As the Oscar season draws closer, one of its most important film festivals has made the choice to go on as planned. The Venice Film Festival has confirmed it will hold its 77th edition from September 2-12.
Roberto Cicutto, president of the festival’s parent group, the Venice Biennale, told Italian news agency ANSA on Monday that there are no plans to cancel the festival. Cicutto stated, “With Cannes everything is possible. But I find it disconcerting that Thierry Fremaux keeps saying he is continuing to examine the situation and does not say what he wants to do. We are going forward with our program…there is no dialogue [with Cannes].”
Cicutto said he was confident Italian authorities would grant Venice special permission to open “six or seven circumscribed movie theaters” during the festival for screenings.
During the interview, Cicutto did admit that international attendance in Venice for this year’s festival is expected to drop sharply from previous years, given health concerns and the travel restrictions likely to still be in place.
Cicutto said the Venice Biennale will unveil further plans by the end of May.
