Coronavirus: Sundance Festival suspends face-to-face attendance

The Sundance Film Festival announced that it will continue in a virtual format, given the increase in coronavirus cases in the United States. It was scheduled to take place from 20 to 30 January. The organization of the festival had announced its return in person for those who presented the certificate of vaccination against the strains of the coronavirus. Finally, they assured that the return of Sundance to Park City will have to wait for a next edition, due to the high circulation of the Ómicron variant.

Despite ambitious protocols, the Omicron variant with its unexpectedly high transmissibility rates is pushing the limits of health safety, travel and other infrastructures. Thus, #Sundance 2022’s in-person Utah elements will be moving online. More: https://t.co/orExAzKnEu pic.twitter.com/Q93P8p5J9Z — SundanceFilmFestival (@sundancefest)
January 5, 2022

“Despite the most ambitious protocols, the Ómicron variant with its unexpectedly high transmissibility rates is exceeding the limits of health security,” said the organization through a statement, reproduced by Variety.In that sense, they regretted not being able to “provide the complete hybrid experience” and face-to-face as “was planned this year” to fully enjoy the “magic and energy” of the festival. Recall that due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, other awards were also suspended, such as the Critics Choice Awards in cinema, or the Grammys in music.

Original source in Spanish