Virgin Atlantic has extended its partnership with the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF), bringing a new season of short films created to entertain passengers with dementia. The curated collection of films, available on Virgin Atlantic’s inflight entertainment (IFE) system Vera, offers a soothing and inclusive viewing experience for customers living with dementia, as well as their families and carers.
Since the airline’s collaboration with WOFFF launched in June 2024, the dementia-friendly film programme has been watched over 60,000 times, demonstrating there is demand for thoughtful and accessible entertainment options for all travellers.
This dementia-friendly programming lineup, created by the WOFFF, features short films (ranging from 2-9 minutes) with gentle soundtracks, simple storylines and moments of calm, with a mix of animation, dance, poetry and documentary.
The new dementia-friendly short film collection available on the Vera system includes:
- And Yet, directed by Lucretia Knapp, Lynne Yamamoto | Experimental
A film that glides from silence to gentle music. For those living with dementia, the ‘kitchen dancing’ might spark memories of dancing with a loved one.
- Call of the Cranes, directed by Vilma Tihilä | Experimental
People in a forest hear birds calling. They gather together and dance in response. Those living with dementia may enjoy the calming beauty of the Finnish countryside.
- Clearing, directed by Karen Kaeja | Experimental
This calming film features a woman dancing on a snowy Canadian morning. For those living with dementia, the simple colour scheme of black, white and yellow can be pleasing to watch.
- Magicland, directed by Celia Willis and Emily Stein | Documentary
Jenny Myers is the first Black woman invited into the Magic Circle. Viewers living with dementia may find this joyful, colourful meditation on magic and intergenerational relationships enchanting.
- The Past Is Another Country, directed by Magda Rakita | Documentary
76-year-old Bridget Sojourner reflects on fashion, garden allotments and life. There’s no room for beige here. Viewers may enjoy Bridget’s vibrant colour choices.
- The Piano Forest, directed by Eva Sjöblom, Åsa Linder | Documentary
Pianos placed in a Swedish forest are used to create an art installation exploring the fleeting nature of life. For those living with dementia, the peaceful forest soundscape may be soothing.
- Treasure, directed by Samantha Moore | Animation
In the UK’s Shropshire hills, a mother’s love connects through the ages to a treasure hunter’s quest. Those living with dementia may find this soothing animation relaxing to watch.
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.”
- Wait a Minute, directed by Marta Renzi | Experimental
On a sunny seaside pier, people dance and play to upbeat music, creating a joyful invitation to savour the moment. Viewers with dementia may enjoy the upbeat music and the people dancing in the sunshine.
- You Can’t Shrink Love, directed by Veena Rao | Documentary
Artist Lucy Francis crafts tiny, lifelike dogs, bringing joy and memories of beloved pets to life. People living with dementia may enjoy Lucy’s craftwork. Some viewers may be reminded of dogs they have known and loved.
Sharon Noyau, manager of inflight entertainment content at Virgin Atlantic, said of the lineup: “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, added: “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 benefits of inclusive IFE content
Virgin Atlantic has found that the programming has been positively received by passengers from around the world. One piece of feedback was from Ipsit Vahia, MD chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, who came across the WOFFF titles during a flight and took to LinkedIn to say:
“On an international flight on Virgin Atlantic this week, I spotted an interesting option in the movie selection menu – it said, simply, ‘Dementia-friendly shorts.’
A closer look showed a selection of nine short films, ranging from 2-9 minutes and scripted to be gently contemplative. Each of them was designed to engage a person living with dementia in a calming way, and could be played on loop, taking rapid forgetting into consideration.
Being 7 hours into a 9-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.”
