Experiencing cinema in any way possible: Three scenarios for the 61st TIFF

61^st Thessaloniki International Film Festival || 5 - 15/11/2020  

Experiencing cinema in any way possible: Three scenarios for the 61^st TIFF

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival presents three different scenarios for its 61^st edition that will take place from November 5 – November 15, 2020. Each scenario depends on the situation that will prevail in Greece at the time. The Festival’s team monitors the COVID-19 situation and is in constant collaboration with the medical authorities, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the City of Thessaloniki and the Region of Central Macedonia.

In all three scenarios, our main goal is to support the Greek film community. Agora, the industry section of the Festival, will use its tools and experience to support film professionals through actions, workshops, initiatives and new awards. The main activities of Agora will take place online and next week they will be presented in full.

Scenario #1

In the case movie theaters are open in Greece:

• The theaters in Thessaloniki (Olympion, Pavlos Zannas, Tonia Marketaki, Frida Liappa, Stavros Tornes, John Cassavetes, Makedonikon) will show the films of the 61^st TIFF. The number of screenings will be reduced, and there will be three screenings per day in each movie theater, in order to ensure sufficient time for safe entry and exit. There will, also, be a gap of two hours between the screenings for the disinfection of movie theaters and for securing adequate ventilation. Admission to the theaters will begin 30 minutes before the start of the screening. Every second seat will be left unoccupied. The use of a mask is mandatory before, after and during the screening, while social distancing will be maintained. The entry and exit of the spectators from the theaters will follow the necessary safety measures. This year, for safety reasons, the Festival becomes cashless and the purchase of tickets will be made with the use of a credit or debit card. All events will be in line with current health protocols. The Festival will take all the additional measures that will be in force at the time, having as a priority the safety of the spectators, the guests and the staff.
• Part of the program, mainly the tribute to science fiction, will travel to three cities this year. Specifically, it will be screened in the cinemas Odeon Paralimnio in Ioannina, Danaos in Athens and Vitsentzos Kornaros in Heraklion, Crete, with the same measures and specifications that will apply to the movie theaters of Thessaloniki.
• 75% of the program (more than 100 films) will be screened online in a special platform, so that people, who do not have the opportunity to come to our physical spaces, will be able to watch the films online. The Festival will comply with the rules of geoblocking and online screenings will be available to users exclusively from Greece. The ticket price will be 3 euros / viewing. Special discount ticket packages for both online and physical screenings will be available before the Festival.

Scenario #2

In case of a general lockdown, or a lockdown in the city of Thessaloniki, or if movie theaters in Thessaloniki are closed (but open in other cities in Greece):

• 75% of the program (more than 100 films) will be screened online in a special festival platform. However, the viewings will be increased by 40% for each of the films screened online. The ticket price for the online screenings will be 3 euros/viewing. Special discount ticket packages for online screenings will be available before the Festival.

• If movie theaters are closed in Thessaloniki, but open in the rest of Greece, then cinemas Odeon Paralimnio in Ioannina, Danaos in Athens and Vitsentzos Kornaros in Heraklion will screen the films from the Festival, as planned, following all the necessary health protocols. In any case, in the cities that movie theaters will operate, the scheduled festival screenings will take place as planned.
• The Thessaloniki International Film Festival will make more use of the Internet, in order to boost morale.

Scenario #3

In case movie theaters are open in Thessaloniki, but theaters in Athens, Ioannina or Heraklion, or in all three cities, are closed:

• The scheduled screenings, mainly the tribute to sci-fi, will take place online, with the exception of 3-4 films that are in 35 mm copies and there is no possibility for digital projection.
• In Thessaloniki, screenings will take place as planned in movie theaters, in accordance with all applicable health protocols.

• 75% of the program (more than 100%) will be available online, for spectators from all over the country, with the price of 3 euros/viewing. Special ticket packages for online and physical screenings will be available before the Festival.