2020 Telluride film fest capitulated to coronavirus

The US-based Telluride Film Festival has capitulated to the coronavirus pandemic and cancelled its 2020 edition amid growing numbers of COVID-19 cases.

“After months of intense due diligence around physically holding an event, we’ve come to the heartbreaking but unanimous conclusion to cancel this year’s Labor Day celebration of film in Telluride,” the festival’s organizers said in a statement.

“But with a seemingly unending number of new cases of COVID-19 and the national chaos around it, even the best strategy is threatened by this out-of-control environment,” the statement added.

The event, viewed as a key stop in the run-up to the Oscars, was scheduled for September 3-7.

The latest development came about a week after Telluride and three other fall film festivals: Toronto, New York, and Venice announced their intention to cooperate rather than compete in response to the pandemic, sharing ideas and information.

The novel coronavirus first emerged in China late last year and has now infected millions of people and killed hundreds of thousands across the world.

The pandemic impacted many events and forced the cancellation or the postponement of various festivals.

SQ/MG