I didn't even realize there is no festival this year, at least so far. There could by a myriad of reasons, including the various hypothesis that you-know-who is losing interest as the franchise is running out of steam and therefore $$$$, and everyone knows you-know-who is interested in $$$$. But there is something we DS fans might have to face. Our beloved show, over 50 years old, might be coming to the end of running its course. That happens. We'll always be around; there will always be websites. But as fandom ages there will be less of it. While culturally popular, DS has not reached the massive status of, say, ST. That has been recycled in hosts of television spin-offs and sequels and scores of movies. It manages to bring in new generations to keep it going, at least for now. The '91 revival lasted one season, through no fault of its own (damn that war). The Harper-Collins novel reboot got off to a good start, but after a few books it fell apart because of money battles between H-C and DCP. The '04 TV remake was rushing to air in great fanfare and then suddenly had its plug pulled. The '12 cinema version did turn a profit, but not enough for the studio's suits.
All good things come to an end. Hopefully, we'll all be around for quite a while and continue to reminisce about one of our favorite shows. If that's all we'll have left (no more festivals; no more filmed remakes/continuations; no more publications), let's be grateful for that.
Gerard