Venice Film Festival Set To Start Tomorrow As The First COVID-Safe Film Festival

Venice Film Festival is set to open to guests tomorrow (Wednesday 2/08/20) as the first film festival to go ahead after Covid restrictions have been implemented.

Ahead of the event guests were sent a list of Covid-19 guidelines, including information on passing through thermo-scanners as they enter the festival and anyone found to have a body temperature of 37.5°C or higher will be denied access.

The guidance also states that face coverings must be worn at all times, including in outdoor areas. Although it has not yet been made clear if attendees will be allowed to eat or drink while in screenings.

On Venice’s opening night eight festival directors, including the Cannes boss Thierry Frémaux, will stand together in order to “reassert the importance of the art of cinema as a sign of solidarity towards the global film industry which has been hit hard by the pandemic”, according to a statement from the festival.

This year the line up has fewer big names and major studios are staying away so it will be interesting to see how this year’s festival turns out.