2021 Palm Springs International Film Festival Canceled Due To Pandemic

The 2021 Palm Springs International Film Festival has become the latest high-class cultural event to get canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The festival was scheduled to start from Feb. 25 and run through March 8.

According to a statement issued by the organizing committee on the festival’s official website, the decision of canceling next year’s star-studded event was made to “ensure the health and safety” of everyone who’ll be attending the festival.

The committee also noted that it would be virtually impossible to hold the event due to the global health crisis and it was really heartbreaking for them to cancel it.

“As we reach the end of the year, it is clear that we will not be able to present the film festival the way we have over the past 31 years. This is not an easy choice but we have made the decision to skip the 2021 edition,” their statement read.

Meanwhile, the festival will still host a Film Awards Presentation on Feb. 25 and the Palm Springs ShortFest is still scheduled for June 22 to 28.

“We are still planning to celebrate and honor the best in cinema with our Film Awards Presentation on February 25, 2021, and plans for our annual short film festival scheduled for June 22-28, 2021 remain intact. Details on those will be shared before the end of the year,” the committee stated.

“Film Society Memberships will be extended to February 2022 at no additional cost. Memberships that include festival benefits will receive the festival benefits in January 2022. Memberships that include Film Awards Gala benefits will receive those benefits in either 2021 or 2022. Our year-round member screenings and events will continue virtually until we are able to safely be in theaters.”

Other festivals that have already been canceled due to the pandemic are the Telluride Film Festival, Met Gala, Glastonbury, Tribeca Film Festival, Coachella, and Eurovision Song Contest.