The fall film festival season seems to be in flux, right now. After the spring and summer schedule has been wiped out, with only Cannes trying its best to hold a physical festival, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely going to impact the fall events, as well. TIFF has already outlined its concern that something could greatly change the fall festival. And now, it appears that Venice is willing to talk about what might happen if the pandemic is still an issue by in September.
The Italian news agency ANSA (via Variety) recently spoke to Roberto Cicutto, the president of the Venice Film Festival, about the idea that the event will have to make changes to its regular schedule given the outbreak of COVID-19 that is still greatly impacting the world. Regardless of current regulations that are being followed by the Italian people, currently, Cicutto is convinced that Venice will be able to open in September. And that idea that Cannes is going to collaborate with Venice? Well, that’s far too premature to say at this point.
“With Cannes, everything is possible, but I find it disconcerting that Thierry Fremaux keeps saying he is continuing to examine the situation and does not say what he wants to do,” he said. “We are going forward with our program, and if Cannes is still thinking [about their course of action] then there is no dialogue.”
Cicutto went on to say that, as it stands, there’s currently “no hypothesis” for a joint Cannes/Venice outing.
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So, with Cannes involvement seemingly not in the cards, right now at least, how are Cicutto and the other Venice organizers moving forward with the festival? At this point, the festival president said that they’re “doing simulations regarding a typical festival day.” And he’s aware that the current regulations against opening theaters in Italy, combined with the travel issues for the foreign press, will provide some hurdles for the event to figure out.
Regardlng the press, Cicutto admits that digital technology will be “important,” likely signaling that critics that can’t make it in person will have the opportunity to view online screeners for films, similarly to how it’s been done with SXSW and Tribeca. As of now, the details are being worked out and Cicutto says that organizers are working on “a proposal that we will bring forward to producers” to get everyone’s approval.
As far as theaters go, Cicutto is confident that Venice will be able to hold traditional screenings, even if the government has regulations against large gatherings.
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He said, “It’s one thing to manage six or seven circumscribed movie theaters” versus the “thousands of theaters” that are currently shut down. Cicutto says that he thinks the Italian government will give the Venice Film Festival special accommodations to allow for the traditional theatrical experience.
So, unlike what’s going on with Cannes, at the moment, it appears that Cicutto and Venice have some ideas and confidence that the festival will move ahead, as planned, with only some minor tweaks. So, as of now, Venice is expected to kick off on September 2.