The Guanajuato International Film Festival will be in two formats

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The dates to attend the Guanajuato International Film Festival is from September 18 to 27

Guanajuato.- The Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF) of Mexico reported that it does not rule out the possibility of carrying out this year’s edition in person, although it will also have a virtual format after many appointments of the seventh art had than docking to the network amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Picnic-cinema”, drive-ins, cinema screenings, a virtual space called “Virtual Campus” and some face-to-face events with unannounced personalities are some of the activities for which the festival, which is held in the central state of Guanajuato and is led by Sarah Hoch, will bet on its 2020 edition.

Renta de camionetas con chofer para viajar a Guanajuato ...
Guanajuato

“We want to rescue the activities of the festival as much as possible,” said Hoch, director of the GIFF, although some that are going to be lost, including the “Guest Country” section.

That section, one of the most important of the festival and in which the culture of a country could be known through the big screen, last year hosted the Philippines and invited the filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik as a guest.

In addition, for reasons of prevention, there will also be no tributes to great figures in the industry, of which this year, according to the director, although she did not specify names, one has just died and others are “older”.

“We cannot expose them due to the pandemic (of the coronavirus), we hope to be able to do it in person in 2021,” he explained.

However, this does not mean that there are no special international guests at the festival, and although some are expected to participate virtually, others will be present at the events.

“We have some international guests who have told us they want to come, but what is certain is that we are not going to announce it, only those who are here at the event on those days will be surprised to see them take the stage to avoid having the crowd and groups of people, “he said.

The festival will be in force for ten days, which is expected to be held in September and, in addition to the venues known as San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato, the city of Irapuato is added with the intention of reaching a Greater public that is mostly expected to be local.

Qué hacer en San Miguel de Allende en Día de Muertos?
San Miguel de Allende

“It will be three days in San Miguel de Allende, two days in Irapuato, two in the virtual space for training and industry spaces and three days in Guanajuato capital,” Hoch said of the calendar.

Irapuato
Irapuato

Bet on technology

The festival, in force since 1998, has been characterized by the promotion of the technology section. That is why they will have two days dedicated to the “Virtual Campus”, a space in which anyone in the world can have access if they make an “avatar” (digital character) to be able to be part of it.

This campus will operate similarly to that of a video game and, in addition to the general public, renowned critics and filmmakers will participate, who will also have access to different venues in real-time and will be able to share content online as well as their experiences.

“You can enter from your computer. For those who are ‘gamers’ it will be even easier and you have the option to do it with your virtual reality viewers,” said Hoch.

In addition, the director explained that, despite everything, “it is a good year”, because the competing films and the premieres that they will have are very interesting and include international films that could not have their premiere at other festivals throughout this year.

“The vast majority of our competing programming and movies by invitation will be on online platforms similar to Netflix, you can watch the movies at home and some people will be able to come to face-to-face events in the three cities”, he explained.

However, Hoch commented that the direction that the festival may take due to the pandemic is still uncertain, but comments that protocols have been worked on by the Ministry of Health to ensure that it is carried out in the best way.

Other activities to do while in Guanajuato

Source: debate.com.mx

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