As the world battles the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some of the biggest film festivals around the world have come together to stream movies for free on YouTube after all movie productions and release have been put on pause.
As influential businesses come together to help tackle the pandemic; YouTube launched a free 10-day digital film festival with 20 partners for global cinema fans.
Tagged “We Are One: A Global Film Festival,” the 10-day online event will feature content curated by the Berlin; Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca and Venice film festivals, among others, starting May 29.
The festival will showcase films, documentaries, music, comedy and conversations. No details of the programming were announced. And it is unlikely that major new movies that generally launch at festivals would be included.
Purpose of the Event
“We are proud to join in the YouTube event to spotlight truly extraordinary films and talent; allowing audiences to experience both the nuances of storytelling from around the world. And the artistic personalities of each festival,” organizers of the Cannes film festival said on Monday.
Jane Rosenthal, a co-founder of the cancelled Tribeca film festival in New York, said the idea was to inspire and unite people across borders during the pandemic. “All of the world needs healing right now,” Rosenthal said.
However, No details of the programming were announced. And it is unlikely that major new movies that generally launch at film festivals would be included.
The cancellation of the May Cannes film festival in France and uncertainty around festivals in Venice and Toronto in September has robbed film-makers and movie studios of crucial windows to promote their new releases to the media and the public.
Other festivals taking part include those in Jerusalem, Mumbai, Sarajevo, Sydney, Tokyo and London.
While the festival will stream for free, viewers will be asked to donate to the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 solidarity response fund.