Sundance will be held in a completely virtual format per omicron.
Foto:
David Becker / Getty Images
With the omicron variant advancing, the managers of the Sundance Film Festival they just confirmed that they will cancel all their live events and it will be virtual only, as happened in 2021. Then, you will not have to be in Park City, Utah, to see the movies.
“The Utah live events of the festival will go online this year. While we are disappointed not to provide the full hybrid experience and to meet in person as planned, ”the organization regretted in a statement.
In this sense, the festival explained that it did not see feasible for thousands of artists, members of the public, workers and volunteers to meet in this event over eleven days, while local authorities have trouble offering the most essential services.
“Despite the most ambitious protocols, the omicron variant with its unexpectedly high contagion rates is exceeding the limits of health security, travel and other infrastructure throughout the country,” they added.
Sundance had taken many precautions, such as reducing the detection capacity to 60%, requiring masks and booster shots and requiring tests during the 11 days, but the increase in cases of Covid in the United States made it unfeasible to host it.
The date of the festival, however, remains: It will begin on January 20 as planned, to run until the 30th of the same month.
Sundance was expected to be one of the first festivals on the cinephile circuit to return to a completely face-to-face format and with full capacity, after reduced editions such as the last Berlinale or the most recent Cannes.
Sundance’s decision coincides with the one announced by the Recording Academy, which decided to postpone the celebration of the 64th edition of the Grammy Awards, scheduled for January 31 in Los Angeles, until a date yet to be defined.
What is the Sundance Film Festival?
Co-founded by actor Robert Redford, Sundance projects the best of independent film, art and documentary.
It has been presenting since 1978 a space for filmmakers and viewers seeking to discover new voices, fresh perspectives and original stories.
At first it was focused on the presentation of old films and retrospectives, and the filmmakers’ seminar. However, then a competition was established to pay attention to emerging and interesting films, which were outside the Hollywood system.
In 1981 the festival moved to Park City, Utah, and grew to include documentaries and shorts, in addition to its dramatic film program.
Among the feature films selected for this year are a four-hour documentary about Kanye West, as well as that of Lena Dunham and Jesse Eisenberg.
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eldiariony.com
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.