This week, we saw the kick-off of the Venice Film Festival. And even though the event is a big deal every year, in 2020 the launch of an in-person film festival in the pandemic era makes Venice a much more interesting affair. But according to Luca Guadagnino, the filmmaker believes it’s important that Venice and the subsequent fall festivals happen as planned, for the sake of the film industry and the theatrical experience.
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Speaking to Deadline, Guadagnino talked about the importance of the in-person Venice Film Festival and why he’s fully supportive of events that follow safety protocols but still provide a place for film fans to enjoy the theatrical experience in a year where most people have been enjoying films and TV shows from their own home.
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“I think it’s very important this festival happens because we shouldn’t forget the scale of the impact of the pandemic on the theatrical and live entertainment sectors,” said Guadagnino. “Anything that can help re-start the engine and help make people realize that theatrical isn’t passed forever is important. Because it isn’t true. That may be an agenda of the streamers, but that’s not what reality is telling us. Reality is telling us we have to deal with security measures and distancing and protection, but the theatrical experience is something that cannot be considered finished. Actually, it’s the opposite. I’m in favor of movies opening, of ‘Tenet’ opening…”
Even though Guadagnino is a huge fan of the theatrical experience (who isn’t?), the filmmaker does understand that the rise of streaming and prestige TV isn’t something that can be ignored. But to him, Guadagnino doesn’t think anything can replace the big screen.
“The demand is huge ,” said the filmmaker. “And I recently made ‘We Are Who We Are’ for HBO, which was a great experience, but the theatrical experience is something that is part of how we gather and we live our lives. We are bound by the communal experience and by an emotion that comes from the big screen. I don’t think that should be considered over because of this traumatic situation.”
As mentioned, Guadagnino’s most recent project is the forthcoming “We Are Who We Are.” He’s also set to screen his upcoming documentary, “Salvatore: Shoemaker Of Dreams,” as well as his new short “Fiori, Fiori, Fiori” at Venice.