The 2020 SXSW Film Festival is set to kick off next week and the list of non-participants due to coronavirus continues to grow. Now, among those pulling out of the event are Apple and Netflix.
Apple's cancellation means the premiere of Spike Jonze’s documentary Beastie Boys Story and screenings of Central Park from Bob’s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard, as well as docu-series Home will no longer take place, IndieWire points out. Similarly, Netflix's screenings of Uncorked and documentaries A Secret Love, L.A. Originals, Mucho Mucho Amor, and Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics will not be shown either.
Many studios look to SXSW to build awareness surrounding upcoming projects, including those who could be up for Emmy contention. Apple and Netflix are joined by numerous others who have decided to forgo the festival because of coronavirus concerns, including Amazon Studios, Facebook, Twitter, Intel, Mashable, and Indeed.
A petition to cancel the event has been circulating, although Dr. Mark Escott, interim medical director and health authority for Austin Public Health, says not having the festival wouldn't make the city any safer from the epidemic. “Today the threat of community spread in Austin remains low, however, we are prepared for it to happen here,” he said.
The 2020 SXSW Film Festival is scheduled for March 13 to March 22.
