The Venice Film Festival is set to go ahead as scheduled from September 2-12.
The region’s governor Luca Zaia said the world’s longest-running film festival marks the first major film industry event that hasn’t been postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus. Earlier this month, Italy set out plans for restrictions to be lifted on travel and businesses including cinemas.
“We know that it would be simply impossible to plan a festival without knowing if you all are willing to use the Festival to give a new start and a strong sign for keeping cinema alive, even in these difficult times,” wrote Venice’s artistic director Alberto Barbera.
Zaia was quoted by local media as saying that there will be fewer films at the 77th edition due to global productions being halted. The lineup is usually announced in late July and Cate Blanchett is the president of the jury this year.
Sunday would have marked the end of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival and organizers are hopeful that it will be live on in some way this summer, probably in Venice.
