JDIFF Goes Virtual

Runde Auto Group has been a major sponsor of JDIFF from the start. For more information about the film festival, visit JulienFilmFest.com.

This year’s Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is coming to your living room.

The 2020 festival, which was originally postponed due to COVID-19, will now be a virtual event. It was a decision that Executive Director Susan Gorrell and the JDIFF Board of Directors did not make lightly.

“The health and safety of everyone – attendees, volunteers, vendors, venue staff and filmmakers – takes precedence,” said Brian Cooper, JDIFF board president. “We want to make the best of the situation with a virtual festival soon and a bigger event next year.”

Next year’s film festival, set for April 18-25, 2021, will span more days and include both 2020 and 2021 Official Selections.

VIRTUAL JDIFF

The virtual festival is scheduled for Thursday, June 25 through Monday, July 13. Films and ticketing will be hosted on the Eventive platform, which will be easily accessible through JulienFilmFest.com.

Moviegoers can purchase a $50 virtual all-access pass or single film tickets for $7 each. Purchase a pass here. Films are accessible 24/7, but unfortunately not all 2020 Official Selections will be included. 

“Live film festivals are really important to filmmakers as a way to gauge audience interest and network for distribution,” Gorrell said. “That’s why we want to include them in next year’s festival so they get that in-person experience as well.”

As part of Runde Auto Group‘s sponsorship, there is a category of Runde Free Films, which are, you guessed it, FREE! View this year’s Official Selections here.

Check out the JDIFF catalog here.

Other festival programming, like Coffee Talks and Cocktails & Conversation, will be scheduled live via Zoom. These free events offer attendees an informal environment for conversation and networking with industry professionals and filmmakers.

“These have become festival favorites, so I really wanted to include them in the virtual space,” Gorrell said. “We will all get together for some interesting conversation over coffee or cocktails just like we normally would.”

While most topics are still to-be-determined, one chat will focus on how COVID-19 has affected the entertainment industry and what its post-pandemic future looks like. The conversations will all be recorded and posted for viewing at a later date.

For those who have already purchased a 2020 All-Access Pass for JDIFF, you will receive a code to see all films virtually and your pass will work for the 2021 festival.

More questions? Click here for JDIFF FAQs.