“This year is so unpredictable,” conceded Chatrian, highlighting concerns about limitations on audience numbers if social distancing requirements remain in place when Berlin rolls around in 2021, as well as the potential impact of the current production shutdown.
On the production shutdown subject and a potential lack of available product, Jackson said there could also inversely be a surplus of product, if the upcoming fall festivals are unable to take place in a meaningful way. “It will mean half the industry doesn’t lave halfway through [our festival] to go do campaign lunches,” noted Jackson.Sloss also posed the question, if social distancing requirements do remain in place, restricting the number of tickets that can be sold and delegates that can be welcomed, will online screenings be leaned on at these festivals?
Chatrian noted that, because European festivals tend to rely more on public funding than their American counterparts, there is less freedom to how they operate. However, he acknowledged that the Berlinale, which is a hugely popular audience festival and sold 330,000 tickets this year, would face an extra challenge in 2021. “We know next year we won’t be able to offer the same number [of tickets],” he conceded.
“A European premiere in Berlin can be as effective as a world premiere in Berlin,” said Sloss. “It would be great if filmmakers could count on those two festivals to highlight their films in different parts of the world. In a moment where we’re hurting so much, is this an opportunity for Sundance and Berlin to coordinate more to shine a light on those films?”
“I’ve always thought the emphasis on world premieres over the emphasis on the programming is problematic,” replied Sloss. “But I know there’s a lot of pressure from local authorities, from the press, to have world premieres.”