The new Omicron variant makes fear the worst for the organizers of film festivals, some of which are already announcing the virtual holding of their activities.
The Rotterdam International Film Festival (IFFR) has moved its industry activities online, due to the spread of the Omicron variant and the worrying increase in cases in the Netherlands. And if nothing has been confirmed for the moment, everything suggests that the festival, scheduled for January 26, will also be canceled in its face-to-face form.
“We are closely monitoring developments in the Netherlands and are already predicting that the circumstances, as well as the government restrictions put in place to combat the current wave of COVID-19, will have an impact on the shape of IFFR 2022, ”said Rotterdam festival director Vanja Kaludjercic on Wednesday.
Discussions are also continuing on the side of the Sundance festival (January 20-30) and the Berlin Film Festival (February 10-20) which traditionally opens the year for the film industry.
The European Cinema Awards, which had scheduled an in-person ceremony in Berlin on December 11, have already opted for a hybrid model.