ACCESSIBILITY
The festival footprint is relatively compact. The two fest venues that are furthest apart are less than three-quarters of a mile away from each other, and most fest venues are even closer; just a few blocks apart.
The fest partners with Go COMO, the City of Columbia’s public transportation system, to provide a T/F bus route during the festival weekend. This route traverses between all film venues on a 15 minute loop. The City of Columbia will waive the hourly limit for accessible metered parking during the festival to accommodate those who want to grab a bite and catch a show (note that ADA hangtags will continue to be enforced, and normal parking meter fees will apply).
We offer sign language interpretation to a few festival film Q&As, and those screenings are designated as such in the schedule, both in our program book and online.
Each year, a not-insignificant percentage of our films are subtitled, due to the fact that we tend to program a fair number of foreign-language films. These are also designated as such in the schedule, both in our program book and online. Please note that these films are subtitled, not close-captioned.
The two screens at Ragtag Cinema as well as the three theaters located on the University of Missouri Campus (Rhynsburger Theatre, Missouri Theatre and our largest festival venue, Jesse Auditorium) provide a limited number of assistive hearing devices. To access listening devices at those venues, please check in with venue staff when you arrive at the venue.
The other venues used for our festival are not actual theaters, so their facilities are not equipped with the systems necessary to provide listening devices or other similar devices.
All of festival film venues and venues that host special events that are open to the general public have wheelchair accessible entries, exits, restrooms and access to our public drinking water stations.
Our venue staff are happy to provide needed assistance, and our venue management (Venue Captains and Assistant Venue Captains) have been specifically trained to provide exceptional assistance for persons with disabilities. If you require assistance at any venue, please check in with venue staff when you arrive at the venue, or contact Operations Director, Camellia Cosgray at least 24 hours prior to the event (eg, the first day of the fest or the time of the screening).
Persons with disabilities may arrive at the venue and/or enter the venue early if needed, either to be seated (if you have a ticket) or to wait in a seat in the lobby (if you are using the Q). If this is something that you require, please check in with the Venue Captain when you arrive at the venue.
Included here is a map that highlights the venues with assisted listening devices, indicate where the main entrance is for each venue, and in those cases where the main entrance is not accessible, we will note where the accessible entrance is located. Click here for a downloadable PDF. This map will also be in our program booklet, for easy access during the festival weekend.
For more information about festival accessibility, please contact Operations Director, Camellia Cosgray.