Virgin Atlantic has been working to ensure its inflight entertainment (IFE) library has something for everyone on board to enjoy. The airline’s latest initiative is a collection of dementia-friendly short films, selected by the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF), which will be available to watch on the Vera IFE platform.
WOFFF selected a series of films that can offer a calm, engaging and accessible viewing experience for any passenger, but are of particular benefit to people living with dementia, who may find full-length films, complex plots, or fast-paced editing harder to follow during a flight.
The collection can also support families, friends and carers travelling together by offering a shared viewing experience that feels gentle, manageable and inclusive.
The 2026 collection of short films includes animation, documentary, comedy and portrait films, with storylines ranging from older women surfers in Australia, a third-generation New Mexico boot-maker, a farm shop in Yorkshire, UK, a village post office, a train journey through the Welsh countryside, and family memories of Guyana.
This is the third year that Virgin Atlantic has partnered with the WOFFF. Since the collaboration began in 2024, WOFFF’s selected dementia-friendly short films have been watched more than 60,000 times on board Virgin Atlantic flights.
The collection also supports WOFFF’s wider work to challenge ageism and sexism in the screen industries by increasing visibility for films by and about older women.
“Short films are a strong format for dementia-friendly viewing. They can offer story, humour, beauty and connection in a way that feels manageable for people who may find longer films difficult to follow,” said Nuala O’Sullivan, founder of the Women Over 50 Film Festival.
“This partnership with Virgin Atlantic brings together two things WOFFF cares deeply about: championing films by and about older women, and creating more thoughtful access to film for audiences who are often overlooked.”
