Riga International Film Festival calls on the government to extend the transition period for the introduction of new restrictions / Article

“The regulation of the current emergency situation has put us and other organizers of cultural events in such a very unenviable situation,” Liene Treimane, the head of Riga IFF, explained in the LTV program “Rīta Panorāma”. “The current regulation means that we have to limit the capacity of live sessions to at least half. In addition, there are time limits for the festival. “

Riga IFF takes place this year from October 14 to 24, and most of the program will be available online this year. Treimane stressed that a two-week transition period would allow the festival to be brought close to the level planned.

The festival also calls for a strategy to support event organizers, involving cultural organizations, in the discussions through various mechanisms already in place in the European Union, including compensating for each ticket not sold due to restrictions, as well as a 15% negative impact on visitors’ interest in cultural events. the cost of implementing the requirements, the reduced institutional funding this year and the losses suffered as a result of last year’s restrictions on the cultural sector.

Riga IFF organizers reminded that the festival was initially planned as a “green regime” and also during the emergency, the festival’s live sessions will still take place.

“If the Ministry of Culture and the Cabinet of Ministers do not take the necessary steps to ensure a transitional period for cultural events, and the requirement to end the sessions by 23.00, individual solutions will be sought, ”representatives of Riga IFF pointed out in a press release.

For sessions that are restricted due to newly introduced assembly requirements, the possibility of organizing additional sessions or other suitable solutions is considered. The changes will not affect online impressions, which are still scheduled.

CONTEXT:

As of October 11, the government has declared a state of emergency, adopting a set of security measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. Epidemiological safety requirements in the field of culture provides for predominantly “green” – safe mode, when events and cultural services in person will be provided and available only with a vaccination or Covid-19 disease certificate.

The new conditions for public cultural events will enter into force after a transitional period of 18 October and will only apply to events announced before 8 October.

The maximum number of visitors allowed for cultural events is henceforth set at 1 000, and may not exceed 60% of the area of ​​the public space reserved for the event. Also, in future events, the distance between the seats will have to be ensured, as well as indoor and nose masks will have to be used for indoor events. It is also stipulated that cultural institutions may be open from 6.00 am to 9.00 pm, but a theatrical performance or film screening may last until the end, for example, at 9.30 pm, but no later than 11 pm.

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