Coronavirus threat postpones Bentonville Film Festival until August
by March 6, 2020 12:10 pm 905 views
Organizers of the Bentonville Film Festival announced Friday (March 6) they will postpone the 2020 festival date from late April to early August out of concern for the safety of artists, partners, creators, brands, patrons and team amid the coronavirus threat. The festival will take place August 5-8.
“This decision comes after careful consideration and consultation with our partners. Our number one concern is the safety of our content creators and our community of attendees. We are grateful for the support and recommendations we’ve received and look forward to welcoming everyone to the 6th edition of BFF this August.” Bentonville Film Festival Co-Founder and Chair Geena Davis said in a statement.
The Bentonville Film Festival is an event that champions inclusion in all forms of media. Davis spearheaded the launch of the first festival in 2015.
The event is a year-long platform culminating with the festival, in partnership with founding sponsor Walmart and presenting sponsor Coca-Cola. The annual event draws an attendance of more than 80,000 with an economic impact of $8 million for the region.
“The safety of our visitors is always a top priority, and we look forward to hosting everyone in our exciting city later this year for a memorable festival,” said Kalene Grifith, director of Visit Bentonville.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has sickened more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,400 people.
For more information on the festival and purchasing tickets visit the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation online.