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| The resort in Utah where the festival is usually held Photo: David Poe |
The Sundance Film Festival has today announced that it will be holding its 2022 screenings entirely online, dropping plans for a hybrid event. "Despite the most ambitious protocols, the Omicron variant with its unexpectedly high transmissibility rates is pushing the limits of health safety, travel and other infrastructures across the country," it said in a statement.
Reflecting on the loss which this would represent to filmmaker and artists, they added "The undue stress to Summit County’s health services and our more than 1,500 staff and volunteers would be irresponsible in this climate. It has become increasingly clear over the last few days that this is the right decision to make for the care and well-being of all of our community."
The festival will still open on 20 January and run for 11 days. Further details have yet to be released, with the festival stating: "We ask for your patience as we work to make the necessary adjustments."
Organisers added: "We believe in the transformative power of artists and their work. Today, as we navigate all that the pandemic throws at us we go back to what is certain: Gathering together - in whatever way we can - is profound. Community matters. We follow the artist. So, we look forward to sharing with you the extraordinary work that fuels our Festival, experiencing it together, and celebrating the artists who will change the culture."
