San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Announces Date Change, Presenting Sponsor
- Details
- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Thursday, 06 January 2022 17:46
- Written by A&E Contributing Editor
The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival has pushed the dates for the film festival this year to April 26-May 1 due to safety concerns regarding the winter spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The popular film festival also announced that Mercedes-Benz of San Luis Obispo will be the presenting sponsor for the 28th edition.
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SLO Film Fest's organizers have concluded that the combination of stringent protocols (which includes patrons, staff, and filmmakers providing proof of vaccination or negative test prior to entry to screenings and events), as well as taking the film festival deeper into Spring, will provide a safer and more enjoyable experience to attendees.
Festival Director Skye McLennan said, "The surge of the Omicron variant and prevalence of cold and flu season caused us to take this additional step out of utmost concern for our SLO Film Fest filmmakers, staff, and film fans. We understand that there has been much enthusiasm for us to return to theaters this year, but we also place the highest priority on the safety of our patrons as we put on an incredible in-person film festival that includes more outdoor events as well as a virtual component."
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McLennan was also enthusiastic about the addition of Mercedes-Benz of San Luis Obispo as a presenting sponsor for this year's film festival. "Having Mercedes-Benz join forces with us this year is a huge stamp of approval regarding the importance of SLO Film Fest as a cultural leader on the Central Coast and a big reminder of what this event means to our area and community. We are thrilled to have it be a part of this year's highly anticipated return to the movie theaters!"
Chris Baughman, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz of San Luis Obispo, said his company "is delighted to partner with the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival to bring a cultural institution back in person to the SLO community. We appreciate and share the Festival's enthusiasm for the arts and creating terrific experiences for its patrons."
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With a long-held reputation as a beloved destination film festival, SLO Film Fest has been cited as one of the very first film festivals to go online in 2020 following the onset of the pandemic in the U.S. MovieMaker Magazine praised the festival — known for its beautiful location, parties mixing filmmakers with film fans, and unique melding of surf culture and wine country — for leading the way for other film festivals to pivot to the virtual space.
McLennan was also enthusiastic about the plans for innovations to this year's presentation and approach to the film festival, adding, "We have been brainstorming on various ways that we could update and enhance what we do, while highlighting the things people have loved about SLO Film Fest for so long now. The ideas are exciting and we're looking forward to bringing the Central Coast film fans and filmmaking community back together again."
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ABOUT SAN LUIS OBISPO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Located half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Obispo's laid-back vibe and serene natural beauty is the perfect setting for this highly regarded annual film celebration. Filmmakers rave about the warmth and attentiveness that is so much a part of the SLO Film fest experience, as does the swelling tide of industry pros and film critics who are fast discovering the film festival's thoughtful audiences and unique programming sensibility.
