International film festivals work together for ‘We Are One,’ a virtual event

It’s film festival season, although you wouldn’t know it, as all cinema-loving collectives have canceled things for now. St. Petersburg’s Sunscreen Film Festival and the prestigious Sarasota Film Festival included.

Cinephiles are being given creative options, however. Sarasota has made a “virtual pass” available for sale, allowing online screening of what would have been its 2020 movies., through May 10. The festival’s most recent “rent-to-screen” title is 9/11 Kids, a documentary from director Elizabeth St. Philip talking with the children who were in the Sarasota elementary school classroom with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001.

Bush was seated in front of the kids, ages 6 and 7, reading to them, when an aide whispered in his ear that an airplane had just hit the World Trade Center. The moment was captured on videotape.

They were all in their mid 20s when St. Philip caught up with them and asked about that life-changing day.

Coming to YouTube May 29-June 7 is We Are One, a virtual film event featuring contributions from 20 of the most prestigious global film festivals, including Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca and Toronto.

All curated films – shorts, documentaries, music, dramas, comedies and all attendant conversations – will be streamed for free, with donations to go to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and others. The lineup will be released soon.

“We often talk about film’s uniquely powerful role in inspiring and uniting people across borders and differences to help heal the world,” said Tribeca Film Festival Co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal. “All of the world needs healing right now,” “We Are One: A Global Film Festival unites curators, artists and storytellers to entertain and provide relief to audiences worldwide. In working with our extraordinary festival partners and YouTube we hope that everyone gets a taste of what makes each festival so unique and appreciates the art and power of film.”

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In alphabetical order, here are the We Are One participants:

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

Berlin International Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival

Guadalajara International Film Festival

International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM)

Jerusalem Film Festival

Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI)

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Locarno Film Festival

Marrakech International Film Festival

New York Film Festival

San Sebastian International Film Festival

Sarajevo Film Festival

Sundance Film Festival

Sydney Film Festival

Tokyo International Film Festival

Toronto International Film Festival

Tribeca Film Festival

Venice Film Festival