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It should have happened this week, but the pandemic has raised questions about whether we need film festivals at all
Few towns will be feeling the cultural impact of the pandemic next week as much as Cannes. At this time it should be abuzz with preparations for the film festival, which was due to open on 12 May. The red carpets would be at the dry cleaners, the hotels would be stocking up on champagne, and women would be packing their high heels (several female attendees were turned away in 2015 for wearing flat shoes).
However, despite attempted postponements and workarounds (red carpet masks?), Cannes is not happening this year. Autumn festivals such as Venice and Toronto are also in doubt. As with so many other aspects of life, the pandemic has exposed the fragility of film festivals, and raised the question of how much we need them at all. Continue reading...