Change for global film festivals is a constant, but never more than in 2020. This year, the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced major film festivals to take place mostly online to connect with audiences, leaving organizers and programmers to grapple with questions on how to build digital platforms, remain relevant with cinephiles and protect the traditional theatrical experience.
Tabitha Jackson, director of the Sundance Film Festival, told a TIFF panel on the future of festivals that her U.S. event is pushing ahead with a 2021 edition while weighing physical and digital options for next year amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. "There wasn't a moment where we thought we should not put on a festival...