Locating Buzz and Liveness: The Role of Geoblocking and Co-presence in Virtual Film Festivals

Abstract

AbstractThe sudden and near-complete move of festivals into the online space in 2020 complicated our understanding of the “there” and “then” involved in film festival participation. Experiencing festivals in lockdown (often from domestic spaces), “taking part” in these virtual events had the potential to dramatically expand the points of access. Although this approach was taken early with the YouTube-based We Are One global film festival, for the vast majority of single-festival-run online events access was limited to specific geographic areas through geoblocking technology. This chapter examines the function of geofenced access in virtual and hybrid virtual/real-world film festivals. It poses the question: what are the benefits for festivals in enforcing territoriality and place-boundedness in the de-territorialized world of online media? Looking to the importance of embodied co-presence and networked publics in existing understandings of liveness, buzz, and value creation at festivals, we interrogate the role of “place” in defining festival prestige and influence. We ask, if the mechanisms of value creation linked to the physical spectacle and viral spread of buzz at festivals are disrupted, will the film festival experience still be seen as valuable? And what might that mean for the future of festivals and their study?