China’s Efforts to Safeguard Cultural Rights for the Visually Impaired: Insights from the “Cinema of Light” Public Welfare Initiative (Part 1)
Chapter 1 - “Cinema of Light”: An Innovative Approach to Protecting Cultural Rights for the Visually Impaired
In today’s piece, we are briefing you on the Chapter 1 of our report, “China’s Efforts to Safeguard Cultural Rights for the Visually Impaired: Insights from the “Cinema of Light” Public Welfare Initiative.” We would love to answer any questions you might have so make sure to drop a like, comment, and subscribe for more!
1. A Seven-Year Journey: The Evolution of “Cinema of Light” from Infancy to Maturity
The “Cinema of Light” stemmed from our college students and faculty’s commitment to building a “Cultural Pathway for the Visually Impaired.” “Our original goal was to combine our efforts as media professionals to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of people with visual impairments,” recall the students and teachers from the Communication University of China’s Television School, who launched the “Cinema of Light” public welfare initiative with enthusiasm in 2017. After extensive discussions and evaluations of various project options, including documentary filmmaking and short film production, the team settled on a project to “tell the story of movies for the visually impaired,” taking into account the needs of visually impaired audiences, the university’s resources, and community support. According to the founding team, “Cinema of Light” produces accessible films by inserting descriptive narration between dialogue and sound effects, explaining the visual scenes and the emotions and meanings behind them, creating a replicable and distributable model for accessible films. The project follows the mission “to convey color through sound and let listeners experience art.” Since its inception, the initiative has aimed to provide two accessible films per week for visually impaired audiences, totaling 104 films annually, and this commitment to building an “inclusive cultural pathway” for people with visual impairments continues to this day, supporting the ongoing development of accessible media in China.
We Have Developed a Standardized Model for Accessible Film Production. Proficiency in film analysis and audiovisual language has been essential. “Cinema of Light” is more than just a charitable initiative; it is a professional endeavor. The project challenges the students and faculty to apply their understanding of audiovisual language, transform visual cues into descriptive audio, and manage voiceovers, editing, and the overall narrative flow of each film. This process tests their skills to the fullest, requiring both technical and creative expertise.
Fu Haizheng, a founding member of the “Cinema of Light” project and Executive Director of the Institute for Accessible Media Communication at the Communication University of China, explains that the journey from trial and error to a standardized production model has been one of growth and transformation. “The team adopted a standardized production process, with specific steps including film selection, scriptwriting, review, proofreading, and recording,” says Zhao Xijing, a faculty volunteer on the project team. “Each step adheres to a ‘three-stage review and three-stage proofreading’ process to ensure that the narration authentically reflects the film’s visuals and maintains the highest quality possible.”
In the film selection stage, “Cinema of Light” has broadened the scope of accessible films beyond traditional genres, incorporating a variety of types, including animation, drama, science fiction, and historical films, to meet the needs of visually impaired audiences across different age groups. To help individuals with visual impairments stay informed and engaged with current events, the team carefully produces a series of films reflecting national, social, and contemporary developments around key events and milestones.
“In the scriptwriting and recording stages, we aim to capture the perspective of visually impaired audiences, using language they can vividly perceive. For instance, how do we describe the color red? It’s a warm, sun-like color,” explains Cai Yu, a founding member of the “Cinema of Light” project and a doctoral candidate at the Communication University of China. The team meticulously crafts each word and recording to ensure an authentic, accurate portrayal, offering a reliable interpretation of the film. In war films, for example, descriptions of military branches, weapons, and combat zones are cross-referenced with extensive research to ensure precise details, striving to immerse visually impaired audiences in a realistic cinematic war experience.
The “Cinema of Light” team has established a scientific and efficient operating mechanism. Each group within the project team has developed standardized manuals specific to their tasks, covering every step of accessible film production—from scriptwriting, reviewing, and voiceover to audio monitoring and final editing. This comprehensive approach even extends to project promotion, ensuring that the continuously evolving team of volunteers maintains consistent quality and standards in both their operations and the produced films.
Over the past seven years, more than 800 student and faculty volunteers have contributed to the project, producing over 600 accessible films in a broader range of genres and styles, each with expressive and heartfelt narration. These films embody the Cinema of Light team’s dedication to securing fundamental rights for people with visual impairments and reflect their commitment to supporting China’s initiatives for people with disabilities.
We Have Promoted the deep-rooted establishment of accessible cultural services. The mission of “Cinema of Light” goes beyond producing a hundred accessible films each year; it actively advocates for protecting cultural rights for people with disabilities across society. In an era where media technology is reshaping how information is accessed, Cinema of Light empowers individuals with visual impairments to fully engage in social and cultural life on equal footing, allowing them to share in the achievements of contemporary material and cultural development.
“‘Cinema of Light’ extends beyond film production; it even reaches into the screening phase,” explains Li Chaopeng, a student volunteer at the Communication University of China and a member of the project team. From publicizing screening information and coordinating charity screenings in theaters to helping visually impaired attendees find their seats, engaging in on-site Q&A, maintaining order, providing live descriptions, and assisting with post-film exit, “Cinema of Light” has carefully planned and rehearsed every detail of the screening experience to ensure the safest and most enjoyable viewing experience for visually impaired audiences.
After seven years of exploration, “Cinema of Light” has established a “Five-Assess Model” that brings accessible film screenings to associations for the blind, cinemas, schools for the visually impaired, libraries, and community centers, effectively bridging the “last mile” for visually impaired audiences. Beyond these efforts, prominent film festivals, such as the Beijing International Film Festival, Changchun Film Festival, Hainan International Film Festival, and Silk Road International Film Festival, have dedicated public welfare screening sessions, allowing visually impaired individuals to participate in these global cultural events. While drawing greater attention to the needs of people with visual impairments and new developments, experiences, insights, and achievements in China’ s disability support initiatives, these screenings also provide a platform to share China ‘s stories of public welfare, human rights, and cultural-ethical development on the international stage, advancing global efforts toward accessible information.
To date, the “Cinema of Light” initiative has extended its achievements to 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across China, as well as the Macao Special Administrative Region, ensuring full coverage of 2,244 special education schools. Its practices have been widely promoted in cultural hubs like Jiaxing and Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, as well as Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. More than 20 dedicated “Cinema of Light” screening halls have been established in cities such as Beijing, and five major film festivals now feature “Cinema of Light” public welfare screening units. Additionally, a “Cinema of Light” on-demand channel has been launched through China Broadcasting Network, reaching over 200 million households and benefiting eight million visually impaired individuals. As these figures grow, the “Cinema of Light” initiative continues to expand the “inclusive cultural pathway” it has built through the medium of sound and visual narration, reaching an increasingly broad audience and benefiting more visually impaired individuals. This public welfare initiative, driven by the mission of promoting inclusive cultural services to empower disability development, is generating positive impacts not only across China but also on a global scale.
2. “Cinema of Light” Enhances Well-being and Fulfillment for the Visually Impaired
French film artist André Bazin once noted in his work “What is Cinema?” that “humankind has a psychological desire to substitute the external world with realistic replicas.” He explained that “the concept of cinema is equivalent to the complete reproduction of reality, an imagined illusion of a world filled with sound, color, and depth.” Through “Cinema of Light,” visually impaired audiences not only gain access to information but also experience an elevated aesthetic and expressive quality that aligns with the principles of faithfulness, clarity, and elegance, achieving an enriched cultural and educational impact.
We Have Fulfilled the Gaps in Information and Artistic Appreciation for Visually Impaired Audiences. Students and faculty involved in “Cinema of Light” explain that, while ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of basic information in each film, the team has also dedicated significant efforts to enhancing both the interpretive depth and technical quality of their productions. On the interpretive level, “Cinema of Light” emphasizes a deep exploration of each film’s meaning. Beyond simply telling the story, the team strives to offer a comprehensive interpretation, allowing audiences not only to grasp the fundamental storyline but also to develop a richer understanding, encouraging imagination and reflection on the film’s broader themes.
After the launch of the “Cinema of Light” project, faculty and students from the Communication University of China established close connections with schools for the visually impaired, such as Beijing School for the Blind. Each month, a dedicated screening team is dispatched to show accessible films to students. Wang Zheng, a student at Beijing School for the Blind, shares that previously, “watching” a film often meant missing key details, such as background music, scenic visuals, or character interactions conveyed through gestures and expressions, leading to confusion and only a partial understanding of the story. Now, with regular screenings in the school’s auditorium, the “Cinema of Light” project has brought not only new joy and anticipation to daily life but also “comprehensible” films that help students gain knowledge and experience the beauty of the world and life.
Wang Xiaochui, Party Secretary of Beijing School for the Blind, remarks that the “Cinema of Light” project cultivates a sense of beauty and appreciation for students and other audiences, creating a space filled with aesthetic expression and imaginative possibilities. With its thoughtful selection of positive films and poetic interpretations, the project offers an environment where audiences can experience beauty, inspiring a sense of wonder and aspiration. This approach not only enhances the audience’s aesthetic sensibilities but also helps nurture the students’ character and enrich their personal growth, providing meaningful value in aesthetic education.
We Have Broadened Social Engagement Opportunities for the Visually Impaired. In 2021, “Cinema of Light” extended its reach to Changping District in Beijing. A representative from the district’s association for the blind explained that, unlike individuals with other disabilities, such as hearing impairment, visually impaired people often face significant barriers to communication due to their limited vision, making them less likely to venture outside. The accessible film screenings have provided this community with more opportunities to leave their homes and connect with volunteers and other visually impaired individuals, positively impacting their quality of life and enriching their cultural experiences. Teachers interviewed from Beijing School for the Blind noted that “Cinema of Light” has given students opportunities to engage with and participate in society. Some students have even joined activities like the Beijing International Film Festival, film production, and discussion panels, inspiring more community support for this group and broadening their perspectives on the world and their future aspirations. Some parents now hope that, given the right support, their children can pursue broader educational and career options beyond traditional paths such as massage therapy or music, even advancing to mainstream schools to pursue their dreams boldly. In many ways, “Cinema of Light” has built a “pathway of dreams” for visually impaired children.
We Have Inspired a Drive for a Happy Life Among the Visually Impaired. The pursuit of happiness often begins with the ability to “see.” As one of the most essential and immediate senses for perceiving the world, vision forms the foundation of how people understand and engage with their surroundings. “A good film allows us to experience different lives in a short time, and the power of cinema is limitless,” says Ru Tianzi, a teacher at Beijing School for the Blind. Through moving stories, films convey life’s insights and profound ideas, and this window to the world should be open to everyone, including those with visual impairments.
Like sunlight and air, cultural life is an essential element of individual growth and development. For people with visual impairments, the “Cinema of Light” initiative provides accessible films that enrich their life experiences, help them acquire knowledge, nurture their spirit, broaden their horizons, and enhance their cultural literacy and competence. This initiative plays a vital role in empowering them to achieve equal social inclusion. Some students from Beijing School for the Blind commented that “Cinema of Light” enables them to perceive the nation’s development simultaneously, the changes of the times, and the transformations of society. It not only brings them spiritual joy but also expands their imagination and pushes the boundaries of their thinking, inspiring them to courageously explore the external world, pursue their inner dreams, and strive for a happy and fulfilling life.
3. “Cinema of Light” as a Model for Safeguarding Cultural Rights for the Visually Impaired
We Have Infused the Energy and Vitality of University Students by Empowering Them as Key Contributors. “With university students serving as the backbone of the ‘Cinema of Light’ volunteer team, the initiative combines professional expertise with youthful energy, injecting fresh momentum into the production and dissemination of accessible films in China,” remarks a representative from the Television School at the Communication University of China. Cultivating a sense of patriotism and social responsibility among young students is both an essential mission of higher education and the original driving force behind the “Cinema of Light” project. The initiative encourages students to actively engage in film production and real-world human rights practices, effectively enhancing their awareness of the importance of respecting and safeguarding human rights. This approach not only embodies the educational philosophy of the Communication University of China but also strengthens students’ commitment to the core values of journalism and communication studies. It helps them avoid a narrow, self-serving mindset, guiding them instead toward integrating their personal aspirations with societal needs. By fostering a dual alignment of individual growth with social contribution, the “Cinema of Light” project exemplifies the synergy between youthful enthusiasm and the pursuit of public welfare. It harmonizes ideals with action, intertwining the spirit of youth with dedication to social good and uniting foundational values with purposeful efforts.
We Have Given Full Play to Universities’ Expertise, Technology, and Talent. Teachers provide comprehensive guidance, professional support, and quality control, serving as a strong backbone for the project team. The faculty at the Communication University of China defines the initiative as a blend of “public welfare, teaching, research, and experimentation,” guiding students to apply their knowledge in service of the country and society, embodying the principle of integrating knowledge and action. Wen Mohan, a student volunteer with “Cinema of Light”, explains that every aspect of the project—from planning, film selection, scriptwriting, and voiceover to post-production, screening, and distribution—is a collaborative effort between faculty and students. The synergy of professionalism, social experience, and youthful enthusiasm creates a smooth and inspiring creative process, giving students a strong sense of fulfillment and achievement. From just five initial volunteers, the team has grown to include hundreds, supporting a nationwide initiative. Reflecting on this growth, Zhao Shuping, the project’s primary advisor, shared her insights, saying, “Giving students free rein and trusting them make all the difference.” The university’s strong backing and teachers’ dedicated guidance remain the project’s unwavering source of momentum, ensuring its sustainable impact.
We Have Advanced Research and Collaboration in Accessible Information Dissemination to Enhance the Project’s Global Impact. “Cinema of Light” has consistently committed to addressing the challenge of “cultural poverty alleviation,” extending its reach from bustling urban centers to remote rural areas, with footprints spanning the entire nation. On November 1, 2023, at the 2023 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships—jointly organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations World Food Programme, and the China Internet Information Center—the Communication University of China’s case study, Promoting Rural Revitalization through Cultural Support: A Case of University-Enterprise Collaboration on Accessible Film Production and Dissemination with “Cinema of Light”, was awarded the “Best Poverty Reduction Case” in the “4th Global Poverty Reduction Case Collection.” This project has since been included in the South-South Cooperation Poverty Reduction Case Library, serving as a distinctive example of poverty alleviation through cultural initiatives and providing valuable insights for global poverty reduction and rural development. On December 1, 2023, in observance of the 32nd International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Communication University of China and UNESCO co-hosted the International Symposium on Accessible Information Dissemination and Human Rights Protection in Beijing, under the guidance of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation. The symposium gathered representatives from over ten countries, including China, France, Mongolia, and Malaysia. Participants explored strategies for enhancing social inclusion and empowering people with disabilities through accessible information dissemination. China’ s practices in accessible media were highly praised by domestic and international attendees, as well as by experts from both industry and academia.
The “Cinema of Light” project has also played a significant role in supporting China’s ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakesh VIP Treaty)—the only international human rights treaty in the copyright domain aimed at enabling equitable access to published works for visually impaired individuals. In 2021, the project undertook a research initiative commissioned by China's copyright authorities titled Audiovisual Works and the Implementation of the Marrakesh VIP Treaty. This research provided an in-depth analysis of the necessity, feasibility, and operational procedures for authorized entities to produce accessible versions of audiovisual works. By offering intellectual and practical contributions, the “Cinema of Light” project has significantly advanced the implementation of the treaty in China.
Chapter 2&3: To be Continued…