2020 Milwaukee Film Festival will go on, but ...
The 2020 Milwaukee Film Festival likely will not be a full-time, in-person event, because of the public health concerns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The likelihood of us holding a 15day, in-person event on the scale of our record-breaking (2019 festival) this fall is exceedingly low,” Jonathan Jackson, CEO and artistic director of Milwaukee Film, said in an email Monday.
Milwaukee Film is exploring “virtual platforms” with possible in-person components to replace the traditional, all-in-theaters event, but nothing has been finalized, Jackson said.
“One thing is certain: We are committed to holding a film festival experience this fall,” he said.
Some festivals, most notably SXSW, have been forced to cancel at the last minute as circumstances surrounding the pandemic forced their hands. Others, like the Tribeca Film Festival, have shifted to an all-online experience.
The 2019 Milwaukee Film Festival reported a record attendance of 87,618, with screenings in Milwaukee Film’s flagship, the Oriental Theatre, and the Times Cinema, Avalon Theatre, Jann Serr Studio Cinema, Rivoli Theatre and the Broadway Theatre Center.
Milwaukee Film expects to announce how the 2020 edition of the Milwaukee festival will be structured soon.
“We are working on the best way to be good stewards of your financial support for our nonprofit, to serve our community, and to still deliver a festival experience,” Jackson said.