Corona pandemic
Berlinale: No plans to postpone the festival
The symbol of the Berlinale, the bear, was taken at the Berlinale Palast during the 67th International Film Festival. Photo: Jens Kalaene / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The Berlinale is one of the big festivals that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors – usually. This year it had to be partially virtual. That is by no means planned for 2022, they say.
The Berlin Film Festival has denied reports of postponing the 2022 Berlinale. “We would like to emphasize that there are no plans to postpone the festival or the market to a later date or to have them take place virtually,” said a statement on Thursday.
The US magazine “Variety” had previously reported a postponement from the planned February date to June next year.
The article was based on unknown sources and rumors, it was said at the Berlinale. “We don’t know where these rumors come from and we want to avoid the industry developing wrong ideas about the shape of the Berlinale 2022.” Alongside Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the most important international film festivals and has a permanent place in the festival calendar. The European Film Market of the Berlinale and the Marché du Film in Cannes are “the most important film markets in the world”.
The festival and film market are “still” planned as face-to-face events under 2G conditions with access only for those who have been vaccinated or recovered. An extension to 2G plus with mask, distance, tests or limited capacities is possible. “How which option is used, we will decide and implement in close coordination with the authorities.”
Along with Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the major film festivals. Thousands of visitors usually come to Berlin. Before the pandemic, more than 300,000 tickets had been sold for the film screenings. This year, the Berlinale was divided because of the pandemic: In the spring, experts could watch films online, and films for the audience were only shown late in the summer. This time there will be another festival at Potsdamer Platz in February.