Like last year, the covid-19 pandemic obliges the San Sebastian Film Festival to adapt, with the focus on two priority objectives: in the first place, to create a safe environment and, in the second, to offer as pleasant a cinematic experience as possible. To prevent sources of infection and improve traceability, the advance purchase of tickets will only be available online, through the Festival and Kutxabank websites. From September 17, tickets can be purchased from the cinemas ticket offices.

The Festival has again decided to stagger ticket sales. Tickets will go on sale, as usual, on the Sunday before the Festival: September 12 (at 9:00). However, only tickets for the first three days of the Festival (Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19) will be available for purchase. Tickets for Monday 20, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 (and the remaining tickets for the previous days) will go on sale on the 13th. Finally, tickets for Thursday 23, Friday 24 and Saturday 25 (and the remaining tickets for the previous days) will go on sale on the 14th. From the 15th onwards, tickets will still be available for purchase for all showings, indistinctly. Each spectator can purchase a maximum of two tickets per showing, with a total limit of 20 tickets for each purchase.

For tickets purchased in advance, the only applicable discounts are those corresponding to the Kutxabank Gazte card. Discounts will be applied at the Festival ticket offices to Donostia Kultura users. Finally, every day the Festival will offer tickets with a 50% discount to those subscribing to the mailing list, where they will receive a daily update on tickets availability.

The Festival reminds you that it is mandatory to wear a mask at all times. When a screening runs for more than four hours (as in the case of the series La Fortuna) spectators must wear an approved professional mask (FFP2 or KN95) in keeping with the stipulations indicated for special situations in the order issued by the Department of Health.

Other measures taken by the Festival:

• A reduction in capacity: this translates into 50% of the Kursaal, Victoria Eugenia and Principal Theatre cinemas; and 60% of the other cinemas (Tabakalera, Trueba, Príncipe, Antiguo Berri). This reduction in capacity will apply to all of the Festival activities (press conferences, photocalls, presentations.

• Reduction in the number of screenings (124 fewer screenings than in 2019, 28 more than in 2020) and in the number of films (29 fewer than in 2019, 33 more than in 2020). This will make the entrance to cinemas more orderly and means that they will take less time to empty.

• The cinemas will be disinfected between showings.

• Fewer venues (Velodrome) and social events (opening and closing parties, Basque cinema party, cocktail parties…).

• Red carpets with no public: Unfortunately, it will be impossible this year again to repeat the images of movie fans asking the stars for autographs on their arrival or waiting to see them at the photocalls or on the red carpet. At this edition, these spaces will be restricted to professional use, with press reporters who will line the carpets while observing the required social distance.

• Online programme: Every day the schedule of events in streaming will be published for consultation including all the press conferences for the Official Selection and Donostia Awards, the galas, presentations and master classes by film industry professionals.