Coronavirus Updates: SOMA, TCM CLASSIC Film Festivals Cancelled, Miami Cancels Public Screening, Montclair, Oxford, New Directors/New Films Postponed

The day after President Donald Trump delivered a speech from the Oval Office, and actor Tom Hanks along with his Rita Wilson revealed that they have been diagnosed with coronavirus the seriousness of the global outbreak is continuing to cause the film industry to cancel many upcoming events.

SOMA Film Festival, TCM Classic Film Festival, CinemaCon, and Montclair Film Festival announced that the 2020 editions of the festivals have been cancelled or postponed. The Miami Film Festival which runs through March 15 has cancelled all remaining public screenings.

pic.twitter.com/pgybgIYJdG
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 12, 2020

In a statement posted on Twitter, Hanks said he and his wife are in Australia where they began to feel “a bit tired,” “had colds,” “some body aches,” “slight fevers too.” They were then tested for the Coronavirus and were found to be positive.

Warner Bros. confirmed the actor was in Australia doing pre-production work on a film about singer Elvis Presley. Hanks is set to play Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, in the film. Actor Austin Butler is playing Presley. Baz Luhrmann is going to direct.

SOMA Film Festival announced today that it will postpone the 5th edition of the event which was schedule to take place from March 18-22. In a statement posted on the its website, the festival said: “Your health is of paramount concern to us. We have been monitoring the current COVID-19 situation and in light of recommendations regarding public gatherings, and in discussions with town officials, we have decided that the best course of action is to postpone this year’s festival until the fall.”

Organizers of the 11th TCM Classic Film Festival which was scheduled for April 16-19 in Hollywood, today also canceled the festival. In a posting on Twitter, the festival wrote “Nothing is more important to TCM than the safety of our fans. In light of the increasing public health concerns related to coronavirus, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 #TCMFF.”

Nothing is more important to TCM than the safety of our fans. In light of the increasing public health concerns related to coronavirus, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 #TCMFF.

For more information, click here: https://t.co/k05T2yUlym pic.twitter.com/aY6Ug2pATt
— TCM (@tcm) March 12, 2020

CinemaCon, the annual gathering event of the National Association of Theatre Owners event that was set for Caesars Palace from March 20 to April 2 has been cancelled. In a statement, the convention said, “It is with great regret we are announcing the cancellation of #CinemaCon 2020.”

It is with great regret we are announcing the cancellation of #CinemaCon 2020.

Each spring, motion picture exhibitors, distributors and industry partners from around the world meet in Las Vegas to share information and celebrate the moviegoing experience.#10YearCountdown
1/5
— CinemaCon (@CinemaCon) March 12, 2020

Citing the advice of the Governor of Florida, Miami Dade College is cancelling all special events including the remaining public screenings of the Miami Film Festival.The 37th edition of the festival is scheduled to run through March 15.

Under the advice of the Governor of Florida, Miami Dade College is cancelling all special events including the remaining public screenings of the Miami Film Festival. Information regarding tickets purchased for cancelled screenings will be emailed directly to ticket buyers. pic.twitter.com/TMpict73Ju
— Miami Film Festival (@MiamiFilmFest) March 12, 2020

Montclair Film has postponed the 2020 Montclair Film Festival, originally scheduled for May 1-10, 2020. In addition, all events and classes scheduled for March and April will be re-scheduled for a future date

Please read: an important update about programming at #Cinema505 and the postponement of #MFF20.

Thank you. Please take care of each other and stay healthy, #Montclair. pic.twitter.com/r050hLIADp
— Montclair Film (@MontclairFilm) March 12, 2020

Film at Lincoln Center will postpone the 49th New Directors/New Films and the 46th Chaplin Award Gala honoring Spike Lee will be rescheduled for later this fall. FLC Executive Director Lesli Klainberg said, “As the COVID-19 situation develops, Film at Lincoln Center’s top priority remains the health, wellness, and safety of our staff, audiences, and artists. We remain committed to our nonprofit mission—supporting the art and elevating the craft of cinema.”

See all impacted programs and more information here: https://t.co/Z2OaKPYm8b
— Film at Lincoln Center (@FilmLinc) March 12, 2020

The 2020 Oxford Film Festival, scheduled for March 18 – 22, has been postponed. The statement on the website reads,

The Oxford Film Festival Board of Directors and staff announced today that because of public health concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Oxford Film Festival, scheduled for March 18 – 22, has been postponed.

Sparky Reardon, chair of the Oxford Film Festival board stated, “We have concluded that the only responsible decision is to postpone the 2020 festival until later in the year. While we are heart-broken to have to make this decision, our first priority must be the health and safety of our community, our attendees, our supporters, and our filmmakers.

Tickets and passes will be honored at the rescheduled Festival.

“It is our intention to present the full slate of exceptional films, speakers and panels at a later date when the festival may be held under conditions deemed safe by governmental and health authorities,” stated Reardon.

No specific dates are currently announced for the rescheduled festival. The festival organizers will be in contact with all participants.

The 2020 Maine Jewish Film Festival scheduled to take place March 28 through April 5 has been postponed until the fall.

In the statement posted on the website, the festival announced,

Based on rising concern about Covid-19 and comments by Maine Governor Janet Mills, the MJFF Board of Directors and Executive Director Barbara Merson have made a decision to postpone the 2020 Maine Jewish Film Festival until the fall. Our initial ticket sales were strong, leading us to anticipate crowds in close quarters at many programs, conditions which are contrary to recommendations from multiple public health experts regarding public gatherings.