Like most other film festivals, the much-beloved Orcas Island Film Festival took 2020 off for the pandemic. It’s usual fall dates coincided with the second wave of surging cases and amid a time that movie theaters were shuttered in Washington, making it practically impossible if not deeply inadvisable to hold a largely indoor gathering.

Given yet another dispiriting surge in the case counts and new restrictions, I was very worried that the festival might have to sit out another year of bringing some of the best films from around the world to the incredibly charming town of Eastsound. It’s always a reliable and focused opportunities for cinephiles to get a head start on the awards contenders, not to mention the company of fellow film fanatics and the many pleasures of a long weekend on a picturesque island with no shortage of delicious dining and tourism opportunities.

So it was a great thrill, upon winding down my time in Telluride, to see the announcement that OIFF would be putting on a brave face and returning to a fully in-person event this October 7-11. Programming will be slightly scaled back — one theater instead of two, and none of the usual parties or social events — but they are still bringing a slate of fifteen new (yet undisclosed) films to the island over four days. The event will take place in the Sea View Theater with its state-of-the-art Barko cinema projection system, full 7.1 Dolby surround sound, and upgraded HVAC system.

At the moment, they are only selling passes ($190 regular / $500 patron, of which $310 is tax deductible) and those who buy will have early opportunities to select their seats in advance for each of the films that they choose to see. Pending availability, individual tickets will be sold online.

Some notes on safety from the OIFF website:

Due to the uncertainty of the current health crisis we are taking the most conservative approach when it comes to re-opening to protect our community and loved ones. A select number of films may have virtual Q&As with the filmmakers. This year, there will be no social gatherings or parties before or after film screenings.

All attendees must show proof of full vaccination. Masks will also be required for audiences inside the theatre. All staff and volunteers must be vaccinated and masked as well. Good ventilation is essential and will be monitored. The HVAC system at Sea View has been upgraded to the highest filtration system and the theatre will be disinfected between screenings. This comes amid a rise in COVID-19 cases due to the highly transmissible Delta variant and follows on the heels of similar moves by restaurants, bars, and music venues.  

We are providing this information now to ensure that all in-person participants feel comfortable attending. We will continue to assess the situation and share any changes in precautions, including theatre capacity and other health and safety protocols as we get closer to our event.

Although the always exceptional programming and curation suggest that it would be fairly safe to buy a pass blindly, more information on the full lineup is expected in mid-September.