Virgin Atlantic and the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF) are partnering to bring a new season of dementia-friendly short films to the skies.
The curated collection of films, available on Vera, Virgin Atlantic’s inflight entertainment system, offers an inclusive and soothing viewing experience for passengers with dementia, as well as their families and carers.
The collaboration initially launched in June 2024 and the dementia-friendly film programme has been watched over 60,000 times. This underscores an appetite for thoughtful and accessible entertainment options for all travellers.
Sharon Noyau, Manager – Inflight Entertainment Content at Virgin Atlantic, said: “The response to our dementia-friendly film collection has been incredible, and we couldn’t be more delighted to continue this partnership with WOFFF. Our customers have told us how meaningful it is to have content that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of cognitive ability. We’re proud to lead the way in inclusive inflight entertainment and can’t wait for customers to experience this beautiful new selection of films.”
Nuala O’Sullivan, founder of WOFFF, commented: “It’s wonderful to know that over 60,000 people have already enjoyed our dementia-friendly films on Virgin Atlantic flights. Cinema has the power to connect us, to calm us, and to bring joy. We’re honoured to keep working with Virgin Atlantic to ensure that everyone, including those living with dementia, can share in the magic of film, wherever they are in the world.”
The dementia-friendly programme, created by the Women Over 50 Film Festival, is designed for people living with dementia and their companions. These short films feature gentle soundtracks, simple storylines and moments of calm, with a mix of animation, dance, poetry and documentaries.
The new dementia-friendly short film collection on Vera includes And Yet, directed by Lucretia Knapp, Lynne Yamamoto. It is a film that glides from silence to gentle music. If you’re living with dementia, the “kitchen dancing” might spark memories of dancing with someone you love.
Call of the Cranes, directed by Vilma Tihilä, is also part of the festival. People in a forest hear birds calling. They gather together and dance in response. If you live with dementia, you may enjoy the calming beauty of the Finnish countryside.
Clearing, directed by Karen Kaeja, features a woman dancing on a snowy Canadian morning. People living with dementia may find the simple colour scheme of black, white and yellow pleasing to watch.
Magicland, directed by Celia Willis and Emily Stein, is a documentary about Jenny Myers, the first Black woman invited into the Magic Circle. People living with dementia may find this joyful, colourful meditation on magic and intergenerational relationships enchanting.
The Past Is Another Country, directed by Magda Rakita, is a documentary in which 76-year-old Bridget Sojourner reflects on fashion, allotments and life.
The Piano Forest, directed by Eva Sjöblom and Åsa Linder, is a documentary about pianos in a Swedish forest to create an art installation exploring the fleeting nature of life.
Treasure, directed by Samantha Moore, is an animation set in the Shropshire hills. A mother’s love connects through the ages to a treasure hunter’s quest.
Wait a Minute, directed by Marta Renzi, is an experimental film set on a sunny pier. People dance and play to upbeat music, creating a joyful invitation to savour the moment.
In the documentary You Can’t Shrink Love, directed by Veena Rao, artist Lucy Francis crafts tiny, lifelike dogs, bringing joy and memories of beloved pets to life.
Samantha Moore, director of Treasure, said: “I am thrilled to be included in this dementia-friendly programme for WOFFF and Virgin Atlantic. My mum had early-onset dementia, and our experience was that she retained a lot of emotional intelligence, despite losing so much. Music, images, colour and texture remained potent connectors between us, and I hope that these films will similarly connect with a curious and friendly audience.”
The programme has been positively received by passengers from around the world, including Ipsit Vahia MD, Chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean Hospital, who came across the programme during a flight and said on LinkedIn: “Being seven hours into a nine-hour flight, it made me think about what it is like for someone with dementia and their carers to take a long-distance flight. In that moment, I felt relieved on their behalf that their needs were considered by the airline.”
This collaboration remains one of the first of its kind in inflight entertainment, highlighting the potential of cinema to create more inclusive experiences for travellers worldwide.
