They're partnering with Cannes, Tribeca and Sundance for the digital event
As a result of the current health crisis, various music and film festivals have been shut down. Not even the Rose of Tralee could escape its fate. Some festival organisers, for example Burning Man, have turned to online options. So is the case for 'We Are One: A Global Film Festival' launched by Youtube.
The digital film festival launches this spring from Youtube in partnership with twenty associates. It will stream for free to cinema fans all over the world though viewers are asked to make donations.
The event will feature programming from 20 top film festivals. This includes the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and Venice Film Festival.
It'll include feature films, shorts, documentaries, music, comedy and panel discussions. And it's all ad free.
No reveals yet for films in the programme. A full schedule will become available in the coming weeks.
Each individual festival will curate its own programming track. SXSW won't be participating as they've already partnered with Amazon for a different virtual event (also free) which kicks off this week.
However, organisers wanted to emphasise the special 10-day streaming event on YouTube is not meant as a replacement for the standalone festivals. Their individual reps are working hard to salvage what they can of their 2020 events.