Accessing Videos with Closed Captions 

Several works on VUCAVU have captions in English and/or French. 

To turn on captions or subtitles when viewing a Closed Captioned video, click the CC icon in the bottom right of the video playbar. A small menu will pop up that allows you to select the caption or subtitle track you’d like to watch. 


Still from "The Peak Experience", Leslie Supnet, 8m 5s, (2018), Winnipeg Film Group. 
Image Description: screenshot of a video player with the CC button on the bottom right circled. 

If you do not see the CC button at the bottom of the video, or your language in the popup menu, it probably means the video has not yet been transcribed or translated, or that the .SRT file has not been uploaded to the video. There are also some cases where a video has open captions burnt directly into the video itself. 

At the moment, many films on VUCAVU are listed as having available subtitles, but do not yet have the .SRT files embedded in the video. This normally means the distributor is able to provide subtitles for screening opportunities but hasn’t added it to the video on VUCAVU yet. We understand that this could be a barrier for many. If you would like to make sure there are captions or subtitles uploaded before renting a title from the site, please email us at support@vucavu.com and we can assist you. 

VUCAVU thanks all the distributors, content partners and artists who have provided us with works that include Closed Caption files. 
 

Accessing Videos with Audio Description 


All videos with described audio will have the words “Audio Description” in their title. Use the search bar function where you see the magnifying glass icon and enter the words “Audio Description” in the text bar. Available titles will appear for you to browse. 

screenshot of the VUCAVU search bar with the words "audio description" typed in. Several results appear below.Image Description: screenshot of the VUCAVU search bar with the words "audio description" typed in. Several results appear below. 

Please note: Works with audio description have their own page. There is currently no way to toggle on and off the described audio file through the video player. 

VUCAVU thanks the distributors, content partners and artists who have supplied us with Audio Described versions of their titles. 
 

Navigating VUCAVU by using the Tab key


(not compatible with Safari browser) 

When navigating a web page, pressing the Tab key will select the next link on the page. Pressing Tab repeatedly will cycle through the links. 

The selected link is indicated by a highlighted border. 

Once you land on a link you want, it can be selected by pressing the Enter key. 

Pressing the Shift + Tab keys together will cycle through the links backwards. 
 

Tab Order and Action

First tab: Homepage
Second tab: Sign In
Third tab: Create Account
Fourth tab: Language selection between French and English 

Continuing to navigate through the site from the Homepage using the Tab key will take you through the links from top left to bottom right. You will be able to navigate through a variety of featured content, special programs, categories and news items using this method and starting on the Homepage. 
 

Accessing a film on VUCAVU without using a mouse


Once you start playing a title, click the Tab key until the video player is engaged to access the video player controls using your keyboard. In most cases the Tab key will need to be tapped 9 times to engage the video player, at which point, you can use keyboard shortcuts to perform certain actions without moving a cursor. 
 

Key Action
? (Shift + /) Pull up the keyboard shortcuts menu
Space Play/pause
⇧ Volume up
⇩ Volume Down
⇨ Scrub Forward
⇦ Scrub Backwards
C Toggle Captions
H Toggle Player Preferences Menu
F Toggle Fullscreen
Esc Exit Fullscreen 


The player controls can also be accessed using the Tab key. When doing so, a highlighted outline will appear around the selected control. Press Enter to activate the control.

A screenshot of the video player with a light blue line around the pause button.
Still from "The Peak Experience", Leslie Supnet, 8m 5s, (2018), Winnipeg Film Group. 
Image Description: A screenshot of the video player with a light blue line around the pause button.

Please note: Some assistive technology tools may override some of the video player’s keyboard shortcuts. 
 

Accessing Free Curated Programs 


Since launching our platform in 2017, VUCAVU has collaborated with curators and programmers from across the country to present film and video programs available for free streaming for a limited time. Most programs include a critical curatorial essay that explores the overarching themes of their selections. 

Active curated programs can always be accessed through links on our homepage. FREE curated programs are only available for specific dates and times. After the free viewing period has expired, we encourage folks to read the essays and rent the works individually. 

For a detailed description of how to watch a FREE Program on VUCAVU, click here!  
 

Feedback


We welcome feedback on the accessibility of the films on VUCAVU. Please send questions and comments to support@vucavu.com.

Last updated: November 30, 2022