COVID-19 marked a before and an after

Angélica Lares, Industry and Marketing Director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival explained in the PRODU webinar how, two weeks before the start of the Festival, with tickets bought, confirmed spaces, and agreed on meetings, they had to suspend due to the pandemic. “It was a shock, but we decided that the responsible thing to do was stop,” she said, after highlighting the capability they had to be flexible and adapt.

That way, they relaunched the FICG from November 20 to 27, in two versions: face-to-face for local attendees, and digital —which has already taken place in different stages—, for all the international participation. They called it 35.2. She mentioned that for them, it is very important for the platform to be user-friendly and that they have worked a great deal on its functionalities.

In digital, they united the format Talents Guadalajara with Talents Argentina, resulting in a first-time-ever Latin American format. In the Industry section almost all the encounters will be digital and have been held in phases throughout this time. During the face-to-face Festival, they will have some Industry activities, such as conferences and a masterclass.

“We are forced to not let go of the face-to-face part. Not only due to the ties between the people who believe that the festival cannot be replicated in digital but due to the impact these events have on the communities we are in. There is a local industry that is activated during these events,” she said.

She commented that the pandemic has marked a before and an after. “Nothing can remain the same, it changed everyone’s paradigms”.
Watch PRODU webinar: The Return to Events and Markets: Digital, Face-to-Face or Hybrid?