THE PANDEMIC STREAMING WORLD: Oscilloscope, Kino Lorber, Music Box Films

[Chris Knipp]

A DESERTED VENICE FILM FESTIVAL HEADQUARTERS > vULTURE /NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

FESTIVALS AND THE PANDEMIC

Each big festival is making its own decisions. Cannes cancelled and did not follow through on the idea of linking up virtually with some other festival. Venice has decided to go ahead, under special conditions, fewer films, more venues, controlled attendance. Telluride has decided to cancel but has published its entire program-that-is-not, with notes on where or how individual films on its list might be seen.

What's coming: Toronto plans a program of "physical screenings and drive-ins, digital screenings, virtual red carpets, press conferences, and industry talks," with a greatly reduced program, down from 200 feature films to 50. NYFF so far has named its Centerpiece film, Chloe Zhao's NOMADLAND (also featured at Venice ant the not-Telluride); Lincoln Center has not announced any logistics or plans otherwise.

Vulture, the main website of New York Magazine, had an article a fortnight ago by Nate Jones on "How Each Major Film Festival Is Responding to the Coronavirus."