Despite growing concerns about the global pandemic, an industry that’s still in lockdown, and festivals being canceled left and right, the 2020 edition of the Telluride Film Festival will still go on as planned over Labor Day weekend.
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In a press release, festival organizers confirmed that the 47th edition of the festival will happen as planned, only it will an additional day added for safety reasons to allow more space between and within screenings. “We’re contacting you today to let you know we’re hard at work to provide a safe and joyous environment that will include an extra day to allow more space within and between screenings, along with all of the necessary safety tweaks and adjustments you’ve become very familiar with, regardless of where you call home,” the festival said in an email to prospective attendees.
This follows similar statements by the Venice Film Festival and the Lumière Film Festival which will carry on as usual. We’re still waiting to hear whether the Toronto International Film Festival ends up going ahead as planned or how they’ll adapt to the global pandemic.
“We are not ignorant of the devastation facing the world. We feel the fear and distress too. This is why we are committed to observing all guidance as suggested by the consensus of voices of the scientific community with whom we are consulting now. This will not be a business as usual event. Things will look and feel very different,” the email continues, though it offers very little details on how these “necessary safety tweaks” will work.
The email states that the festival will add an extra chartered flight from New York “to ensure easier and more controlled transit for our East Coast friends,” but we still don’t know how the actual screenings will be arranged. Additionally, a large number of attendees are over 60, and it has largely been recognized that age plays a factor in the spread and effect of the disease.
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The Telluride organizers acknowledge that many regular attendees may choose to skip traveling to the festival this year. “For those of you who opt to not join us, we absolutely understand and support this decision. Your reasons surely involve heightened personal health concerns and you must do what is the very best for you. We trust and hope you’ll be back with us the next time we can provide optimal conditions for the SHOW. May that be soon.”