Film Group
Film Group
Preserving through the Pandemic
BY ROSE FINLAY
The last few months have been a
challenging time for the film group
as we have worked to navigate the
reopening of cinemas, the shifting
sands of film release dates, and
the new rules required for industry
screenings. Still, through it all, many of
our members have continued to watch
films online while others have braved
the cinemas in order for us to have
plenty of new film reviews to publish
each month.
The new guidelines for attending
screenings in the cinemas are a
bit complex and include face
masks, socially-distant
assigned seating, and
pre-registration with
contact details in the
case of an outbreak.
While some
members are
understandably wary about attending
these screenings (myself included!),
we are lucky to have several intrepid
critics who venture forth to the Abaton
Kino to ensure that we are still covering
the new releases each month. So far, all
has gone smoothly and hopefully will
continue similarly throughout the rest
of this pandemic.
From September 24 until October 3 of
this year, the Filmfest Hamburg plans
to run a compact festival. Several of
our members are already working
on gaining accreditation, which will
include access to industry screenings
online and in the cinemas. As always,
we will make a special festival
edition magazine with our coverage,
which you can look forward to in
the coming months. For the general
public, films will be shown at various
cinemas throughout Hamburg, while
a selection will also be available online
on the complementary digital service
Streamfest Hamburg. More information
can be found at filmfesthamburg.de.
While the film industry continues to
figure out a new way forward, with
films released to half-empty cinemas
and video-on-demand, the Film Group
is prepared to rise to the challenge.
Whether by streaming from the comfort
of home or by following strict hygiene
guidelines at the cinema, our critics are
still diligently writing their opinions.
What the future might bring to the film
world is still a bit murky, but the Film
Group is still going strong.
36 In Hamburg