Spectators enjoy a socially distanced screening of 'Molecole' at the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival in September 2020. EPA
Spectators enjoy a socially distanced screening of 'Molecole' at the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival in September 2020. EPA
Spectators enjoy a socially distanced screening of 'Molecole' at the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival in September 2020. EPA
Spectators enjoy a socially distanced screening of 'Molecole' at the 77th annual Venice International Film Festival in September 2020. EPA

From Sundance to Cannes: Which major film festivals are still on the calendar for 2021?


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Almost every major global cultural event was torpedoed by the coronavirus pandemic last year, but it felt like film festivals suffered more than most. Everything that typifies these celebratory cinematic gatherings – community, coming together, crowds – was deemed dangerous during a public health crisis, so movies had to take a back seat.

But necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. And the film industry fought back – whether it was staging a socially distanced festival as Venice managed to, or offering up hybrid events, as seen in Toronto, New York and London.

This year, the film festival season is set to kick off with a virtual Sundance, Utah's nod to independent cinema that's launched the careers of the Coen Brothers, Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino among many others. Online Q&As and targeted events are planned, but it remains to be seen how the industry will cope without the on-the-ground audience buzz that festivals always bring.

Here, we outline the current plans major film festivals have for the year, what to expect and what films you might be able to see.

Sundance Film Festival: January 28 - February 3

Robin Wright in a scene from 'Land', which will debut at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. AP
Robin Wright in a scene from 'Land', which will debut at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. AP

"There is no Sundance without our community," announced Robert Redford, the Sundance Institute founder and president, recently. And like so many, the Sundance Film Festival is going virtual this year, with online premieres available to the public in the US and some international territories, as well as in-person screenings in art house venues in the US, where public safety allows.

The good news is, Sundance has had almost a year to prepare for this event, meaning it should run smoothly. The selection may have been slimmed down, but with 71 features from 29 countries, you'll hardly notice.

A scene from 'Passing', a directorial debut by Rebecca Hall. The film will debut at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. AP
A scene from 'Passing', a directorial debut by Rebecca Hall. The film will debut at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. AP

As ever, the line-up is eye-catching. It features Nicolas Cage's criminal / supernatural tale Prisoners of the Ghostland, as well as Passing, an adaptation of Nella Larsen's novel of the same name about two African-American women (starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga). It has actress Rebecca Hall stepping behind the camera for the first time.

A Glitch in the Matrix, a documentary by Room 237's Rodney Ascher, about people who believe the world around them is not real, is also on the roster. Another addition is Coda, which stands for Child of Deaf Adults,casts real-life deaf actors. The film is directed by Sian Heder, who made 2016's Tallulah.
Land, a two-hander set to the stark backdrop of the American wilderness, directed by and starring Robin Wright, will also premiere.

Berlin International Film Festival: March 1 - 5 and June

For as long as possible, the Berlinale held out hope that its coming 71st annual event could be staged physically. Rising Covid-19 infections in Germany now means that's not possible, but rather than cancel, the festival will unfold in two stages.

Firstly, in March, the programme will be presented to the industry, with buyers allowed to view films in a virtual European Film Market. A jury will also award prizes to the competition entries (including the newly modified performance awards, which will be gender neutral). In June, the winners will be presented to the public.

The films on show have yet to be announced – they will come in February – but given the postponements and delays of last year, you can expect a rich selection.

The Berlinale competition line-up is usually geared towards world cinema – last year Iranian film There Is No Evil by Mohammad Rasoulof took the coveted Golden Bear. But don't bet against a glossy film or two making an appearance. Perhaps British filmmaker Edgar Wright's 1960s-set horror Last Night in Soho, starring The Queen's Gambit actress Anya Taylor-Joy, which is currently scheduled for an April release.

Cannes Film Festival: May 11 - 21

Last year, the world's most prestigious film festival was cancelled for the first time since 1968, at which time the event was brought to a halt by directors sympathising with the student and labour strikes across Paris. With the idea of going online rejected, last year's official selection was announced belatedly in June and there was even a three-day showcase of films at the Cannes Palais in October.

This time, the festival has put contingency plans in place, working with local authorities to consider three separate blocks across June and July should it still not be possible to hold the festival in May.

Although nothing official has been announced, seemingly several of the films selected for 2020 have been held over for this year. Among them, Paul Verhoeven's Benedetta, his first film since 2016's Oscar-­nominated Elle. The story of two 17th-century nuns – starring Virginie Efira – is seemingly guaranteed a competition berth whenever Cannes finally gets under way, as is Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, which was set to open Cannes 2020. Since then, studio backer Disney moved its release date to October, before it disappeared off the schedules – presumably to reappear for Cannes.

After all, where else is a Paris-set "love letter to journalists" going to make its bow, but at France's premiere film festival?

Venice International Film Festival: September 1 - 11

A festival that was once mocked for screenings that ran late and poor organisation, the Venice Film Festival truly stepped up to the plate in 2020. Rigorous temperature checks, mandatory face-mask wearing and hand-sanitiser stations wherever you looked kept Covid-19 at bay – helped by the fact the festival area on the Lido was tightly controlled by security. You woke up with a high temperature, you weren't getting in.

After the success of that event, which ended with the acclaimed Nomadland winning the Golden Lion, the plan is to once more stage an in-person festival in Venice – for both the industry and the public.

What films will play there is pure speculation. Last year there were fewer blockbusters and hardly any stars, as was necessary, and those who did show up found the red carpet was shielded from view for safety measures. But this year could offer a glut of glittering A-listers, as long as they're allowed to travel.

One movie that could well be in contention is Paul Thomas Anderson's latest, Soggy Bottom. Anderson has form in Venice (he bowed The Master there) and this 1970s high-school set tale starring Cooper Hoffman, son of Anderson's late regular actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, looks like a delicious prospect.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Schedule:

Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
War and the virus
Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

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if you go

The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to ­Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million