In an ongoing effort to make F-O-R-M more accessible we are committed to expanding our understanding of accessibility and learn more about how it is intertwined within all aspects of our festival. We acknowledge that we will never be able to address all aspects of accessibility, but strive to provide greater depths of access each year as we grow. Through these reflections we have created this page, which addresses questions regarding physical accessibility, financial accessibility and specific informative festival details.

If you have an access need that is not being met by our current support accommodations, please email danielle@f-o-r-m.ca and we will do our best to accommodate your request and answer any questions you have.

Learn more about F-O-R-M 2024, including the full festival schedule HERE.

MASK MANDATE

Throughout the festival wearing masks are highly encouraged for all events when possible as a practice of collective community care. With the festival taking place during the peak of flu season, we strive to be able to gather in groups while being mindful of our own and others’ health needs. We will have masks available on site throughout the festival. For events with smaller gathering spaces air purifiers will be on site to assist with providing clean air and circulation. We are encouraging Masks by:

  • All staff will be wearing masks throughout the entirety of the festival events, only when we are speaking on a stage at a distance from folks during speeches/talkbacks will we remove our masks to help support our ASL interpreters and lip readers

  • Printed signage will be posted throughout our event spaces, as well as included in our screening slides that play on loop prior to the start of each screening stating "Masks Highly Encouraged"

  • We will have volunteers stationed before our box office and will be handing out masks to each individual who enters the space

  • Currently we have surgical masks available for audiences, and are in the process of trying to secure more masks that are either N95 or KN95 (we currently do not have these confirmed)

STIM TOYS

Stim toys will be available to borrow at each festival event, offering guests an additional way to feel comfortable and engaged throughout their experience. Stim toys — such as fidget items, textured objects, and sensory tools — can help support focus, manage sensory input, and provide calming sensory feedback for the body. We kindly ask that you return them after use so other attendees and future events can benefit from them as well.

ASL Interpretation Updates for our Closing Screening:

  • ASL interpreters will be interpreting throughout the screening including:

    • the opening speeches

    • the sound scores and spoken word of the films live in real time

    • the talkback with artists following the screening

  • The first 3 rows closest to the screen will be reserved for audience members requiring unobstructed sight lines to the captions on screen and ASL interpreters

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY

  • 149 W Hastings St
    Vancouver, BC, V6B 1H7

    Djavad Mowafaghian Theatre: 3rd floor
    World Art Centre: 2nd floor

    Wheelchair accessible at street level on Hastings side or via ramp on Cordova Street Courtyard side, all venues within building accessible by elevator

    The building is accessible at street level on the Hastings side or via a ramp on the Cordova Street Courtyard side (across from JJ Bean Coffee).

    There are 2 ramp entry points:

    • One is located against the building, near the entrance to the Woodward’s Westbank Atrium (which houses London Drugs and Nesters)

    • Another is located against the building, beside the alley.

    Both the Hastings doors and the Cordova Courtyard doors can be operated by accessibility buttons located beside the doorways.

    The building is a ten-minute walk from Waterfront Station, where the Skytrain, Seabus and Westcoast Express meet; city buses run directly from this hub to the Hastings Street entrance. If approaching via the Stadium-Chinatown Station on Skytrain's Expo-Millenium line, the walk to SFU's Goldcorp Centre for Arts is five minutes.

  • 1422 William St, Vancouver, BC, V5L 2P7

    Wheelchair accessible via elevator | Wheelchair accessible washrooms on site

  • Intersection of Broadway & Kingsway, Vancouver, on the side of the Independent Building

    168 BC-1A, Vancouver BC

  • 520 East 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5T 0H2

    Wheelchair accessible via elevator | Wheelchair accessible washrooms on site

    Public transportation

    • The Emily Carr campus is centrally located between two Skytrain stations and along a bus route.

    • For more information on transit routes and bus schedules, visit TransLink’s trip planner.

    • You can use the trip planner to identify wheelchair-accessible transit routes.

    Parking

    • Accessible parking is available in the underground lot at 565 Great Northern Way, located on the southeast side of campus and accessible from Carolina St.

    • Please contact our Facilities Office in advance of your visit to arrange for an accessible visitor spot. If you prefer to call, phone 604-844-3800.

    Getting into the building

    • The main public entrance is located at the southwest corner of the building.

    • The main entrance is sheltered, and accessible by both ramp and stairs, and there are power-assisted doors.

    • All other campus entrance doors are also power-assisted, but only the main public entrance has a ramp.

    • Once you're inside, the Information desk is on your left-hand side. If you need assistance navigating campus, feel free to ask them for help.

    On Campus

    • The ECU campus spans four floors.

    • There are elevators in the middle of campus, at the east end of campus, and inside the library.

    • Wayfinding signage is posted throughout campus.

    • There is seating available in hallways throughout campus.

    • Single stall accessible and gender-neutral washrooms are located throughout campus and inside the library.

    • Service animals are welcome on campus.

    • If you need special accommodations to get around campus, or have other questions, please contact the Facilities office. If you prefer to call, phone 604-844-3800

  • 77 E 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC , V5T 1M4

    Wheelchair accessible washrooms on the first floor.

    Medium studio where event is taking place is not wheelchair accessible.

  • What Lab is located at 1814 Pandora Street. There is no dedicated parking, only street parking.

    The venue is on the second floor, up a flight of stairs, but there is a ground level accessible entrance through the back of the building.

    If anyone needs to use this entrance, please let us know in your rental request form. There is one single-occupancy, gender-inclusive washroom. The washroom is not big enough for larger style wheelchairs to completely turn around in while the door is open.

 

FESTIVAL CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY

  • All films screened contain English closed captioning of on-screen dialogue spoken.

  • Opening Screening

    • ASL Interpretation for opening speeches and artist talkback

    • All films screened include English closed captioning of on-screen dialogue spoken

    • The first 3 rows closest to the screen will be reserved for audience members requiring unobstructed sight lines to the captions on screen and ASL interpreters

    Online Community Gathering

    • ASL Interpretation for entire event

    Closing Screening

    • ASL Interpretation for opening speeches, screening of the films, and artist talkback

    • All films screened include English closed captioning of on-screen dialogue spoken

    • The first 3 rows closest to the screen will be reserved for audience members requiring unobstructed sight lines to the captions on screen and ASL interpreters

    • Please note no interpretation will be present for the Closing Party following the talkback

    To request additional ASL interpretation support at other programming throughout the festival please contact Associate Artistic Director danielle (danielle@f-o-r-m.ca) and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

 

FESTIVAL TICKETS

  • Individual tickets are $10 per screening.

    A bundle includes both our Opening Screening and Commission Film Screening for $15.

    Flexible Pricing
    We offer discounted bundles, a digital pass, and community tickets to make it easier for you to engage with more of the festival’s programming at an affordable rate. Your purchase helps us continue to run the festival, support Youth and Emerging artists, and provide community tickets to those in need. If you're in a position to do so, consider adding a donation to your purchase!

  • Our Digital Library is only available with a Digital Pass, giving you access to all 20 films in F-O-R-M 2024. Films will be released throughout the festival:

    • Opening Screening: Saturday, November 9

    • Public Screens: Thursday, November 14

    • Commissions: Sunday, November 17

    The full library will remain available until Sunday, Nov 23 at 11:59 PM.

 

FESTIVAL ACCESS

  • Opening Screening - Where We Dwell (In-Person)

    Commissioned Artists’ World Premieres - Screening (In-Person)

    Digital Library (Online)

  • Yes! For each ticketed screening you would like to attend you must purchase a ticket or a bundle.

    In addition to our film screenings, all of our workshops and events are free and open for registration!

    • Registration is encouraged as space is limited. Donations are welcome to help us continue offering these events for free or at low cost.

  • A ticket to an in-person screening does not give you access to watch the collection of films online afterwards. If you are interested in rewatching films after they screen, we suggest purchasing a Festival Pass which gives you access to all 20 films in this year's festival!

  • We want to see you at the festival, and we’re committed to reducing barriers for those who need it.

    • Free tickets are available—no questions asked. Simply reach out to boxoffice@f-o-r-m.ca with the subject line: F-O-R-M Community Ticket Request

    • Partner organizations will also have tickets to share with the community. Keep an eye on our social media channel for these giveaways!

 

PAYMENT OPTIONS

    • You can pay online using our ticketing system Zeffy (requires a credit card).

    • In person during the festival we accept debit, and credit cards (no swipe option), as well as cash.

    • Additionally we accept Etransfer (payments can be made to accounts@f-o-r-m.ca)

 

TYPES OF EVENTS

  • Each year F-O-R-M offers a range of free events to provide further access points and connect with our community. The following events are free to attend at this year’s festival

    • Public Screens at SFU Campuses and Mount Pleasant Community Art Screen (No registration required)

    • FORMations: Filmmaking Jam

    • THE GET-DOWN: HIP-HOP & FUNK LADIES CYPHER (Short Film Artist Workshop)

    • Online Community Gathering

    • The Edge of the Underworld: Ancillary Screening and Discussion

    • In-Person Community Gathering

    • Insight into the Artistic Process: Plant Meditation and a Rehearsal for Dying (Commissioned Artist Workshop)

  • Fill in our registration form here!

  • FORMations stands as a free, open-to-all movement and filmmaking jam, igniting the spark that launches our festival each year. It's a space for impromptu creation, fostering collaboration, and building connections among artists, filmmakers, and movers alike. All you need to bring is yourself, comfortable clothes to dance in and a smart phone with space to record a few videos (smart phone not necessary for participation). Expect to play the role of dancer and filmmaker in this jam and see your short movement film come to life! This year the workshop will be co-facilitated by Josh Oncgol, Miguel Maravilla, danielle Mackenzie Long and Erin Lum

 

ONLINE DIGITAL CONTENT

  • Unable to attend F-O-R-M 2024 in person? Our Digital Library, available with a Digital Pass, gives you exclusive access to all 20 films featured in this year’s festival. Screenings will be released as follows:

    • Opening Screening — Where We Dwell: Saturday, September 9

    • Public Screens: Thursday, November 14

    • Closing Screening Commissioned Artists’ World Premieres: Sunday, November 17

    The complete library will remain available until Sunday, November 23 at 11:59 PM.

    Whether you’re tuning in remotely, prefer a more flexible viewing experience, or want to rewatch the festival lineup, the Digital Library brings the festival to you.

  • Yes! This selection of films will be available following the closing of the festival from November 23 on the Digital Library.