The New Zealand International Film Festival has announced it will be holding the festival online in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A statement on the festival's website said it was no longer able to present the 2020 programme as planned, with restrictions on gatherings likely to remain in place for months.
Director of the film festival Marten Rabarts says their decision to hold the festival online comes after the postponement and cancellation of other major film festivals, like Cannes, New York's Tribeca, and Sydney. The festival's organisers have worked closely with filmmakers and distributors to adapt the way films are presented to audiences.
"After the initial realisation and heartbreak of not being able to provide our Film Festival whānau an in-cinema experience this year we've worked quickly, while leaning on our strong relationships with filmmakers, distributors and sales agents, to ensure we are able to confidently adapt the way in which we'll present their films to our dedicated audience across the country."
