Saturday 25 April, the second part of the programme began with works provided by the following sections: International Feature Film Competition, Burning Lights International Competition, Grand Angle and Latitudes.

The films in the National Competition will remain visible, with one film being made available per day until 30 April. This digital edition has been enthusiastically embraced by the public, and some films are already ‘sold out’. Among the highlights of the coming days are to appear the Masterclasses given by our guests of honour: the Maître du Réel Claire Denis will speak online on Wednesday 29 April (at 3.00 pm), while the filmmaker Petra Costa’s Masterclass is scheduled for 30 April (3.00 pm) and the one by Peter Mettler will take place on 1 May (3.00 pm). The activities linked to the virtual Forum (Rendez-vous, Cartes Blanches, Industry Talks and Nuits de Visions) will continue until 2 May.
 
Second batch and discoveries
On 25 April, the complete selections from the International Feature Film Competition, Burning Lights International Competition and Grand Angle sections has been put online, whereas the Latitudes section will appear as from 24 April.
These works can be viewed directly from the Festival website, upon registration. Given the success of the films of the first batch, we recommend that spectators consult the programme soon in order to make their choices!
 
Forum and online activities
Every second day, the Rendez-vous proposes live round tables during which the public is also invited to ask questions. These moments of discussion and debate between filmmakers and programmers are organised around a theme, to share cinematographical experiences and practices.
This year, in addition to the viewings, the Cartes Blanches and Questions & Answers will offer the public a fuller perspective on the body of work and the efforts of the directors invited to this 51st edition.
Intended primarily for audio-visual professionals, the Industry Talks are also accessible to the public. Finally, the festive and convivial aspect of the Festival is also reflected in radio shows (Reïdyo, Radio 40) and the Nuits de Visions live or streamed DJ-sets.
 
Maître du Réel and Ateliers
The filmmaker Claire Denis, the Maître du Réel of this edition, will give an online Masterclass on Wednesday 29 April at 3.00 pm. Moderated by Lionel Baier (ECAL) and Émilie Bujès (Visions du Réel), this encounter (in collaboration with ECAL and Cinémathèque Suisse) will enable the public to discover the work of this remarkable director. Some of her films have been available since 17 April and will be online until 13 June.
As part of the Ateliers, Visions du Réel is welcoming Brazilian filmmaker Petra Costa online on Thursday 30 April at 3.00 pm. This Masterclass (in collaboration with HEAD-Geneva) will be hosted by Delphine Jeanneret (HEAD-Geneva) and Giona Nazzaro (Visions du Réel).
The director Peter Mettler will give his Masterclass on Friday 1 May at 3.00 pm. This event will be moderated by Jean Perret (critic, essayist and lecturer) and Emmanuel Chicon (Visions du Réel).
Many films by Petra Costa and Peter Mettler have been online since 17 April and will be available until the end of the Festival.
 
Industry
The central Industry activities (Pitching du Réel, Docs in Progress and Rough Cut Lab) will be maintained during this digital edition. Furthermore, the co-production meetings between Switzerland and another country (the United Kingdom this year), as well as the Prix RTS: Perspectives d'un doc and the SWISS FILMS Previews, will take place in a format that has been reviewed for the circumstances. From 25 April to 4 May, professionals from the audio-visual sector will be able to meet and chat online. Finally, the Industry Talks section—which, as usual, is also accessible to the public—will focus on the current and future effects of COVID-19 on the film industry, through three discussions and prestigious participants.
 
Midterm assessment
Martine Chalverat, the operational and administrative director of the Festival: "We are extremely enthusiastic about the number of registrations to the platform, which exceeds all expectations and reflects a real interest in non-fiction cinema, especially during this period of confinement".
The next press release scheduled for 3 May will announce the 2020 Awards with some figures.
 
Online accessibility
Press accreditations will have access to the Media Library from 25 April to 10 May. Accreditation requests can be made directly online, via the My VdR platform.
The Festival hotline answers calls on +41 22 365 44 55 every day until 2 May from 9 am to 8 pm.
 
51st edition of Visions du Réel: 17 April—2 May 2020

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Gloria Zerbinati
gloria.zerbinati@gmail.com 
+33 (0)7 86 80 02 82
+39 338 12 00 517