Coronavirus update Monday 16 March

Coronavirus update - Monday 16 March

As you will be aware, Government advice about coronavirus is changing rapidly. At this stage, there is no official advice that events should be cancelled - although this may shortly change. We have been in discussion with our venue partner Showroom Workstation and agreed that unless official advice changes, the festival’s film screenings will be going ahead as planned.

Over the weekend we have been in conversation with our sponsors, exhibitors and event partners. The health and wellbeing of ShAFF staff, volunteers, and visitors is our first priority, and the consensus in the ShAFF team is that we will be cancelling all the festival’s non-film events. 

While many may make the decision not to go to the cinema, others will still want to attend. We envisage a much smaller than usual and very local audience, but want to support our venue, a local independent cinema for whom a total cancellation would be devastating. We would encourage anyone who is thinking of attending to make their own decision taking into consideration the NHS advice.

With less than a week to go until the festival is due to take place, it is an understatement to say that we are disappointed, however, we are confident that this is the right decision and we will continue to follow the best available advice from the Government and Chief Medical Officer.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has supported ShAFF this year, including our sponsors, partners, and everyone who has bought a ticket. We will be working through the practical implications over the coming week, and will be communicating the next steps with festival sponsors, exhibitors, event partners, filmmakers and visitors as soon as we are able. The most up to date information will be on the ShAFF website.

Coronavirus update Fri 13 March

The health and wellbeing of ShAFF staff, volunteers, and visitors is our first priority, and the ShAFF team have been closely monitoring coronavirus developments to consider the festival’s response.

As most of you will have seen, the Government and Chief Medical Officer announced on Thursday 12 March that the response to coronavirus is moving from ‘containment’ to ‘delay’. At this stage, the Government is only considering the question of banning major events, and there is no official advice that events should be cancelled. We have been working closely with The Showroom Workstation, who have indicated that unless official advice changes, the cinema will be open as normal over the weekend of the festival and therefore film screenings will be going ahead as planned. We are also working to agree a postponement date in the event of the venue closing.

We are working with our exhibitors and event partners on a case by case basis to adapt our plans to take the impact of coronavirus into account. This means that some events such as networking events and panels will not now go ahead. We are closely monitoring coronavirus developments and will continue to follow the best available advice from the Government and Chief Medical Officer. 

Partners and festival goers will be informed immediately of any significant changes to our 2020 programme, and the most up to date information will be on the ShAFF website.

We would like to thank everybody who has supported ShAFF 2020 by buying tickets, sales have been stronger than ever and are still strong this week. We would ask that visitors to the festival are mindful of the Government advice. Please stay at home if you experience a high temperature, or have symptoms of a new, continuous cough.

Do - wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze, put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards, try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell. 

Don’t - do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.