Berlin Film Festival in Germany to go virtual

The 71st edition of the Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) has been set to go virtual amid raise in coronavirus infections in Germany, a report says.

Variety said on Wednesday it had learned that the Berlinale, which was originally scheduled to run in-person on February 11-21, is now planned to hold a competition section in a virtual format in early March.

According to the report, the European Film Market, which runs alongside the festival, will also take place online during the same period.

“A mini-festival with a series of onsite world premieres is being planned for early June,” Variety added.

According to the report, a spokesperson for the festival declined to comment, but said their plans will be announced later this week.

The news comes amid rising COVID-19 infection rates in Germany.

On Wednesday, Germany’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, reported a record of 952 fatalities, and 27,728 new cases while the country entered a harder lockdown, closing shops and schools.

The Berlinale is one of the leading gathering points for the international film industry in the world.

SQ/MG