FAQ

What are your current Covid policies?

A Shared Code of Conduct between ArtsEmerson (hosts of the Bright Lights Cinema Series) and patrons can be found at artsemerson.org. Guidelines, which include clear language regarding vaccination and testing requirements and a requirement to stay home if you aren’t feeling well. Masks are strongly encouraged, but not required for patrons. Emerson reserves the right to return to more stringent policies should the CDC community levels increase or for specific events. Any prospective patron with concerns about health and safety protocols is encouraged to call the ArtsEmerson box office at 617-824-8400 or email tickets@emersontheatres.org. More information on ArtsEmerson’s public health policies can be found HERE.

Will there be open or closed captioning for the screenings?

Only a handful of the films we get from distributors have closed captions available for exhibition. Most provide an SRT file that we run as open captions. All of our introductions, trailers and the conversation will have open captions. For more information on open vs closed captions, check out this primer from one of the caption services we use, 3 play media.

What about descriptive audio?

We will offer descriptive audio for films where it has been made available from the distributor. See film descriptions on the current program page for more information.

How many seats are in the Bright Light Family Screening Room?

We have 174 seats, plus 8 spaces for wheelchairs in the rear of the cinema.

When does seating start?

Doors open at 6:30PM. Screenings start at 7PM. Discussions following the screening generally run 30-45 minutes directly following the credits for each film.

Can I attend the Q&A only?

We can’t guarantee access to the cinema for just the Q&A. We suggest that you attend both the screening and conversation.

I’m a member of the Emerson faculty or staff, how do I make use of my reserved seating?

Come to the cinema by 6:45pm and you will see clearly marked reserved seating in the second row for shows that are likely to fill the house.

Can my class/organization attend a screening?

Yes! For professors and student organizations, please reach out to Anna with an exact number of people attending (no more than 25). You will need to arrive as a group, individual seating requests cannot be accommodated at this time. Reserved seating will be in the second and third rows.