Streaming services are more scared than studios of the coronavirus.
Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are all out of South by Southwest. They’ve cancelled their screenings and panels at the upcoming festivals.
So far the regular movie studios have not thrown in the towel. But it’s funny that the streamers, who are supposed to be so creative and bold, were the first to abandon ship. Paramount and Universal have several entries at SXSW. All eyes are on them now.
Facebook and Twitter have also pulled programs. Again, they’re from the fearless internet.
Depending on how the virus situation, all film festivals could be in trouble. But my sources at Cannes say they’re proceeding as if nothing has changed. We’ll see. If New York continues to have new patients revealed, what about the Tribeca Festival?