Veneto Governor Luca Zaia, who is on the board of directors for organizers, is confident the 77th edition will not be canceled or postponed, though bosses have yet to issue a formal statement.
- May 25, 2020
AceShowbiz - The 2020 Venice Film Festival will not be cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the local Italian governor.
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia, who is on the board of directors for organisers the Biennale di Venezia, is confident the annual September event will proceed as planned, as lockdown restrictions across the nation are starting to be eased.
According to local media outlets, the official acknowledged the line-up for the festival will likely be scaled back after productions across the world were halted over COVID-19 concerns back in March, but he believes there is no reason not to press ahead with the gathering.
Venice Film Festival bosses have yet to issue a formal statement on the updated status of the bash, which is pegged to take place from September 2 to 12, with actress Cate Blanchett appointed to lead the main competition jury.
The slate of movies set to screen at the event is typically unveiled in late July.
Zaia's comments echo those of Biennale president Roberto Cicutto, who last month declared organisers would defy the global health crisis to stage their 77th edition as planned.
If the Venice Film Festival does open in September, it will become the first major film event to be held in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
To date, more than 32,700 people in Italy have died due to COVID-19, the third highest total behind the U.S. and the U.K.
