Creativity, AI, and Accessibility: ARSAD 2025 Returns to Barcelona

Celebrating a decade of innovation and inclusion, ARSAD has grown from a small gathering in 2007 into the world’s leading conference on audio description (AD). Every two years, ARSAD unites a vibrant, international community of researchers, industry professionals, broadcasters, cultural managers, policymakers, and users to explore the latest trends and challenges in AD. This year’s theme, Creativity in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence: Audio Description in a Changing World, promises to spark critical debate on the evolving role of AI in accessibility.

Keynote Focus: AI and the Future of Audio Description

Generative AI is reshaping industries, and audio description is no exception. ARSAD 2025 dives deep into this paradigm shift with a keynote by Sabine Braun (University of Surrey), titled Bridging the Accessibility Gap? The Role of AI in the Future of Audio Description Generation. Braun will explore both the opportunities and ethical questions raised by AI-driven AD.

A Rich and Diverse Programme

The three-day conference begins on 19 March with a pre-conference ENACT project workshop on media accessibility, free for all ARSAD participants. From there, the program expands into keynotes, panels, and workshops covering topics such as:

• AI in Audio Description: Industry experts and researchers will debate the promises and pitfalls of AI-generated AD.
• Accessibility in Video Games and the Metaverse: Exploring how technology can enhance experiences for visually impaired and neurodiverse users.
• Live AD and Immersive Experiences: Innovations in delivering audio descriptions in real-time, from film shoots to dance performances.
• Global Perspectives: Case studies from Brazil, China, Iran, and Europe highlighting the diversity of practices and challenges worldwide.
• Ethical and Inclusive Storytelling: Addressing representation, diversity, and bias in audio description.
• Training and Certification: Developing standards and training programs to support professional describers across the globe.

A special partnership with the WEL project (From Written to Oral Texts in Easy Language) will explore how innovative access services inspired by AD can reach new audiences, including neurodiverse users.

Beyond the Panels

ARSAD isn’t just about research papers. Attendees will enjoy a screening of Radiance/Hikari by Naomi Kawase with live audio description, informal networking events, and a cocktail reception—all fostering connection and collaboration in this dynamic field.

Meet the ARSAD 2025 Organisers

ARSAD 2025 is organized by TransMedia Catalonia, an international research group leading the way in media accessibility.
The conference coordinator is Anna Matamala, Full Professor at the Department of Translation and Interpreting and East Asian Studies at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). She is also the main researcher of TransMedia Catalonia, director of the AccessCat network, and holds a BA in Translation and Interpreting (UAB, 1996) and a PhD in Applied Linguistics (UPF, 2005).

The Full Programme is Out Now

The complete ARSAD 2025 program is available for download here or via the PDF link below.
👉 ARSAD 2025 Programme (updated 13-03-2025)

The schedule includes panels on AI-driven AD, accessibility in streaming services, new tools for immersive environments, and much more. Whether you’re a researcher, industry professional, or someone passionate about accessibility, ARSAD 2025 offers an unmissable opportunity to explore the future of audio description.

📅 Save the dates: 19, 20, and 21 March 2025
📍 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Stay tuned to FRED Film Radio for interviews from ARSAD 2025!