Frequently Asked Questions
General
Yes, please! We welcome everyone, regardless of ethnicity, to attend our events and our annual Festival.
We do host opportunities and programs which are restricted to Indigenous participants, however we always state this clearly when it is the case.
We encourage people of all backgrounds to join us in our mission: committing to a greater understanding by audiences of Indigenous peoples, cultures, and artistic expressions.
Members will receive an exclusive discount code that can be applied to any imagineNATIVE merchandise at the imagineNATIVE Store.
If you find yourself unable to attend our in-person events, you have the flexibility to transfer your ticket to a friend or family member, ensuring that your Festival and year-round tickets don’t go to waste.
Ticket Package to the Festival:
Members with this benefit will receive a complimentary ticket package to our in-person Festival, which allows you to either redeem the tickets to attend screenings yourself, or share the Festival experience by distributing them among friends and family. There are no restrictions on the number of tickets you can book for a single screening with a ticket package. Ticket packages are not valid for any Special Events, Industry Days, Industry Events, or online screenings.
Online Pass:
Your Online Pass provides you with access to all of the films offered in the online portion of the Festival, taking place the week following the in-person Festival. Access to the platform is international but individual screenings may be subject to location geoblocking and distribution rights.
Access to Special Industry Events:
Members with this benefit will receive invitations to attend select Industry Days events, such as panels on various industry topics, masterclasses by filmmakers and industry professionals, and keynotes by artists.
Festival Gift:
The Festival Gift is a small annual thank you item to our higher tier Members. It may include imagineNATIVE merchandise or other curated items, with contents changing each year. It will either be available for pickup during the in-person Festival or mailed to Members after the Festival at no additional cost. To receive this benefit for the upcoming Festival, Members must be enrolled by April 30 of that year.
Merch Discount:
This discount can be used at the imagineNATIVE Store on official imagineNATIVE merchandise. Each Membership tier receives a unique discount code when they sign up; discount codes are exclusive to each Member and should not be shared with anyone else.
Monthly Film Recommendation:
Members will receive one Indigenous film recommendation each month including a synopsis and information on where to watch (in Canada). Films are curated by the imagineNATIVE Programming team.
Access to Year-Round Screening Tickets:
imagineNATIVE presents many year-round screenings and imagineNATIVE Members will receive early notice of ticket availability.
Access to Special Ticketed Events:
imagineNATIVE receives many invitations to special film programming events throughout the year. Members will be put on a priority list to receive tickets to these exciting events when these opportunities arise.
Artist Thank You:
Members will be verbally appreciated and thanked each year following the Festival in a short social media video from an artist affiliated with imagineNATIVE.
Collective Memberships are designed for organizations, schools, and community groups who want to engage their teams or members with access to Indigenous storytelling, cultural education, and shared Festival experiences.
We can be reached via email at info@imagineNATIVE.org.
We are able to accept both online donations and donations made by cheque and mail it to:
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Attn. David Morrison
Suite 446
401 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
We also welcome anyone interested in supporting our organization to consider signing up for our Membership Program, which offers exclusive benefits as thanks for your continued support.
Yes, imagineNATIVE hosts multiple databases to connect with Indigenous creatives!
The Artist Spotlight Directory is a curated platform to highlight the legacy of prominent Indigenous artists who have played a significant role in imagineNATIVE’s history. The platform showcases select artists’ work which they have presented at imagineNATIVE. All profiles are curated by imagineNATIVE in partnership with the artists featured.
Kin Theory is an Indigenous media maker database where Indigenous artists can self-populate and manage their own profiles to connect with other artists and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous industry professionals. Indigenous artists are invited to create profiles on Kin Theory to showcase their work, and industry professionals (programmers, funders, etc) are welcome to browse the database of Indigenous creators. Please note: Kin Theory creators self-identify as Indigenous and Kin Theory and imagineNATIVE do not endorse or represent anyone on the site.
Accessibility
Anyone is welcome to attend Sensory Friendly Screenings. These are screenings where the environment is adjusted to accommodate guests with various accessibility needs to have a positive sensory friendly and inclusive environment. This means:
- Theatre lights are dimmed (not completely off)
- Theatre sound levels are slightly lower than typical
- No trailers or advertisements will play before the screening
- Minimal introductions and no Q&As
- Guests can enter and exit the theatre freely during the screening
- Silence is not expected
Yes. Select introductions and post-screening Q&As will be presented with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. If you are attending a screening and have accessibility needs (including requests to have ASL interpreters and requests to reserve seating near the ASL interpreters) please reach out to accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org.
imagineNATIVE recognizes the importance of healing and cultural safety. We understand that some content during the Festival may be upsetting or triggering for both direct and intergenerational survivors of trauma. For this reason, support workers will be available on-site. These services are for anyone, including non-Indigenous people, requiring emotional support.
Support workers will be on-site at the TIFF Lightbox on select dates and times. For the most up-to-date information during our Festival season, please check our Health and Wellness page.
The films in the Festival have not been rated. Under the Film Content Information Act, 2020, there is no longer a requirement to provide movie ratings for films shown in Ontario. Viewing content with younger family members is up to your discretion.
We post content warnings on our website’s Event Schedule and in our Festival catalogue alongside films and other works that contain sensitive and graphic content to help you navigate the screenings.
Health and wellness support workers are available on-site throughout the in-person Festival in case of any audience member needing support with the content being displayed. These services are for anyone, including non-Indigenous people, requiring emotional support.
Additionally, imagineNATIVE offers programs at the Festival and in year-round programming such as the Tour that are curated specifically for kids and are family-friendly.
We are happy to announce that all of our venues are wheelchair accessible and barrier free. If you or someone else wants to inquire more about the Festival venues, we’re more than happy to provide you with further information upon the request, please email accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org.
Accessible seating is reserved for guests who are disabled and their companions only. If you or someone else require accessible seating at a venue, please email accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org as early as possible to reserve your seating.
The Accessibility Beacon appears in the upper left corner of the imagineNATIVE website’s home page. It is also available on our virtual screening platform. It is a circular button with the outline of a person in it. You can also access it by pressing CTRL+U on your keyboard.
Click through each of the buttons that appear on the Accessibility Beacon menu to choose the option that works best for you. Options include: screen contrast adjustment, link highlighting, bigger texts, bigger text spacing, pause animations, dyslexia-friendly font, cursor changes, tooltips, bigger line height, and uniform text alignment.
Membership
Yes. All donations and membership purchases will get a tax receipt delivered to the email address provided.
Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds. Memberships are considered a donation and are nonrefundable.
Collective Memberships are designed for organizations, schools, and community groups who want to engage their teams or members with access to Indigenous storytelling, cultural education, and shared Festival experiences.
Ticket Package to the Festival:
Collective Members receive a set number of complimentary tickets to in-person Festival screenings. Tickets are distributed via a discount code (which renders the tickets completely free), which can be shared within their organization. Each code is limited to the number of tickets included in the selected Membership tier.
Online Passes:
Online Passes provide access to all of the films offered in the online portion of the Festival, taking place the week following the in-person Festival. Access to the platform is international but individual screenings may be subject to location geo-blocking and distribution rights.
Single Day Access Tickets for Industry Days:
Industry Days is a professional development conference hosted by the imagineNATIVE Institute which takes place during the in-person Festival with workshops, panels, and networking events focused on topics facing artists and other professionals in the film and media industry.
Access to one day of Industry Days is included only in the industry-focused Collective Membership tiers (Tobacco+, Cedar+). Tobacco+ and Cedar+ Members are limited to the number of day tickets in their tier.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Collective Members can access unique volunteer opportunities during the Festival and throughout the year. These provide hands-on ways to bond as a team with your collective while engaging with the community and supporting imagineNATIVE’s work.
Merch Discount:
This discount can be used at the imagineNATIVE Store on official imagineNATIVE merchandise. Each Membership tier receives a unique discount code when they sign up; discount codes are exclusive to each Collective Membership and should not be shared with anyone outside of your collective.
Website/On-Screen/Verbal Recognition:
Collectives will be recognized and thanked as part of our Membership and supporters of imagineNATIVE through year-round recognition on our website, on-screen recognition during the Festival, and verbal recognition where appropriate.
Curated Programming Guide:
The Curated Programming Guide is designed for collectives who want to introduce their teams or members to Indigenous stories and film, and it includes a selection of recommended Indigenous-made films.
The guide is a general resource (not customized per organization) and is delivered as a PDF for easy distribution within your team.
1 Private Virtual Event:
The Private Virtual Event will be scheduled to take place outside of the Festival dates. The event includes access to a pre-selected film screening for your collective followed by an optional live discussion on Zoom. Each year features a different curated experience.
Artist Thank You:
Collectives will be verbally appreciated and thanked each year following the Festival in a short social media video from an artist affiliated with imagineNATIVE.
Each membership is valid for one year from the date you sign up but will automatically renew annually to ensure you never miss out on imagineNATIVE Membership benefits. You will receive two reminders prior to your membership renewal that an auto-renewal is upcoming. These reminders will be sent 14 days and 7 days before your membership auto-renews.
To cancel, please log in to Eventive to access your membership account and disable your membership’s auto-renewal prior to the renewal date. If your membership renews before you disable auto-renewal, we unfortunately cannot offer refunds. Memberships are considered a donation and are nonrefundable.
Volunteer
Our events would not be possible without the support of our volunteers. Below are some of the perks of volunteering with imagineNATIVE:
- Participate in the world’s largest Indigenous film and media arts festival
- Contribute to breaking barriers and connecting communities
- Learn more about Indigenous perspectives through innovative storytelling, film and media arts
- Receive special access vouchers to imagineNATIVE screenings
- Attend imagineNATIVE’s Volunteer Appreciation Party
Currently, we do not offer online volunteer opportunities.
Yes, you must be at least 16 years of age.
Yes, a two shift minimum is required for regular volunteers, although a three shift minimum is required to acquire a Volunteer Award for Arts and Culture in Toronto (VAACT) stamp.
It is possible to sign up as a group to volunteer, but this is determined on a case by case basis. Please email volunteer@imagineNATIVE.org for this and any other personalized requests.
No. We accept people from all backgrounds and ethnicities. We strive to make our spaces accessible for everyone.
Submissions
We accept Film + Video, Digital + Interactive, and Audio works.
Film + Video works include:
- Cinematic features and short films
- Experimental features and short films (please note: these works may be presented as Digital + Interactive programming)
- Episodic works such as television and web series
- Music videos
Digital + Interactive works include:
- Extended Reality (XR) such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR)
- Video games
- Projections such as immersive space and dome exhibitions
- Choose-your-own-adventure works
Audio works include:
- Soundscapes
- Sound art
- Radio plays
- Audiobooks
- Podcasts
Yes, we require the director to be Indigenous, as well as the writer and/or producer to be Indigenous. Please review our Artistic Policies for more information.
Joint creative positions may be considered with additional clarification. Indigenous artists must be in a co-key creative role as per imagineNATIVE’s Artistic Policy guidelines, and hold a strong artistic voice in the finished project.
No problem. We accept submissions in all languages. Submissions must be provided with English subtitles or closed captioning.
Yes. Our organization is committed to accessibility. We require all content to be captioned or at least subtitled if selected to be programmed at the Festival (works may be submitted without captions or subtitles, but subtitles or captions must be added once accepted to the Festival). If your work is accepted and you need assistance with creating these files, please contact programming@imagineNATIVE.org, and we can point you in the right direction.
We accept works of all premiere statuses. We congratulate you for being successful at other festivals!
No. We encourage artists to submit their finished projects, as well as their rough cuts as long as you specify your completion date. When submissions are open, our Submissions page will include information on deadlines for final cuts.
No problem. For each edition of the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, we typically accept submissions of works created from the current and previous two calendar years (e.g. the 2026 Festival will accept works from 2024, 2025, and 2026).
Yes! The Indigenous cinema community can be tight-knit. imagineNATIVE supports Indigenous artists’ work, including those who give their time, insight, and talent as board members, staff, contractors, and volunteers. The Programming Selection Committee has a responsibility to declare a conflict of interest when necessary, in which case they will be omitted from the decision-making process.
Yes. For the 2026 Festival, the regular submission period runs from October 16, 2025 to December 19, 2025 which includes a $5 CAD fee. After that, we move into our late submission period from December 20, 2025 to January 9, 2026 with a fee of $15 CAD.
We endeavour to make our Festival as accessible as possible and so, we offer a FREE early bird submission period. For the 2026 Festival, the early bird submission period runs from October 1, 2025 to October 15, 2025. Additionally, if you have been programmed at our Festival before and require accommodations regarding your submission fee, please email submissions@imagineNATIVE.org.
Visit our Submissions page to learn about upcoming Festival submission deadlines and more, and be sure to read our current Artistic Policies.
Once your submission is accepted, we will send out an invitation to be programmed at our Festival and we will ask you if you would like your work to be screened at the in-person Festival only or if you would like to also have your work screened during the online portion of the Festival. If you would like to be screened online, Film + Video works will be available through our ticketed private watch platform, while Digital + Interactive and Audio works will be available on our website’s free, non-ticketed iNdigital Space platform.
Yes, accepted submissions are considered by our awards juries who then select the winners of our many award categories. Award winners receive a sponsored cash prize, which is given directly to the Indigenous director/lead creative of the project.
Awards are determined by jury consensus. Each recipient is selected by filmmakers and industry professionals from the Festival’s independent programming team and juries, with the exception of our two Audience Choice Awards which are voted on by attendees during the in-person Festival.
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an Academy Award-qualifying film festival! Live action short films accepted into our Festival are automatically considered for our Live Action Short Award, which counts toward consideration for the Academy Awards. To be eligible for this award at the 2026 Festival, live action short films must be completed on or after October 1, 2025.
Live action short films are defined as narrative short films that are under 40 minutes in length. It does NOT include documentaries, animation, music videos or experimental works.
Yes, imagineNATIVE hosts multiple databases to connect with Indigenous creatives!
The Artist Spotlight Directory is a curated platform to highlight the legacy of prominent Indigenous artists who have played a significant role in imagineNATIVE’s history. The platform showcases select artists’ work which they have presented at imagineNATIVE. All profiles are curated by imagineNATIVE in partnership with the artists featured.
Kin Theory is an Indigenous media maker database where Indigenous artists can self-populate and manage their own profiles to connect with other artists and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous industry professionals. Indigenous artists are invited to create profiles on Kin Theory to showcase their work, and industry professionals (programmers, funders, etc) are welcome to browse the database of Indigenous creators. Please note: Kin Theory creators self-identify as Indigenous and Kin Theory and imagineNATIVE do not endorse or represent anyone on the site.
Festival Date Change
Yes, for the foreseeable future, the change to a June Festival is permanent.
The decision to change the Festival dates came from the challenges the imagineNATIVE team has faced in recent years as an Indigenous-led non-profit organization (inflation, economic, timing, and capacity, to name a few). Moving the Festival to a time of the year where everyone’s attention is on Indigenous-led programming makes a lot of sense, and will create an opportunity for us to develop new partnership opportunities, as well as collaborate with and uplift other Indigenous organizations in Tkaron:to (Toronto).
This decision was made with the support of the imagineNATIVE staff and board, and in consultation with partners, funders, artists, and other key stakeholders in the Festival.
As with any film festival, it is up to the artist to decide where they would like to have their film premiered. If a premiere at TIFF is preferred, imagineNATIVE will still accept their film submission in the following Festival run.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have at info@imagineNATIVE.org or via our website’s Help Chat.
Box Office
Absolutely! Choose the gift option during checkout. All tickets, ticket packages, and passes are final sale.
Yes, there are no restrictions on the number of tickets or packages you can buy. All tickets, ticket packages, and passes are final sale.
We accept credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, or Amex) for online purchases. All tickets, ticket packages, and passes are final sale.
There are no restrictions on the number of tickets you can book for a single screening with a ticket package. Ticket packages are not valid for any Special Events, Industry Days, Industry Events, or online screenings.
Although a few of our events are open to the public and therefore unticketed, the majority of our screenings and special events do require a ticket to be purchased or booked. Festival pass holders and ticket package holders must book their allotment of tickets in advance via the instructions about how to redeem tickets which they receive by email from our team or at the on-site imagineNATIVE Box Office during the in-person Festival.
Tickets are subject to availability, even to pass holders and ticket package holders, so make sure to book your tickets early as venues have limited capacity. We appreciate your understanding.
Except where otherwise stated, Industry Days events are only available to In-Person Festival Pass holders. Tickets are not required for most Industry Days events, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please make sure you have your Festival Pass with you when attending.
Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds. All tickets, ticket packages, and passes are final sale. If you need assistance or encounter account errors, please email boxoffice@imagineNATIVE.org and our team will provide any assistance that we can.
Sign in to your account on the Eventive website and access your profile by hovering over your name in the top right corner and then clicking “Account.” Click “Edit Profile” on the left side to update your account details, including your email and password.
Click the “Sign In” button on the Eventive website. On the sign-in page, click the “Forgot Password” button, enter your registered email address, and follow the instructions to reset your password.
Yes. Status card holders are eligible to claim a rebate of the 8% Ontario portion of HST paid on qualifying goods and services. Please contact boxoffice@imagineNATIVE.org if you wish to use your status card to purchase packages or tickets online. You can also visit the on-site imagineNATIVE Box Office and present your status card when purchasing in-person tickets.
Please note: you must present your status card in advance of making your purchase.
All screenings on Friday, June 5, 2026 are FREE as part of TD Free Fridays! Tickets for screenings on Friday, June 5 cannot be purchased or booked in advance and will only be available on Friday, June 5 at the on-site imagineNATIVE Box Office. There is a limit of two tickets per person.
Miigwetch, nia:wen, thank you to TD Bank for supporting TD Free Fridays!
iNdigital Space
We invite you to see, listen, and play with our diverse Official Selection, which includes VR, 360, AR, video games, interactive web, and digital media.
No ticket necessary! Access to the iNdigital Space + Arcade — located during our in-person Festival at the TIFF Lightbox, Gallery — is completely FREE and open to the public.
Many digital and interactive works are also available to enjoy online for free during the Festival on our virtual iNdigital Space platform.
During our in-person Festival, the iNdigital Space + Arcade is located at the TIFF Lightbox, Gallery.
Many digital and interactive works are also available to enjoy online for free during the Festival on our virtual iNdigital Space platform.
The iNdigital Space + Arcade is open to all ages, however, the recommended age for viewing VR experiences with equipment is 13+. Viewing content with your young family members is up to your discretion.
We post content warnings on our website’s Event Schedule, in our Festival catalogue, and on our virtual screening platform alongside films and other works that contain sensitive and graphic content to help you navigate our content.
Health and wellness support workers are available throughout the Festival in case of any audience member needing support with the content being displayed. These services are for anyone, including non-Indigenous people, requiring emotional support.
Formerly known as Indigenous Digital Development Day (iDDD), iNdigital Days is an extended two-day event packed with opportunities for digital and interactive artists to grow their practice and connect with other digital creatives!
All iNdigital Days events are open and FREE to the public on a first come, first served basis. Anyone is welcome to attend, though the content is particularly geared toward digital and interactive artists.
All iNdigital Days events will be held in the same location as our iNdigital Space + Arcade located at the TIFF Lightbox, Gallery.
Yes, imagineNATIVE hosts multiple databases to connect with Indigenous creatives!
The Artist Spotlight Directory is a curated platform to highlight the legacy of prominent Indigenous artists who have played a significant role in imagineNATIVE’s history. The platform showcases select artists’ work which they have presented at imagineNATIVE. All profiles are curated by imagineNATIVE in partnership with the artists featured.
Kin Theory is an Indigenous media maker database where Indigenous artists can self-populate and manage their own profiles to connect with other artists and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous industry professionals. Indigenous artists are invited to create profiles on Kin Theory to showcase their work, and industry professionals (programmers, funders, etc) are welcome to browse the database of Indigenous creators. Please note: Kin Theory creators self-identify as Indigenous and Kin Theory and imagineNATIVE do not endorse or represent anyone on the site.
Industry Days
Yes. Festival Passes are required to take part in Industry Days and can be purchased at our Box Office.
Each year during Industry Days at the Festival, the imagineNATIVE Institute presents Micro Meetings, a full-day international networking event. Micro Meetings is the world’s only market event of its kind dedicated to Indigenous screen and digital content. This exciting event provides Indigenous creatives with valuable face-to-face time with industry decision makers in various sectors of the screen industry.
Yes, imagineNATIVE hosts multiple databases to connect with Indigenous creatives!
The Artist Spotlight Directory is a curated platform to highlight the legacy of prominent Indigenous artists who have played a significant role in imagineNATIVE’s history. The platform showcases select artists’ work which they have presented at imagineNATIVE. All profiles are curated by imagineNATIVE in partnership with the artists featured.
Kin Theory is an Indigenous media maker database where Indigenous artists can self-populate and manage their own profiles to connect with other artists and both Indigenous and non-Indigenous industry professionals. Indigenous artists are invited to create profiles on Kin Theory to showcase their work, and industry professionals (programmers, funders, etc) are welcome to browse the database of Indigenous creators. Please note: Kin Theory creators self-identify as Indigenous and Kin Theory and imagineNATIVE do not endorse or represent anyone on the site.
Virtual Screenings
Our Accessibility Beacon is available on imagineNATIVE’s virtual screening platform. It is a circular button with the outline of a person in it. You can also access it by pressing CTRL+U on your keyboard.
Options on the Accessibility Beacon menu include: screen contrast adjustment, link highlighting, bigger texts, bigger text spacing, pause animations, dyslexia-friendly font, cursor changes, tooltips, bigger line height, and uniform text alignment.
To turn on closed captions on our virtual screening platform, log in and go to the lower right corner of the screen. Click the button that looks like a screen with closed captioning as highlighted below.
You can AirPlay from most browsers if you have Apple TV by selecting the cast button in the lower right side of the player.
You can Chromecast from a Chrome web browser on PC and Mac computers as well as Android devices by selecting the cast button in the lower right side of the player.
You can directly connect your laptop or computer using an HDMI cable, by following these steps:
- Make sure your computer is close enough to your TV for the HDMI cable to reach.
- Plug one end of the HDMI cable into your computer.
- Plug the other end of the cable into an available HDMI port on the TV. Take note of the HDMI input number.
- Using your TV’s remote control, set the TV to the HDMI input that matches the port you connected the cable to.
- If your computer’s display does not automatically appear on your television screen, you may need to have the computer manually detect the display:
Mac: Go to the Apple Menu and choose “System Preferences.” Choose “Displays” and hold down the Option key to show the “Detect Displays” button. Click on “Detect Displays” while holding down the Option key.
PC: Right-click on your desktop and select “Display Settings.” Choose “Detect,” then select “Multiple Displays,” and then select “Duplicate these Displays,” and click Apply.
Maybe. Unfortunately, many built-in Smart TVs have web browsers which don’t support playback of protected content. If you get a black screen or error message, your TV is most likely not compatible and you will need to try a different method to view our online content.
No. Recording any of the films we present is strictly prohibited.
Under Bill C-59, it is illegal to make a recording of the films screened at imagineNATIVE Film and Media Festival. Section 432. (1) A person who, without the consent of the theatre manager [imagineNATIVE], records in a movie theatre [Cinesend platform] a performance of a cinematographic work within the meaning of section 2 of the Copyright Act or its soundtrack (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years; or (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction. (2) A person who, without the consent of the theatre manager [imagineNATIVE], records in a movie theatre a performance of a cinematographic work within the meaning of section 2 of the Copyright Act or its soundtrack for the purpose of the sale, rental or other commercial distribution of a copy of the cinematographic work (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction. (3) In addition to any punishment that is imposed on a person who is convicted of an offence under this section, the court may order that anything that is used in the commission of the offence be forfeited to Her Majesty in right of the province in which the proceedings are taken. Anything that is forfeited may be disposed of as the Attorney General directs.
Giveaway
Anyone is welcome to attend Sensory Friendly Screenings. These are screenings where the environment is adjusted to accommodate guests with various accessibility needs to have a positive sensory friendly and inclusive environment. This means:
- Theatre lights are dimmed (not completely off)
- Theatre sound levels are slightly lower than typical
- No trailers or advertisements will play before the screening
- Minimal introductions and no Q&As
- Guests can enter and exit the theatre freely during the screening
- Silence is not expected
Yes. Select introductions and post-screening Q&As will be presented with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. If you are attending a screening and have accessibility needs (including requests to have ASL interpreters and requests to reserve seating near the ASL interpreters) please reach out to accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org.
imagineNATIVE recognizes the importance of healing and cultural safety. We understand that some content during the Festival may be upsetting or triggering for both direct and intergenerational survivors of trauma. For this reason, support workers will be available on-site. These services are for anyone, including non-Indigenous people, requiring emotional support.
Support workers will be on-site at the TIFF Lightbox on select dates and times. For the most up-to-date information during our Festival season, please check our Health and Wellness page.
The films in the Festival have not been rated. Under the Film Content Information Act, 2020, there is no longer a requirement to provide movie ratings for films shown in Ontario. Viewing content with younger family members is up to your discretion.
We post content warnings on our website’s Event Schedule and in our Festival catalogue alongside films and other works that contain sensitive and graphic content to help you navigate the screenings.
Health and wellness support workers are available on-site throughout the in-person Festival in case of any audience member needing support with the content being displayed. These services are for anyone, including non-Indigenous people, requiring emotional support.
Additionally, imagineNATIVE offers programs at the Festival and in year-round programming such as the Tour that are curated specifically for kids and are family-friendly.
We are happy to announce that all of our venues are wheelchair accessible and barrier free. If you or someone else wants to inquire more about the Festival venues, we’re more than happy to provide you with further information upon the request, please email accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org.
Accessible seating is reserved for guests who are disabled and their companions only. If you or someone else require accessible seating at a venue, please email accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org as early as possible to reserve your seating.
The Accessibility Beacon appears in the upper left corner of the imagineNATIVE website’s home page. It is also available on our virtual screening platform. It is a circular button with the outline of a person in it. You can also access it by pressing CTRL+U on your keyboard.
Click through each of the buttons that appear on the Accessibility Beacon menu to choose the option that works best for you. Options include: screen contrast adjustment, link highlighting, bigger texts, bigger text spacing, pause animations, dyslexia-friendly font, cursor changes, tooltips, bigger line height, and uniform text alignment.