Shanghai Film Festival Is Postponed, Due to Coronavirus

The Shanghai International Film Festival, due to have taken place in June, has been postponed, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Organizers said on Wednesday that they were unable to go ahead as planned with the 23rd edition of the A-list festival. They were careful not to describe the festival as canceled, but they were unable to advise the new dates.

“Despite the impact of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations for 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival have progressed steadily thanks to the generous support and deep engagement of the entire film community at home and abroad. We are deeply grateful for what you’ve done for us, and we hereby apologize for any inconveniences caused by the postponement,” they said in a statement. “The new dates for the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival will be announced as soon as possible.”

The Shanghai event is not the first film festival in Asia to be halted due to the impact of the virus outbreak. The Beijing International Film Festival, in China’s capital became canceled its physical manifestation and earlier this month became a much smaller, online only showcase. But Shanghai is the most prestigious in the region to have suffered that fate.

And the announcement comes at a time when much of China is now emerging from stay-at-home regimes into a post-coronavirus new normal and economic activity is gaining speed.

More to follow.