IFFR & accessibility
As a leading cultural platform we strive to be accessible to all and we are working to ensure that everybody who wants to join us to celebrate film can visit the festival. Through screenings, talks, exhibitions and various networking opportunities, IFFR enables discovery, dialogue, learning and people coming together.
Every year in January, IFFR takes over the city of Rotterdam. Besides our festival heart at ‘de Doelen’, we are present at various locations that are spread throughout the city. We are a festival for everyone and aim to make our festival locations accessible to visitors who are blind or partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing, use a walking aid or a wheelchair, or have any other additional needs. Unfortunately, some of our festival locations still present access barriers. Therefore we try to provide you with as much information about your visit as possible, in order for you to come prepared and enjoy your festival visit. Check out the festival location map below to get an overview of the accessibility of our locations.
Need help with your visit?
Do you have reduced mobility or other accessibility needs? Please first reach out to us by sending an email to [email protected] before purchasing your tickets, or get in touch via the chat on our website.
Our staff can inform you on the availability of seats, can purchase a ticket and will reserve the seat for you in the screening room.The availability of seats for visitors with mobility limitations varies per screening location. You can check out our festival map or the location information below to see which locations are accessible.
When arriving at the location, please inform our location managers or staff who you can find in front of the screening room. They know which seats in the screening room are reserved for you.
If you will be accompanied by a support worker during your festival visit, please make sure to mention this when getting in touch with our staff. They can help you plan your visit.
If you aren't able to contact us online, please check in with our ticket support desk at ‘de Doelen’. They can help you book a seat. If your preferred screening is not at ‘de Doelen’, we recommend doing this at least 1.5–2 hours before the screening starts, which should give you enough time to get your tickets and reach the screening location on time.
Are you an accredited guest and have accessibility needs? Please contact [email protected]. Our team will provide you with detailed information on locations with access requirements, and can assist you to plan your visit to IFFR.
Audio description & captioned screenings
A selection of films from our programme are accessible for visitors with a visual or hearing impairment with the free Subcatch (SDH) and Earcatch (audio description) apps.
More about IFFR 2023 films on Subcatch & Earcatch
IFFR 2023 festival locations
In the map above you can filter our festival locations by selecting the check boxes in the legend of the map. Open the legend by clicking the button in the top-left corner in the map. This way you can get an overview of all festival locations, festival cafés and hotels. Click on the various icons on the map for more information about each location.
Below you can find an overview of all our festival locations including information about their accessibility. The locations are listed from closest to furthest in distance from our festival heart in ‘de Doelen’.
Wheelchair accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible. Every cinema is accessible via lifts. A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor in the Willem Burger Hal and on the third floor in the Willem Burger Foyer. In the Grote Zaal, the Jurriaanse Zaal and in the Willem Burger Zaal, there are wheelchair seats available. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats.
Mobility scooters can enter the screening room; you can change to a regular seat.
For the hearing impaired & visually impaired
There is a telecoil available in every room. This needs to be requested upfront, so 'de Doelen' can put it on. There are no extra costs involved.
Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know before you purchase tickets.
Parking
Parking for visitors with disabilities is unavailable around de Doelen.
Wheelchair accessibility
All rooms are wheelchair accessible and can be reached via the lift. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats. The lift can only be used with the help of staff at the location. A bathroom for visitors with disabilities is available.
Wheelchair accessibility
Theater Rotterdam has seats for wheelchair users in all rooms. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats. Our staff will guide you to your seat via the lift and help where necessary.
For the hearing impaired
At the cloakroom in the hall of Theater Rotterdam there is sound amplification available. You can borrow this receiver free of charge and it can be connected to any hearing aid with a telecoil.
If you do not have a hearing aid, you will be given a receiver with headphones. After the show, please return the device to the information desk.
Wheelchair accessibility
The venue is accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooters. There are wheelchair seats available in the room. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats.
At the end of the long foyer there is a lift on the left, with which you can reach the toilet for visitors with disabilities and the cloakroom in the basement. The lift also goes to the first floor (row 17) since there is still a flight of stairs (4 steps). The bar and information desk are located on the ground floor.
For the hearing impaired & visually impaired
There is sound reinforcement equipment available. There are some spots available for people with a lower vision.
Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know before you purchase tickets.
Parking
Near Kruiskade 28 are two parking spaces for visitors with disabilities. You can park here for free with a parking card for visitors with disabilities.
Wheelchair accessibility
The venue is not accessible for wheelchair users and there are no wheelchair spots available in the screening rooms. There is no elevator at the venue.
Only the first floor is accessible for mobility scooters, if you can change to a regular chair.
Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know before you purchase tickets.
Wheelchair accessibility
The venue is accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooters. The rooms are accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooter users. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats. A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor, next to the other toilets.
For the hearing impaired & visually impaired
There is no telecoil available.
Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know before you purchase tickets.
Wheelchair accessibility
WORM & WORM UBIK are wheelchair accessible. Art Directions: Immersive Media is not wheelchair accessible on the following days and times:
• January 26, after 20:00
• January 27, after 20:00
• January 28, after 20:00
• January 29, after 19:00
• February 2
• February 4
Wheelchair Accessibility
The venue is situated at the ground floor and (partially) wheelchair accessible.
Wheelchair accessibility
The Depot is wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator that stops at every floor. Assistance dogs & wheelchair companions have free access to the Depot.
Wheelchair accessibility
The venue is accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooters (except the second balcony and the loges). There are 8 wheelchair spots available in the room. These are available on row 8 of the first balcony. For companions there are seats available on row 8 or row 7. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats.
The elevators are located in the front and the back of the entrance hall. A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor, the second and fourth floor, next to the other toilets. From row 11 in the auditorium, the bar and toilets are not directly accessible. Please use the lift (to the right of the stage) to reach the ground, second or fourth floors.
For the hearing impaired & visually impaired
There is sound reinforcement equipment available. There are some spots available for people with a lower vision. The seats on the second balcony are not recommended if you are visually impaired.
Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know before you purchase tickets.
Parking
In the car park on Otto Reuchlinweg (right next to het Nieuwe Luxor), there are several parking spaces for visitors with disabilities.
Wheelchair accessibility
The venue is accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooters. Get in touch at [email protected] to reserve wheelchair seats.
All the rooms, except room 2, are accessible for wheelchair users. All the rooms are accessible for mobility scooters, if it fits the elevator (85cm x 120cm), you can change to a regular chair. A toilet for wheelchair users is available on the ground floor, next to the other toilets.
For the hearing impaired & visually impaired
Unfortunately, there is no telecoil available.
Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know before you purchase tickets.
Parking
There are some disabled parking spaces available in the neighborhood.
• Some parking spaces are available on Wilhelminapier for holders of a parking card for visitors with disabilities.
• Eight general disabled parking spaces on Otto Reuchlinweg, off Prinsendam (behind Nieuwe Luxor)
• One parking space for visitors with disabilities on Otto Reuchlinweg, off Westerdam
• Two general parking spaces for visitors with disabilities on Wilhelminakade off Hotel New York/World Port Center
Need help with planning your visit?
Do you have reduced mobility or other accessibility needs? Please first reach out to us by sending an email to [email protected] before purchasing your tickets, or get in touch via the chat on our website.
Do you have feedback for us?
If you have suggestions for us regarding accessibility, please mail us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you and welcome any feedback!
IFFR is...
IFFR is all about film. But not just about film.