A teenage girl from County Fermanagh who had to travel 140 miles to find a cinema showing a film with audio description has received backing from Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet.

Eryn, 14, from Brookeborough, who has been blind since birth, made the three-hour round trip to see The Magic Faraway Tree because her nearest cinema, the IMC in Enniskillen, does not offer audio description headsets. She had listened to the audiobooks of the series, voiced by Winslet, many times.

After hearing about Eryn’s journey, Winslet, together with the film’s producer Dame Pippa Harris and screenwriter Simon Farnaby, arranged a surprise video call. During the conversation, Winslet expressed astonishment at the distance Eryn had to travel and said she wanted to help make cinema more inclusive.

Harris told Eryn they hoped to build momentum to ensure all cinemas provide audio-described versions of films. Farnaby joked he was writing a part for her in a sequel. Eryn said she hopes that having such a well-known figure supporting her campaign will make more people take the issue seriously and put pressure on cinemas to improve access.

Ben Luxford, Director of UK Audiences at the British Film Institute, described Eryn’s experience as a powerful reminder of the reality many audiences face and said the institute advocates for regular accessible screenings across the industry.

Eryn enjoyed the film despite the travel and was grateful to speak to the people behind it. She said she recognised Winslet’s voice immediately and was shocked by the call.