London Film Festival Shifting to Virtual Edition for 2020

HBO's Spike Lee–directed filmed version of David Byrne’s American Utopia Broadway stage play is set to open the virtual Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 10, fest organizers said on Tuesday (July 22). David Byrne's American Utopia features the Talking Heads frontman and 11 musical artists from around the world performing songs from the 2018 album American Utopia, as well as songs from Byrne's Talking Heads and solo catalog.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterThe Locarno Film Festival StepIn 2020 will take place virtually in the Variety Streaming Room August 5-7 with three 50-minute sessions covering the future of theatrical experience, the state of independent film production and the future of film festivals and markets.Speakers include Rodrigo Teixeira, Producer (‘Call Me By Your Name’, ‘Port Authority’); Kasi Lemmons, Director/Writer (‘Harriet’); Elissa Federoff, President Distribution, NEON; Daniel Battsek,

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Rome Film Festival has announced plans to hold a physical edition from Oct. 15-25, featuring several titles from the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection, alongside a roster of other pics including local crowdpleaser “Mi Chiamo Francesco Totti” (“My Name is Francesco Totti”), a doc about the A.S.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterMahmoud Sabbagh, the director of Saudi Arabai’s Red Sea Film Festival, is resigning from his role after being unable to take the reins at the event’s inaugural edition after it was cancelled due to the pandemic.No reason was given for Sabbagh’s decision to step down. The festival posted a statement on its social media channels thanking the exec for his work and noting he will now return to working in the Saudi film industry as a filmmaker.

First Cannes and now Telluride. The Telluride Film Festival informed pass holders that 2020 edition of the festival has been canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Pete Hammond Awards Columnist/Chief Film CriticAfter many attempts to carry on, the Telluride Film Festival has given into the reality of the Coronavirus pandemic and continuing outbreaks across the nation and today announced it is cancelling the 2020 edition. Here is the official letter sent by the festival:While there will be those who might say they’re not surprised by it, that this was inevitable, we beg to differ. It didn’t have to be this way.

Shalini Dore Features News EditorThe 20th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival will go online, powered by Movie Saints, following in the footsteps of many other fests.Running July 24-Aug. 2, the digital NYIFF will open with the streaming of Geetha J’s Malayalam-language “Run Kalyani,” about a woman who works as a cook while caring for her ailing aunt.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterThe American Film Market (AFM), one of the key international film events on the calendar, has decided to move online for 2020 in the face of continued coronavirus disruption.It had started to look inevitable in recent weeks that the market would need to change up this year, with virus spikes in the U.S.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterThe Jerusalem Film Festival (JFF) has shelved plans to host its latest edition August 20-30, and instead will look to hold a winter edition of the event this year, running December 10-20.The Israeli fest had been set to become of the first international film festivals to hold a physical incarnation following the spate of cancellations and postponements this summer prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Boys State, Luxor and Uncle Frank. It will also feature Q&As with filmmakers, a programme of short films, and a number of panel discussions.The programme has been unveiled! Sponsored by @adobe, our digitally reimagined Celebration of #SundanceLondon begins 7 August.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerPalm Springs International Film Festival has set new dates for the 32nd annual confab. The festival, which usually takes place in early January, will run from February 25, 2021 through March 8, 2021, kicking off with the Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

The Toronto Film Festival on Friday opened registration and shared details for its first-ever virtual industry conference. TIFF's online plans include industry conference sessions, networking events and digital showcases of film titles by national cinema agencies.

With the physical edition of the Sundance Film Festival: London — the U.K. spinoff of Utah's annual festival — having been postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, an online special has been unveiled in its place.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentThe organizers of Sundance Film Festival: London, the U.K. iteration of the Park City indie pic fiesta, are to hold a boutique event online, running Aug.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorThe Venice Film Festival this morning said that the 77th edition will go ahead from September 2-12 with certain changes owing to sanitary protocols imposed by the COVID-19 crisis.

The BFI London Film Festival finds itself experiencing many of the issues that are plaguing the 2020 festival circuit. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many events to close this year and with the fall shaping up to be only a slight bit better than the spring and summer, events like the LFF are having to adapt.

coronavirus crisis.The festival, which takes place from October 7-18, 2020 will host 50 virtual premieres and 12 previews of upcoming films held in theatres. Each of the 50 virtual premieres will play at a set time and feature additional elements including talent Q&As.The venues for the physical part of the festival are yet to be announced.

Naman Ramachandran The British Film Institute’s London Film Festival is adopting a hybrid online-physical model for its 64th edition, it was announced Thursday.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorAs coronavirus continues to reshape the festival calendar, the London Film Film has revealed its altered plans for 2020.The upcoming edition of the festival (7-18 October) will feature live and digital screenings with 50 virtual premieres. It will be an online-heavy edition with a streamlined film selection and only a handful of physical events.

Rebecca Davis editorLondon’s Queer East Film Festival will run a virtual program of four free-to-stream Asian documentaries from July 3-31, as cinema closures due to coronavirus force its regular programming online.The festival typically seeks to bring rarely seen LGBTQ+ films from East and Southeast Asia to the U.K., but this year’s online iteration will be mostly available to viewers worldwide.Its “QE: Docs4Pride” virtual program features selections from the Philippines, China, Taiwan and