I am not attending the 2020 South by Southwest Film Festival, not because of Coronavirus fears, but rather because I find this year’s lineup to be quite middling. I am not even thinking about the risk of catching the virus and possibly dying as a result? Why? Because I am not part of the demographics that seem to be dying from the Covid-19 virus, a respiratory epidemic that will likely continue its infectious course through the summer months.
Regardless, the SXSW dates (3.13 through 3.22) have risen enough panic for the likes of Netflix, Apple, Amazon, Mashable, Facebook, Twitter, and many others, to cancel all their screenings, events and panel [via Variety]. They’ll be avoiding Austin like the plague.
In particular, Netflix backing out is an unfortunate scenario for SXSW, as a total of five fims, including the narrative feature “Uncorked,” along with documentaries “A Secret Love,” “L.A. Originals,” “Mucho Mucho Amor,” and “Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics” will now be skipping the Austin event. Apple, on the other hand, was expected to premiere the highly anticipated rock doc “Beastie Boys Story” from director Spike Jonze, in addition to two TV shows, “Central Park” and “Home.”
The fact that an American film festival is being hit hard by the Coronavirus hysteria means that other upcoming festivals, most notably this coming May’s 73rd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, are headed towards, more and more likely, being canceled. Especially since the virus has actually hit Europe much more harshly than the States.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.