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Visually impaired individuals enjoy movies at the Lu Xun Cinema in Yuecheng district, Shaoxing, on March 7. [Photo/Tide News]

In an inspiring initiative to make cinema accessible to all, over 50 visually impaired individuals experienced the magic of movies at the Lu Xun Cinema in Yuecheng district, Shaoxing, on March 7.

This special screening event marked a significant step towards inclusivity in entertainment, opening up new worlds for those who have long dreamed of "seeing" a film.

"Usually, I listen to books on my phone, but 'watching' a movie feels incredible," said 27-year-old Zhu Yunxiang, who was visibly excited after the experience. The event hinted at a future where watching movies could become a regular part of his life.

On this day, visually impaired guests, accompanied by volunteers, attended a screening of the accessible film The Sniper. Accessible cinema involves inserting audio descriptions of the visual elements during pauses in dialogue or sound, making the film experience replicable and shareable for those with visual impairments.

"From now on, every 25th of the month, we will offer free screenings for the visually impaired community, and their caregivers can also enter and watch the movies for free," said Gao Hongbo, manager of Lu Xun Cinema.

The cinema has also added accessible facilities, including ramps and offers aids like wheelchairs and canes, to make the venue more comfortable and convenient for visually impaired patrons.

This year, Shaoxing has identified pilot cinemas and the first batch of 17 pilot towns. The initiative aims to expand service outreach, mobilize volunteer forces for civilized practices, and provide multidimensional services during screenings to enhance the happiness of visually impaired individuals.

"Cinema is a visual and auditory art, which poses a significant barrier for us," said Dong Dazhai, chairman of the Shaoxing Association for the Blind. Before accessible cinema, visually impaired individuals could only imagine the wonderful stories and beautiful scenes conveyed in films.