WIFF has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 festival in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patrons, volunteers and staff.
— WIFF (@WindsorFilmFest) June 9, 2021
We will continue to stay connected to the community by bringing back “WIFF Under the Stars” this summer.https://t.co/z55no5hMCE pic.twitter.com/d6jEjtVyP8
We knew in the back of our collective minds, when the Windsor International Film Festival cancelled the 2020 festival in late June, it was a sad decision but a necessary one.
The 2021 version seemed a more hopeful possibility. Vaccines have arrived. While Canada has a strong dosage in the 1-shot category, the country ranks rather low on fully immunized citizens. This is particularly a concern in Windsor, a border town with the United States, yet a number of people travel to the United States for work each day, even in a pandemic.
The Windsor International Film Festival announced the cancellation of the 2021 festival, just over 2 weeks earlier in the year than the 2020 cancellation.
"The unknowns of the pandemic creates a number of challenges for our staff, volunteers and patrons," said Vincent Georgie, WIFF executive director and chief programmer, in a press release. "We look forward to the festival returning in 2022 and to welcoming everyone downtown for exceptional film experiences."
A film festival involves a large number of people being close together. The staff would engage with hundreds of human beings on a daily basis.
This is a gut punch to a film festival that had developed incredible momentum.
A look back to past years of the Windsor International Film Festival
Windsor International Film Festival cancels the 2020 festival
As the tweet noted, WIFF Under the Stars is returning again in 2021. This was a drive-in type scenario with people watching films from their cars. The only Canadian film on the programming list that I hadn't seen was The Cuban, which we reviewed recently.
Canadian film review: The Cuban
We try hard not to be selfish. The week in Windsor was the best week of the year for me. 2019 was just an amazing year for me and the festival. Like the CFL, a loss for one year is hard; a 2-year loss is devastating.
I had been playing with scenarios: do they spotlight films from the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, currently set for September 9-18.
TIFF 2020 was open to Canadians through streaming. WIFF likely wasn't able to pull off a similar strategy, which is understandable.
There was the thought in 2020 and 2021 that there would be a festival but only for Canadians. The border still isn't open between the United States and Canada.
The selfish part also kicks in when one of the things that kept me going in the winter was the hope of a WIFF 2021 and a chance to see great films and catch up with a lot of cool people.
There seems to be every indication of a WIFF 2022. We are grateful for this. Also feel sad for not having a WIFF 2021.
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
Vincent Georgie, WIFF executive director and chief programmer, radio interview on CBC Radio One in Windsor (CBC Radio Windsor)
This is only part of the WIFF Alley, something that started in 2019. This was a huge thing for Windsor to be a part of for the festival. Most people who live there may not even know this existed.
This is the love and feeling I have for this film festival. This film festival has made an amazing and powerful impact on those who are a part of it: staff, volunteers, and patrons.
Twitter capture: @WindsorFilmFest
logo credit: Windsor International Film Festival
photo credit: me
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