Audio description: understanding this key issue for universal and responsible cinema.

Cinema, a universal experience that should be accessible to all

Cinema is a universal art form. It transports us, moves us, and challenges us. However, this experience is not yet fully accessible to everyone. For blind or visually impaired people, following a film can be a challenge: how can you perceive a scene without images, or understand an action without visual cues?

This is where a discreet but essential innovation comes in: audio description for movies. This tool transforms the movie-going experience by opening the doors to inclusion wide.

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What is audio description in cinema?

Audio description involves narrating the images in a film. Between dialogues, a voice-over describes important visual elements: sets, gestures, costumes, and characters' emotions.

This narration allows blind or visually impaired viewers to follow the story smoothly, at the same pace as everyone else. In movie theaters, it is broadcast via individual headphones. At home, it is available on many streaming and video-on-demand platforms.

It is a true work of artistic writing, which must strike the right balance between description and immersion.

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Audio description and cultural accessibility: a major challenge

Audio description is not just a technical tool; it is a lever for equality and inclusion in cinema. It opens up culture to millions of people.

Some recent figures and initiatives:

• In 2024, the Ministry of Culture launched the National Audio Description Portal, listing more than 2,500 audio-described films available in theaters, on television, or online.
• Online platforms and directories now simplify access to adapted films, even though distribution remains uneven depending on the operator.

These advances show thatcultural accessibility is becoming as much of a priority as diversity or ecological transition in the film industry.

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The Marius Award for Audio Description: Recognizing Excellence

Marius Marius Award for audio description is an annual award that recognizes the quality of film audio description. Like the César Awards, it highlights work that is still too little known to the general public.

The last two editions marked a turning point:

• In 2024, Thomas Cailley's Le Règne Animal was recognized for its precise and sensitive writing byAnouchka Nyssen and Catherine Weisslsinger Gammel.
• In 2025, Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière's Le Comte de Monte-Cristo won the Marius Award, supported by Méryl Guyard's audio description.

These awards serve as a reminder thataudio description for cinema is an art form in its own right, requiring creativity and respect for the original work. For the ninth Marius de l'Audiodescription awards ceremony in 2026, on Wednesday, January 28, we will find out which films are in the running for the César Award for Best Film.

💡 Are you planning an ambitious production? As with Le Règne Animal and Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, structure your low-carbon and CSR approach from the preparation stage onwards to maximize your impact: Make an appointment with an expert.

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Flying Secoya: supporting inclusive and responsible cinema

At Flying Secoya, we believe that the social responsibility of cinema is not limited to reducing its carbon footprint.Inclusion is an essential part of our approach.

We are particularly proud to have supported the responsible production of the two films that won the Marius Award for audio description in 2024 and 2025: Le Règne Animal and Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.

This illustrates our dual commitment:

• Ecology: promoting more sustainable filming, with a reduced impact on the environment.
• Inclusion: supporting accessible works that appeal to all audiences.

At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Flying Secoya highlighted the urgent need to develop a sustainable cinema that combines ecological transition and social justice.

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Inclusion and ecology: two inseparable dimensions

Ecological and social issues are sometimes pitted against each other, but for us, they are linked. CSR in cinema must be based on a global vision: creating films that respect the planet and are accessible to all viewers.

Audio description is a perfect example of this. Like energy efficiency on film sets, it requires innovation, surrounding yourself with new talent, and rethinking industry practices.

By combining ecology and inclusion, we are helping to create a universal and sustainable cinema.

💡 Manage your impact strategy globally. Don'tseparate your efforts anymore. Our platform allows you to centralize your carbon data and CSR actions in one place for a 360° view: Discover the Flying Secoya platform.

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Towards a truly universal cinema

Audio description profoundly changes the way millions of viewers experience cinema. It reminds us of an essential belief: art only has value if it is shared by everyone.

" Audio description isn't just about describing images. It's about giving blind viewers the thrill of experiencing cinema to the fullest." – Méryl Guyard, audio description writer (The Count of Monte Cristo, Marius 2025)

At Flying Secoya, we are delighted to have contributed to this inclusive dynamic by supporting two films that have been recognized for the quality of their audio description. This demonstrates that CSR in cinema, from ecology to inclusion, is a coherent and meaningful approach.

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What if we worked together to build a more responsible, accessible, and inspiring cinema?

Join our community, discover our projects, and commit to working alongside us so that tomorrow, every viewer can experience the magic of cinema.

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Give your productions the means to achieve their ambitions. 

Likethe Marius award winners, you no longer have to choose between artistic excellence, inclusion, and ecology. At Flying Secoya, we structure your low-carbon and CSR approach from A to Z.👉 Discover our offers.

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FAQ – Audio description in cinema and inclusion

What is audio description in cinema?

Audio description is narration added to a film, between dialogues, to describe visual elements (sets, gestures, emotions, costumes). It allows blind or visually impaired people to follow the story and fully enjoy the cinematic experience.

Who can benefit from audio description?

Mainly people with visual impairments (blind or visually impaired). But it can also be useful for viewers with attention disorders or those who want to better understand certain details of a film.

How can you enjoy audio description at the movies?

In equipped theaters, viewers can request headphones that broadcast the audio description track. At home, many streaming and VOD platforms now offer versions with audio description.

Where can I find a list of films available with audio description?

Since 2024, the National Audio Description Portal has listed more than 2,500 audio-described films available in theaters, on television, and via streaming. 👉 Visit the portal.

What is the Marius of audio description?

The Marius Award for Audio Description is an annual award that recognizes the best audio description for a film. In 2024, Le Règne Animal won the award; in 2025, Le Comte de Monte-Cristo took home the prize.

Why is audio description important for inclusion in cinema?

Because it ensures that cinema remains accessible to everyone, regardless of their situation. It is an essential toolfor cultural inclusion, just like subtitling for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

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