The 32nd Palm Springs International Film Festival has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The annual  festival was initially slated for February 25 until March 8, 2021, but now has been cancelled all together. 

The 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival was held in January of 2020 in California and had the opportunity to complete its entire slate before the United States lockdowns just a couple months later. 

In a statement released on their website the board wrote, “we have made the decision to skip the 2021 edition.” Continuing with a look toward the future with a “plan to be back in 2022 when we can hopefully be together safely again in theaters.” 

The announcement comes as a small surprise, seeing as the United States is still struggling to contain the virus that has plagued the entire world. Though this cancellation is tough for the film community there will still be a presentation February 25, 2021 to announce the best films of the year prior as well as the “annual short film festival scheduled for June 22-28, 2021 [will] remain intact.”

Although it is a huge letdown for film fans around the world, the festival is taking the proper course of action to keep everyone safe during these challenging times. The board puts it well near the end of the statement saying, “we have not stopped believing that cinema has the power to change our hearts and minds.” 

Cinema can have the power to change. It is vitally important that we stay creative and dream about that time we will be able to go back and enjoy a packed theater. 

Until then, keep watching movies.