Michael's Telluride Film Blog : TFF #48- A Big Return? / New Digs for TFF in Telluride / Trailers, Teasers, Posters and Pics of TFF Possibilities

TFF #48- A BIG RETURN?

We already know that TFF #48 will be bigger than usual with a five day fest rather than the typical four day event. We also know, officially this week as reported by news outlets in Telluride as well as nationally by Awards Watch and Indiewire that the fest has purchased the Nugget Theater building with plans to establish a substantial continuing presence in Telluride.

But in addition to all that, there are whispers in the ether that Telluride might be a larger than usual locus for films launching at the fall fests.

Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson writing for Indiewire yesterday had some interesting observations in that direction:

(Telluride) "which chose to cancel its VIP mountain gathering last year when it could not stage a live event, is prepping a substantial comeback. The Labor Day gathering has ambitious plans, with an extra day of programming and a slate of expected Oscar hopefuls that may include both Wes Anderson’s Cannes entry “The French Dispatch” and the animated Sundance documentary breakout “Flee.” Telluride is returning strong with its recent acquisition of frequent screening site the Nugget Building, where it intends to create a year-round “cultural center devoted to film, filmmakers, and film culture.” Meanwhile, awards consultants are eager to return to in-person campaign events with a Telluride awards launch."

The momentum about thinking that The French Dispatch could be a TFF selection has been building a bit over the past few weeks, so Indiewire's speculation adds some fuel to that fire. Interesting, as well, is the mention of Flee, which has been earning good buzz since its debut at Sundance. Because Flee is a documentary, it's debut at Sundance doesn't diminish its chances at playing TFF as much as if it were a feature film. Also, its acquisition by NEON doesn't hurt either.

The concluding sentence from this paragraph also intrigues.

There have also been a couple of other allusions from other film journos that Telluride could well be in the "sweet spot" this year for a fall film fest and domestic film makers with Covid restrictions and uncertainties regarding European Fests and Toronto.

Another interesting note here is the reveal that TFF has bought the Nugget Theater building. That news had been bubbling for a bit and has now been reported by local Telluride media as well Erik Anderson's Awards Watch. See the news release from the fest about the purchase below.

Not to brag, but I have been sitting on the news for a couple of months.

The complete Indiewire article is linked here.

Stand by!

NEW DIGS FOR TFF IN TELLURIDE

From the TFF Press Office and Shannon Mitchell:

Telluride Film Festival (September 2 – 6, 2021) and the National Film Preserve LTD, a Colorado nonprofit corporation, today announced its acquisition of the Nugget Building in the town of Telluride, Colorado. The Festival’s intent is to maintain and further create a cultural center devoted to film, filmmakers and film culture.

The building, an iconic piece of Old West history located in the town’s center near the New Sheridan Hotel, will provide a permanent hub for the Festival focused on a fully remodeled Nugget Theater; a regional jewel that will be upgraded to the country’s highest presentation standards. In addition, the Festival intends to construct a rooftop gathering space that will be a site for major Festival events and a year-round venue for education and community programming. Plans also involve the construction of an adjacent filmmaker residency building. A capital campaign, Nugget Project: The SHOW at 50, is underway to raise the necessary funds for the purchase, construction and vital endowments towards future programming.

“The Telluride Film Festival believes that film is best experienced together, in a beautiful cinema, talking afterwards in a communal space with the artists who create these magical stories in the first place,” said Executive Director Julie Huntsinger. “We hope to make the picturesque Nugget Building a beacon for our global society of cinephiles to experience the art form at its best.”

The Nugget Building has been restored by its past owners, and Telluride Film Festival intends to build on their work.

“The Telluride Film Festival wishes to deeply thank Katrine and Bill Formby for their twenty-year preservation efforts in bringing the Nugget Building back to its former glory, and for generously donating to the Nugget Project: The SHOW at 50 capital campaign that helped us to acquire the building,” said Huntsinger. “We are committed to preserving its history.”

“When we purchased the crumbling, partially blue-stained Nugget Building in 1999, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” said former building owners Katrine and William Formby. “Twenty years later, we are now somewhat experts on historical preservation. We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish in bringing this 129-year-old building back to its former glory. All of our decisions have been made with the following in mind: ‘What is the best for the Nugget Building and for Telluride?’ Selling the Nugget Building to the Telluride Film Festival sounds like a happy and appropriate ending to our time as stewards of the building.”

For more information about Telluride Film Festival’s Capital Campaign or to make a donation, please visit www.telluridefilmfestival.org.

TRAILERS OF TFF POSSIBILITIES

With Cannes upcoming and other films getting into the game, we have had a run of teasers and trailers recently for films that could be contenders for TFF inclusion. Beginning with yesterday's release from Searchlight for Michael Showalter's The Eyes of Tammy Faye: