Entrants to the 2021 European Film Awards, which will be held on December 11 in Berlin, will now be limited to nominees only due to the increase in Covid cases in Germany.
Organizers have confirmed that the event will no longer feature its usual audience of EFA members, partners and guests from the film industry and international media.
In a statement, the European Film Academy (EFA) said the decision was due to “the deterioration of the situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic in a growing number of European countries and in Germany”, and that other events around the awards weekend will also be affected. The ceremony will still be broadcast and televised live.
Austria has just announced a full 10-day lockdown due to increasing Covid cases and has closed cinemas for the duration.
Cases in Germany hit a new record today (November 19).
“It is to our great regret and we realize that it must be a huge disappointment for many in Europe. And we too are very disappointed, ”said Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO and Director of the European Film Academy, of this decision. “But faced with the responsibility for such an event, we see no other choice. The risk would simply be too high. We will now continue to put all our efforts to make this event a special one – for those who can attend and for those who will follow us from elsewhere.
Titanium, The father and Quo Vadis, Aïda? lead with four nominations each.
