions. Accessible seating will be available in session rooms, and speakers are encouraged to include self-identification and visual descriptions.
Dedicated spaces like the Hush Hub will offer a quiet place to rest and recharge. Additional supports include front desk assistance for accessibility needs, and clearer wayfinding for accessible and non-accessible restrooms. The festival will also introduce coloured lanyards to help attendees communicate accessibility needs and preferences, along with complimentary companion passes for support persons.
If you’ll be attending BANFF and would like to schedule a meeting with Winnie, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. See you in June!
