The global coronavirus pandemic is still an ongoing concern halfway into 2020, but certain parts of the film and entertainment industry are determined to push forward and hold annual events under the new normal. One such event is the Berlin Film Festival, whose organizers have said the 2021 edition will be held physically.

The Hollywood Reporter says that organizers for next year’s Berlin Film Festival will hold a physical staging for the festival as well as a hybrid one for the European Film Market, made up of a physical and online model. The dates set for the 2021 Berlinale is from Feb. 11-21.

The publication quotes organizers as saying that the hybrid version of the European Film Market that runs alongside the festival is to allow foreign executives unable to travel an opportunity to still participate in the festival and sell their movies.

Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek, the duo heading the Berlinale, said that the global coronavirus pandemic has made it even clearer that people still need physical stagings when it comes to cultural events.

Aside from the physical staging, Variety also points out that Chatrian and Rissenbeek have revealed that the festival will no longer be handing out gendered acting awards. Instead of recognizing the best actor and best actress, there will now be awards for best leading performance and best supporting performance.

Other prizes that will be handed out at the Berlin Film Festival include the Golden Bear for best film, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, the Silver Bear Jury Prize, and Silver Bears for director, leading performance, supporting performance, screenplay, and outstanding artistic contribution.

The Berlin Film Festival has also assured that the physical edition of the 2021 festival will ensure the attendee's health and safety by adhering to all rules and regulations the German government will have in place with regards to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Changes made by the Berlin Film Festival reflect what other film festivals have had to do to ensure that they can be held.  Otherwise, stagings would have to be canceled, like what the Telluride Film Festival decided on earlier in the month.

Before its cancelation, organizers had looked into introducing measures like thousands of COVID-19 tests, new HVAC systems, and socially distanced screenings. The festival’s guest director program was also removed as face-to-face time is an integral part of the activity.

Whether the Berlin Film Festival will succeed in staging a physical edition of its festival next year depends on what the situation will be with regards to the global coronavirus pandemic. Currently, the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 dashboard pegs the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world at 23,311,719 people. There are now 806,410 people that have died from COVID-19 worldwide.