Well, this hits hard. It looks like the 71st Berlinale, the first big European film festival of the year which traditionally takes place in February, will not go ahead in its usual form, and will instead develop into a new festival format for 2021. The industry platforms European Film Market, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund will kick off the 71st Berlinale in March with an online offer. In June, there will be a summer event with numerous film screenings for the public audiences – in cinemas as well as open air. The division allows to maintain the two supporting pillars: film market and festival.
“There is a great desire to meet face-to-face. The current situation does not allow a physical festival in February, at the same time it is important to offer the film industry a market within the first quarter of the year,” says Berlinale Executive Director Mariette Rissenbeek. “With the change in the festival format in 2021, we will have the chance to protect the health of all guests and to support the restart of the cinema industry. With the summer event, we want to celebrate a festival for the cinema and offer the Berlinale audience the long-awaited community experience of cinema and culture.”
The current process of selecting films for the Competition and the sections will be continued. The programme will be published in February and presented to the film industry at the virtual European Film Market (EFM) in March. An International Jury will watch the films in Berlin and will choose the prize winners. The winners and a selection of the films will be presented to the Berlin audience in the summer. To start off the summer event, the Berlinale is planning a festive opening.
“As an answer to the times in which we are living, we have decided to split our offer into two distinct, yet related events and in this way fulfil the mission of the Berlinale. While in March the film industry will be gathered (online) and will be able to support and give light to our selection, in summer – like a new start, 70 years after the first edition – our audiences will be able to celebrate the filmmakers and their teams, in theatres and under the open sky. This gives the opportunity to experience the different sections and profiles of the festival, to watch the films of the international Competition and to celebrate with the winners of the Golden and Silver Bears in a cheerful atmosphere,” says Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian.
