The Cinetopia Film Festival, Southeast Michigan’s regional film festival that serves multicultural audiences from Ann Arbor to Metro Detroit, made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s festival. This move serves to keep the filmmaker guests, staff, and audience members safe during the pandemic.
The film festival brings thousands of people together in an enclosed space, which makes it impractical given the current circumstances. The Cinetopia Film Festival puts the health and safety of our community first, which is what led to this difficult decision. Although the Cinetopia Film Festival was originally pushed back to August, it seems this move won’t be enough to keep patrons safe.
Cinetopia Film Festival Director Sarah Escalante says: “We are all deeply saddened to have to take the step of cancelling this year’s festival. The Cinetopia team was hopeful that, by pushing back to August, we would still be able to hold an in-person event this year. However, we have decided that it is in everyone’s best interests to instead look forward to next May. In the meantime, we are excited to be able to offer some of our special programs as virtual events throughout the summer, and encourage everyone to take part.”
Although we may not be able to meet together for the film festival, film buffs are still able to check out the virtual Cinetopia Presents events throughout the summer and fall. Currently, the Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival-Cinetopia collaboration, A Summer of Film, runs now through August 31 in the Michigan Theater’s Virtual Movie Palace. You’ll be able to find more information here. There will also be the festival’s two short film programs, A2 Tech Film Showcase and Detroit Voices Short Film Competition, which will take place virtually later in the summer.
Patrons who have already purchased passes and tickets to the festival are being contacted directly about pass and ticket refunds and other options. For more information on the Cinetopia Film Festival, check out their website.
