2025 Festival FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

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 please email danielle@f-o-r-m.ca and we will do our best to accommodate your request. We are always looking for feedback on how to improve accessibility at the festival.

Learn more about F-O-R-M 2025, 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

  • All films screened contain open captioning in English.

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY

  • 1131 Howe St, Vancouver

    Wheelchair accessible

    Theatre includes four wheelchair spots with adjacent companion seats

    Wheelchair accessible washroom on site: main restroom doorway width is 39 inches, accessible stalls doorway width is 35 inches, sink countertop height is 35 inches

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

    Assistive Listening Systems available for free from The Cinematheque box office

  • 1131 Howe St, Vancouver

    Entrance via alley between Howe St. and Hornby St.

    Wheelchair accessible; Wheelchair accessible washroom on site

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

  • 677 Davie Street, Vancouver

    The Faris Family Studio (Black Box Theatre): 1st floor

    Wheelchair accessible via elevator; Wheelchair accessible washroom on site.

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

  • 101 Carrie Cates Ct, North Vancouver: Seaspan Pavillion: 2nd floor

    Wheelchair accessible via elevator; Wheelchair accessible washrooms on site

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

  • 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.

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

  • 202-1814 Pandora Street, Vancouver

    Wheelchair accessible via back entrance (contact danielle@f-o-r-m.ca for support)

    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.

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

  • 2625 Kaslo St, Vancouver

    Wheelchair accessible via ramp with two runs: 1st run is 20ft long, 2nd ramp is 26ft long.

    Ramp is 60 inches wide, with a 1:12 slope. 

    Additional entrance notes: There is an outward swinging door (34in wide) at the top of the ramp leading to a vestibule. A second outward swinging door (33in wide) opens into the exhibition space. Buzzers and intercoms are located at both doors to notify staff during regular office hours or events to unlock the doors. 

    Wheelchair accessible washroom on site

    Gender inclusive washrooms on site

  • Online via Eventive (LINK)

    Available with the Digital Experience Pass (LINK)

Public Screens Locations & Accessibility

  • 9 W Hastings St, Vancouver

    Front door: 32 inches wide

    Wheelchair accessible washroom on site: automated washroom door is 35in wide, toilet clearance is 8in left side / 29 in front 

  • Intersection of Broadway & Kingsway, Vancouver

    Screen on the side of the Independent Building (168 BC-1A, Vancouver)

  • 7660 Minoru Gate, Richmond

  • 7660 Minoru Gate, Richmond

 

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 Artistic Director danielle (danielle@f-o-r-m.ca) and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.

 

FESTIVAL TICKETS

  • Individual tickets are $12 per screening.

    A Screening Pass will give you access to attend 5 Film Screenings:

    • Tracing the FORM: An Anniversary Celebration

    • Dreammaking in Frame (Live Online Event)

    • Present Revolutions

    • From the Cypher to the Screen

    • Commissioned Artists’ World Premieres

    All screenings noted above are live, in-person events unless otherwise stated. 

    Click HERE for more Box Office options

  • You can purchase a Digital Experience Pass for $35

    Please note that our Digital Library is only available with a Digital Experience Pass. With over 35 films available to watch On-Demand, you’re paying less than $1 per film!

    This pass gives you access to:

    • Digital Library (On Demand access to the following Film Screenings)

      • Public Screens

      • Present Revolutions

      • From the Cypher to the Screen

      • Commissioned Artists’ World Premieres

    • Dreammaking in Frame (Live Online Event + On Demand)

 

FESTIVAL ACCESS

  • Individual tickets can be purchased for each screening event. 

    • Tracing the FORM: An Anniversary Celebration

    • Dreammaking in Frame (Live Online Event)

    • Present Revolutions

    • From the Cypher to the Screen

    • Commissioned Artists’ World Premieres

    Please note that some events occurring during the festival are partner events, in which case you’ll be directed to our partner site to purchase a ticket (pricing may vary). These events include:

    • the village trilogy (1995) & Matryoshka Crush (2025)

    • Laura Taler Masterclass

    • Present Revolutions (This screening is included for all FORM passholders, but if buying an individual ticket, must be purchased separately via The Polygon)

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

    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 only gives you access to that one-time screening. If you are interested in rewatching films after they screen, we suggest purchasing a Digital Experience Pass which gives you access to all of our films online!

    Special Add-on Perks!
    → Digital Library Add-On Discount

    If you purchase a Screening Pass, you can also get a Digital Experience Pass as an add-on for just $10, allowing you to access our Digital Library and watch the films again wherever and whenever until November 30th.

    → Passholder + Merch Bundle Offer

    If you buy a Screening Pass between October 1st and October 30th, you’ll get a 15% discount on merch!

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

    Community Tickets

    • Free tickets are available for all festival events (excluding partner events) — no questions asked.

    • Simply reach out to boxoffice@f-o-r-m.ca with the subject line: “FORM Community Ticket Request + [the event you’d like to attend]”

    • 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 Eventive.

    • 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

  • Free Event Registration

    Registration is required for all our free events. This includes:

    • FORMations: Movement, Music, and Filmmaking Jam

    • Insight into the Artistic Process 

    • T+I Interaction: Impetus (Live opening event)

    • Closing Party

    As space is limited, we encourage you to register as soon as possible if you’re interested in attending one of the above events.

    PWYC Donations are welcome upon registration to help us continue offering these events for free or at low cost.

    Free Public Programming

    Throughout the festival, we’ll be offering free, ongoing public programming around Vancouver, Richmond, and Surrey. These programs include:

    • Public Screens: A Body Uncontained

    • Collisions of Commissions

    • T+I Interaction: Impetus (installation)

    • These hands are still at work

    To learn more about these public programming offerings and where/when to find them, click on the event name above.

  • Fill in our registration form here!

  • Our annual movement and filmmaking jam returns for our 10th year! Participants will create and present their own short movement-based film by the end of this workshop. 

    Lyzah and Kimmortal, a symbiotic co-facilitating force, will bring their Filipinx lens and inquiries from a recent creation process called pound to FORMations. Leading participants through movement grounded in w*acking and grounding practices as well as tuning the sonic possibilities through voicework and poetry, Lyzah and Kimmortal invite you to storytell through your elders and embody these stories through filmmaking, sound, and movement. Join us in practicing liberation work for ourselves, for generations before us and for those who will come after.

    FORMations is open to all movement and film backgrounds and experience levels, prioritizing participants between the ages 15 to 25. All you need to bring is yourself, comfortable clothes to move in, and a phone with space to record a few videos*. Expect to play the roles of dancer and filmmaker and see your ideas come to life!

    *Please note: you do not need access to a smart phone in order to participate!

 

ONLINE DIGITAL CONTENT

  • Unable to attend FORM 2025 in person? Our Digital Experience Pass is for you!

    This pass gives you access to:

    • Digital Library (On Demand access to the following Film Screenings)

      • Public Screens

      • Present Revolutions

      • From the Cypher to the Screen

      • Commissioned Artists’ World Premieres

    • Dreammaking in Frame (Live Online Event + On Demand)

    *Please note that our Digital Library is only available with a Digital Experience Pass. With over 35 films available to watch On-Demand, you’re paying less than $1 per film!

    *Available unitl Sunday, November 30th, 11:59PM PST

    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.