A stark reminder of the long-lasting cultural effects of COVID-19 came crashing down on us this morning. The Sundance Film Festival is already planning a January edition of the festival and, according to new festival director Tabitha Jackson, it plans on going fully digital, with 20 cities to host live screenings.
Jackson penned a blog post on the official Sundance site about the blueprint for what the future of the festival might hold, describing the next edition as “a single festival expressed locally, globally, in-person, and online.” Jackson’s actions seem to insinuate that there probably won’t be a COVID-19 vaccine available on-time for the mid-January event. Also, travel will be greatly limited, so why not just expand Sundance to many other cities with a digital platform to screen ALL the movies that will be part of the lineup.
“The 2021 Sundance Film Festival will be a grand partnership of communities,” wrote Jackson. “It will take place live in Utah and in at least 20 independent and community cinemas across the U.S. and beyond.”
While the full program plays out in Utah, each of our partners will host a bespoke slate from the official selection alongside complementary programming of their own. Their communities acting as vibrant hubs of creativity, maker culture, and adventurous audiences.”
“At the center of all our planning, the 2021 Sundance Film Festival will have an online home, making the festival accessible in a way it never has been before,” she said. “Audiences will have the opportunity to view the curated program and take part in discussions and special live events online via a brand-new platform.”
And yet, Christopher Nolan still believes he can release “Tenet” this summer.
So, those of you who went this weekend: what did you make of it? Where do you land on Holmes, and — most fascinatingly — on Billy Evans, her sniffling, controlling, weirdo husband?