ODEON cinemas are to start staging monthly autism friendly screenings of top films.
The move comes after the hugely successful summer pilot which saw more than 3,000 people affected by autism attend special morning screenings of Mr Popper’s Penguins at 40 venues across the UK.
Sensory friendly screenings will now be taking place monthly in 55 cinemas.
ODEON and learning disability organisation Dimensions have teamed up to put on the screenings which will mean that people affected by autism will have better access and improved choice to watch films in an environment more conducive with their needs.
Lights are left on low, the volume is turned down, trailers are omitted and people can move around the cinema – and make noise.
Roger Harris, chief executive of ODEON & UCI Cinemas Group, said: “We’ve been delighted with the success of our Autism Friendly Screening of Mr Popper’s Penguins and are delighted to extend our partnership with Dimensions having received some great feedback from our guests and as part of our commitment to providing the best cinema experience for all our guests.”
Lisa Hopkins, Director of Specialist Development at Dimensions, said: “We are very excited that ODEON will continue to offer this service and hope that it will get other businesses and people talking and thinking about new ways that our society can become more inclusive to individuals that experience autism and or learning disabilities.”
The next screening will be of Johnny English Reborn (PG) during week commencing October 14, followed by Arthur Christmas (w.c November 18).
North West venues include Blackpool, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Preston, and Wrexham.
People can find their closest participating cinema and the date of the Autism Friendly Screening at
www.dimensions-uk.org/autismfriendly
