No masks but a socially distanced stage: Inside Taormina Film Festival's closing ceremony

Willem Dafoe and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau attended the Italian event, held in the newly reopened Teatro Antico

Willem Dafoe attends the closing night of the Taormina Film Festival on July 19, 2020 in Taormina, Italy. Getty Images

Nukaaka Coster-Waldau and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau attend the red carpet of the closing night of the Taormina Film Festival. Getty Images

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau picks up his award on stage. Getty Images

Francesco Buzzurro performs during the closing night of the Taormina Film Festival. Getty Images

Charlotte Dauphin attends the closing night of the Taormina Film Festival. Getty Images

The festival screened films online, as well as a select few at cinemas. Getty Images

Art director of the festival, Leo Gullotta, speaks on stage. Getty Images

Charlotte Dauphin attends the red carpet of the closing night of the Taormina Film Festival. Getty Images

Seating was spaced out on stage and in the audience. Getty Images

A general view of the closing night of the Taormina Film Festival. Getty Images

There has been a dearth of premieres, red carpets and awards ceremonies this summer.

However, with coronavirus restrictions easing in cities around the world, it appears A-list bashes are back on the menu – but in a quieter form than usual.

The Taormina Film Festival drew to a close in Italy on Sunday, after attracting two Hollywood stars to the Sicilian town for the proceedings.

At Eternity's Gate actor Willem Dafoe attended the official closing ceremony at the newly reopened Teatro Antico, where he received the Taormina Arte Award for his contribution to cinema.

The 66th iteration of the festival, which began on July 11, included the screening of 14 films as part of its main competition. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some parts of the festival were held virtually and others, such as the closing ceremony, were physical events, with precautions in place.

While those who attended were not pictured wearing face masks at the finale, chairs were spaced apart on stage and in the audience to ensure social distancing.

Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who played Jaime Lannister in the HBO fantasy drama, also ventured to Taormina for the occasion, where he also received the Taormina Arte Award.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who worked on films such as Apocalypse Now and Last Tango in Paris, won the Lifetime Achievement Cariddi d'Oro.

Films in competition were screened online, as well as in cinemas, during the festival's programme.