Sofia Mirpuri had the honor of participating in the public discussion panel, “Accessibility in Cinema: Who Starts?” during the Ampla Mostra Film Festival.

Joined by a qualified lineup of panelists—Fernando Ventura (Apec – Association Pour l’Emploi des Cadres), Anik Bilreiro (ICA – Instituto do Cinema e do Audiovisual), Saul Rafael (NOS Lusomundo Audiovisuais, S.A), and Marta Braz—and moderated by Diana Santos (Centro de Vida Independente (Associação CVI)), the discussion emphasized the urgent need to make cinema and theaters truly accessible for all. Together, they explored solutions such as SDH subtitles, audio description, and other essential accessibility tools.

As someone with neurosensorial deafness who uses hearing aids, Sofia has firsthand experience with the accessibility challenges in Portugal. After living in the U.S. for four years, where inclusivity is more normalized, she is now deeply committed to driving change in Portugal’s audiovisual industry.

Sofia shared:
“Investing in accessibility tools benefits everyone, not just audience members with limitations. Producers, distributors, and exhibitors can gain a substantial new audience they’ve unintentionally excluded. We create films to reach people—the more, the better. This is an investment that leads only to gains, never losses.”

She also emphasized:
“It’s important to note that conversations mean little without generating real solutions and motivating action. This dialogue has been ongoing for years, yet progress has been limited. Implementing rules is essential because, so far, inclusivity has merely been a recommendation driven by these talks. Real change will only occur when inclusivity becomes mandatory—as it already is in other countries.”

For the past five years, Sofia has been a dedicated advocate for inclusivity—not just in cinema but across the audiovisual industry, including cultural content (television, theaters, shows, digital platforms) and informational content (journalism, conferences, etc.).

A heartfelt thank you to the panelists, attendees, and audience for such an inspiring discussion! Change starts with conversations like these, and we’re proud to be part of the movement for a more inclusive future.