Berlin Film Festival to happen virtually in 2021
- The new COVID-19 lockdown in Germany has forced some major changes for the festival
- The Coronavirus infection rates shot up in Germany in recent weeks
- The European country went into full lockdown, shutting schools and all non-essential businesses
The Berlin Film Festival, one of the world’s leading gathering points for the international film industry, is set to go virtual for its 71st edition in 2021, reports Variety.com.
The festival was originally scheduled to run as a physical event from February 11-21, but rising COVID-19 infections in Germany have made the change in the decision. It is now looking to stage a competition section in a virtual format in early March.
The festival is a major event for the film business, with 18,518 industry guests from 132 countries attending in 2020.
Germany went into full lockdown because of the increased infection rate, shutting schools and all nonessential shops and businesses.
The European Film Market (EFM), the industry event that runs parallel to the Berlinale, will also follow the same as the body has already announced plans to incorporate online screenings and market events into its 2021 edition.
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