Last year‘s Sundance Film Festival was one of the few events left unaffected by Covid-19. Taking place about a month and a half before the country went into lockdown, the fest went ahead as planned. Unfortunately, that will not be the case this year. Thankfully, Sundance organizers have come up with a plan to maximize everyone’s enjoyment of one of the most prestigious film festivals of the year.
As last year progressed, many film festivals tried different things to manufacture a sense of normalcy. Circumstances required going virtual, but everyone did it their own way. From using Teams to having attendees log into virtual theaters, there were a variety of methods to attend film festivals in 2020.
This year‘s edition of the Sundance film Festival is attempting the most ambitious version of a pandemic era film festival yet. Obviously, a virtual component is going to be a big part of it. It is also important to note that festival organizers have been adamant in telling movie fans to not travel to Park City, Utah. Instead of having festival fans come to Sundance, the plan is to bring Sundance to them.
Along with the online portion, the Sundance film Festival will also be available in theaters around the country. (It was announced that Southern California drive in screenings were cancelled due to Covid.) Sundance organizers are doing everything they can to safely replicate the festival feel. This includes being able to see live Q&A‘s whether watching a film online or at a theater.
This is a bold and exciting move by Sundance. The movie industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and film festivals have had to create an entirely new model to continue. The Sundance film Festival is attempting an innovative way to showcase its 70+ films while attempting to provide a festival atmosphere to all those who will be attending.
Are festival fans ready? Sundance officials are aware that the answer is not a universal “yes”. However, by providing an option, the Sundance Film Festival becomes more appealing to many. There is a sense of fun and excitement that is immediately added to the fest. It also gives those who have not been able to attend due to financial or geographical reasons a chance to go. Most importantly, it may be the first steps in a better year.
The Sundance Film Festival is from January 28 – February 3. Visit the official site for a full list of movies and locations .
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