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Berlin (dpa) - The festival management of the Berlinale has to reschedule again in view of the infection situation.
If possible, the summer edition should now only take place outdoors - there should be film screenings in open-air venues in June.
The restrictions of the new Infection Protection Act made the planning "even more challenging," announced the festival in Berlin on Wednesday.
The festival management is in an exchange with the authorities, "to discuss the next steps for a pure open air event," it said in the message.
It should also be checked whether the film festival could take place as a pilot project if the audience is tested for the corona virus in advance.
Along with Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the world's major film festivals.
Because of the pandemic, the International Film Festival was split on two dates this time.
In March there was an online industry meeting - in the second step, a public festival with an audience is planned from June 9th to 20th.
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However, the Berlin cinemas are still closed.
In addition, there is a curfew in the German capital at night - a consequence of the emergency brake that was decided at the federal level.
"A final decision on the Summer Special will be made at the beginning of May," announced the film festival.
Everyone's health and containment of the pandemic is a top priority.
Managing director Mariette Rissenbeek is now planning on the many open-air venues in the metropolis, on hygiene rules and corona tests.
You are in discussion with the Berlin Senate about the conditions for an event in the summer.
A postponement or an online festival for the public was "at no time an option," said the festival management.
According to Rissenbeek, a cancellation cannot be ruled out.
"If the authorities give us no signal that it is conceivable to organize an event in June, a cancellation may be necessary," she told the German press agency.
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Thousands of film fans usually visit the Berlinale.
So far it is also unclear which celebrity guests could come at all.
In an interview with the Tagesspiegel in February, the artistic director Carlo Chatrian said they were hoping to see the actresses Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer and the singer Tina Turner in June.
«The probability that guests from the USA will be able to arrive in June is not very great.
I have to say that clearly here, ”said Rissenbeek on Wednesday.
She is hoping for guests from other European countries.
Many filmmakers have shown interest.
Whether they could come depends on the travel rules and regulations.
In Germany, more uniform rules now apply in the fight against the pandemic.
The decisive factor is how many infections with the coronavirus per 100,000 inhabitants are reported in a district or city within seven days.
For example, cinemas are not allowed to open if the value exceeds the threshold of 100 on three consecutive days.
There is also no distinction between indoor and outdoor cultural events.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210428-99-388402 / 2
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Film festival in Berlin
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Interview in the "Tagesspiegel"