On Thursday, the Berlinale, Europe’s first major international film festival of the year, will be broadcast live, precisely as Germany is seeing record daily coronavirus infections.
Organizers of the event, which began in 1951 as a Cold War culture showcase for the divided German capital, said a slew of security measures will keep attendees secure while watching the latest films from around the world.
Carlo Chatrian, the artistic director, defended the choice against accusations that it was inappropriate at this stage of the pandemic, arguing that the shared movie experience was critical for the devastated industry and society at general.
“Seeing a film in a theatre, being able to hear breathing, laughter or whispers next to you — even with correct social distancing — contributes in a vital way not only to the viewing pleasure but also to strengthening the social function that cinema has,” he said.
