The organizers of the Sundance Film Festival announced their COVID safety protocols to ensure the health and well-being of festivalgoers at the upcoming event which will take place from January 20th-30th in Park City, Utah. In-person screenings will resume, but those in attendance will be required to show proof that they have been vaccinated and boosted in order to attend. Masking will also be required at all screenings, and drinks and other concessions will be eliminated so as to limit mask removal in the auditoriums. Lower capacity limits will also be in effect.
The recent surge of COVID infections caused many to wonder whether the upcoming festival would be postponed, or would return to the virtual format used at last year’s festival. Due to the late stage in planning and large number of commitments already made to attendees and sponsors, the festival‘s organizers chose to proceed as planned, while implementing these increased safety measures.
Note that a number of film industry events which had been scheduled for January have recently been cancelled or postponed. The Palm Springs Film Awards gala awards show and BAFTA LA Tea Party have been cancelled, while the Academy Governors Awards Ceremony and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards have been postponed to an undetermined date in the future.