In the light of the COVID-19 outbreak, Fribourg International Film Festival, FIFF 2020 slated for March 20th–28th in Fribourg, Switzerland has been called off with the organizers offering to refund where necessary.
According to a press statement made available to TCN, the organizers concluded that it would be impossible to comply with the important public health and safety restrictions which the current situation demands and at the same time offer the public the cordial, open and quality experience it has come to expect from the Festival.
Also, following recommendations from the authorities, and a subsequent call from the DICS (Cantonal Department of Education, Culture and Sport) to cancel the school screenings – a cornerstone of the Festival – the FIFF Organising Committee decided not to go ahead with the 2020 edition.
According to the statement, the festival team is currently exploring a range of options that would allow not only the public to enjoy the FIFF 2020 programme, albeit in a different format, but also to celebrate the filmmakers and their work it had chosen to showcase this year.
Some of the alternatives FIFF is currently looking at include screening the programme online or hosting special screenings throughout the year, notably for films in the following sections: Genre Cinema: Topsy-Turvy Worlds (alternate history), New Territory: Rwanda, and Planète Cinéma (school programme).
Also, the festival committee offers option of refunds to those who have purchased tickets or passes for the event.
‘For anyone who has already bought tickets or passes for FIFF 2020, three options are available: use them for the 35th edition, ask for a refund or, as a gesture of support, donate the refund to FIFF.
The festival promised to provide more detailed information about the revised 34th edition during its next press conference rescheduled for today Wednesday, 11th March at the Safe Gallery BCF (Boulevard de Pérolles 1, Fribourg).
Also, the festival organizers have also canceled its preview event, planned for Thursday, 12th March 2020 at the Kino REX.
“Due to restrictions currently in place in the canton of Bern, FIFF has also decided to cancel its preview event, planned for Thursday, 12th March 2020 at the Kino REX. Thank you for all your support to date and we look forward to sharing our plans for the “34.5” edition of FIFF with you in the very near future,” the statement reads.
