COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

FIN 2021

FIN Audience COVID Protocols 

OUR GOAL:

Our top priority at the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival is that our staff, guests, and community remain safe and healthy while partaking in the festival. This year, we are excited to host a hybrid festival, which allows audiences to enjoy our film selection in the comfort of their own homes AND in-person at Cineplex Park Lane. To ensure that our in-person screenings remain viable we ask that you review the outlined COVID-19 protocols and familiarize yourself with its procedures. All guests must follow these protocols while attending in-person events. Together, we can maintain COVID-19 safety standards and keep our communities safe.

FIN is committed to:

  • Ensuring hand sanitizer is available outside of the theatres

  • Disinfecting high contact surfaces regularly

  • Encouraging social distancing

  • Enforcing and adjusting protocols as needed

 

PROVINCIAL GUIDELINES:

FIN has worked closely with the Province of Nova Scotia to ensure the safe execution of this year's festival. All decisions concerning our COVID-19 protocols are guided by Provincial Health and Safety Regulations and are subject to adjustment according to Public Health Guidelines as we potentially enter Phase 5 of Nova Scotia’s reopening plan.

 

FEELING UNWELL:

We ask that all guests experiencing COVID-19 symptoms please stay home and contact Nova Scotia Health Authority at 1-800-430-9557 (Click here for a list of symptoms.)

 

Protocols:


ARRIVING:

  • Cineplex asks festival attendees and guests to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before showings to minimize lobby traffic.

  • Follow advertised signage and decals for directional guidance.

 

TICKETS:

  • Tickets will be exclusively sold online (beginning Wednesday, September 1, 2021) to maximize contactless payment methods and minimize in-person procedures.

  • The online platform will reflect available seating; seats must be chosen at the time of purchase to ensure physical distancing and comply with capacity limits.

  • Bring either a physical print out of your event ticket or have your mobile e-ticket ready to be scanned at the entrance of your auditorium.

 

SOCIAL DISTANCING:

  • Signage and decals will provide physical distancing guidance.

  • Exit the theatre one row at a time and respect personal space.

  • FIN staff and volunteers or Cineplex employees may request that patrons take an alternate exit to reduce crowding.

  • Respect your seating assignment to comply with Cineplex’s social distancing efforts.

 

AUDITORIUM:

FOOD

  • Cineplex concessions will be open with a reduced menu and modified options during festival screenings (i.e. no self-pumping butter stations).

  • Additional concession items (e.g. utensils) are available upon request.

  • No outside food or beverages are permitted.

  • Please dispose of your own concession and personal garbage when exiting the theatre.

MASKS

  • Any attendee or guest entering Park Lane Mall and its Cineplex location must wear a non-medical mask. Face shields are to be worn in addition to—not in lieu of—masks.

  • Masks must fully cover the nose and mouth.

  • All FIN staff, volunteers, and Cineplex employees will wear masks at all times.

  • Masks must also be worn inside at all times before and during the presentation screening and only briefly removed for eating or drinking.

  • If needed, disposable masks will be available for attendees at no charge.

 CLEANING/SANITATION

  • Cineplex employees wipe down frequent touch points at least every 30 minutes.

  • Auditorium touchpoints and seating is disinfected between screenings.

  • All Cineplex spaces are thoroughly cleaned at the end of the day.

  • Hand sanitizer is available at common spaces throughout the cinema.

 

FAQ:

What if I get sick and cannot attend the film in-person?

Before your scheduled movie time please contact our box office at 902-332-1530 and they will issue a full refund or adjust your ticket to a streaming version, if possible, so you can enjoy the film at home. Alternatively, you may choose to support the FIN Film Festival by donating your ticket to the box office and receiving a tax slip to include in your 2021 income tax report.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

  • Fever (over 38°C)

  • New or worsening Cough

  • Sore throat

  • Headache

  • Shortness of breath

  • Runny nose

  • Loss of taste or smell

 

What do I do if I develop symptoms while I'm at the cinema?

If you develop symptoms while at the cinema, immediately leave the theatre, go straight home, and contact the Nova Scotia Health Authority at 1-800-430-9557. After speaking with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, please contact Kat, our Operations Coordinator at 902-219-4361.

Our Operations Team will:

  • Document the incident: The date, name of afflicted patron (if provided), and locations they visited within the theatre.

  • Notify staff and guests in the affected areas and have them leave those areas immediately.

  • Do a risk assessment of the facility and determine what cleaning/ disinfection/disposal procedures need to occur.

 *NOTE: You do not have to provide your contact information or name to our Operations Coordinator, that information will remain anonymous with the Nova Scotia Health Authority who will perform the contact tracing.

 

Why do I have to keep my mask on when seated?

Public Health still requires individuals to wear masks at indoor events and venues while not eating and drinking—even if physically distanced—to minimize risk of exposure.