Venice, Cannes and TIFF Are Still Major Question Marks

Now that the Cannes Film Festival has been postponed and is still trying its best to hold a physical festival in the fall, we are hearing October now, it does look as though the COVID-19 pandemic will leak through the fall fests, as well. That includes TIFF, which seems to be hinting at a possible digital format for this year’s edition, and, of course, the Venice Film Festival.

The Italian news agency ANSA (via Variety) spoke to the president of the Venice Film Festiva, Roberto Cicutto and, much like Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux, he seems convinced that Venice will be able to happen in early September. However, although Fremaux hinted at it, Cicutto is not entirely open at creating a collaborative effort with Cannes.

“With Cannes, everything is possible, but I find it disconcerting that Thierry Fremaux keeps saying he is continuing to examine the situation and does not say what he wants to do,” he said. “We are going forward with our program, and if Cannes is still thinking [about their course of action] then there is no dialogue.”

The Venice president went on to state that there is absolutely “no hypothesis” for a Cannes/Venice team-up. The difference between Cannes and Venice at this point is the potential embrace of digital media. Whereas Cannes refuses to budge when it comes to streaming, Fremaux’s festival pitting themselves in a corner with their militant anti-Netflix stance, the fall festivals (Venice and Toronto) are hinting at a potential embrace of a digital platform.

Of course, Ciccuto is very much aware of the major problems Venice may have, with travel issues for the foreign press a primary concern of his, which means world film may not actually be able to show up to cover the event. Cicutto admits that going digital, in some way shape or form, may be an “important” option for the festival to actually take place. What does this mean? Well, quite simply, Ciccuto seems open to the idea of online screeners for films, similar to how SXSW and Tribeca went about showcasing their lineups after their physical event were canceled last month. However, Cicutto is very confident that Venice will be holding physical, in-person screenings for, at the very least, Italian and European press.

“It’s one thing to manage six or seven circumscribed movie theaters” versus the “thousands of theaters” that are currently shut down. Cicutto says that he thinks the Italian government will give the Venice Film Festival special accommodations to allow for the traditional theatrical experience.

This is the way I see it at this point. If Venice were to take place then, again, due to travel bans, those attending would be restricted to just European passport holders, if TIFF were to take place then it would just be Canadians attending, ditto if Telluride and the New York Film Festival were to take place then it would just be Americans. Basically, borders would be closed, and we would just be going to our own local fests to see the hottie fall titles.