This weekend, the unusual delivery of the 93^rd Academy Awards brought into sharp focus the importance of physical events for the creative sector. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles’ Union Station, the crew at the delayed in-person ceremony beamed to the world the spectacular victory of Chloé Zhao as the first woman of colour (and second female ever) to scoop Best Director for Nomadland, which also took Best Picture.
 
The creative industry is nothing if not cooperative, and the shared experience enabled by in-person events is central to that interaction. So central, that film industry professionals yesterday dubbed the potential return of this year’s Cannes festival completely “vital”.
 
In the world of film, festivals are much more than a celebration of culture and creativity; they are a place to foster a dialogue between diverse communities and to sustain the enthusiasm for cinematic experiences.
 
Technology allows us to hold virtual screenings and events, but it doesn’t do the rest. In Bloomberg, Sarah Rappaport writes that while the public’s focus is on the red carpet rituals at the Cannes Film Festival, the key action happens behind the scenes where production directors and distributors close the deals and sign the checks that keep production companies alive. 
 
With the stakes for the industry so high, the potential return of Europe’s most prestigious film festival this summer is certainly one to watch.
 
In Scotland, news that the Edinburgh International Festival will return this summer was a silver lining for a struggling creative industry and culture-hungry audiences alike. It also raised hopes that other cultural events will follow suit and proceed with plans for in-person events.
 
In any case, the boom in live streaming of concerts and theatrical productions demonstrates the sector’s ability to adapt in the face of massive financial challenges and uncertainty. So as we wait for the reopening of cultural venues in early summer, I would say the resilience of the creative industry is one to applaud.