As with other big events, film festivals have been hard hit by the Coronavirus, with cancellations, postponements and other changes enforced. The London Film Festival is following suit this year, planning a vastly changed programme split between virtual premieres, talks and premieres in cinemas across the country.
Audiences at home will be able to watch 50 screenings digitally and, in a shake-up, viewers will have the chance to vote on Audience Awards in four categories: Best Fiction Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Short Film, and Best XR. The screenings will be bolstered by virtual filmmaker Q&As.
LFF In Cinemas, meanwhile, is anticipating that cinemas around the country will have re-opened by the time of the festival, with plans for 12 film screenings. That, of course, will be dependent on Corona-conditions. Short films, a brand new Virtual Exhibition of XR and Immersive Art are all planned as part of the fest.
The 2020 edition of the festival is scheduled for 7-18 October, and the full programme is due to be announced on 8 September.