SO THERE'S THIS STRIKE THING...
I wrote on Thursday that the SAG-AFTRA strike had been called and that there was some uncertainty about what effect that might have on Telluride and other film festivals. As of this morning's post there really isn't a clear idea yet. I am waiting to see if the first casualty for film fests is that either Toronto or Venice or both alter their announcement plans. Toronto is set to announced their first wave of films on Wednesday and Venice is to follow next week on July 25.
I suspect that most festival-goers are crossing their collective fingers that the strike is settled quickly and festivals can proceed normally. Frankly, I don't think the signs point to a rapid conclusion and past some undefined date the potential for "talent" to be on site to promote their films becomes impossible.
I ran across a good early take on the strike and festivals from Variety's Clayton Davis. Here's the link to that.
Davis writes in part:
"Of all the upcoming festivals, Telluride may be the least impacted by the SAG and WGA strikes. That’s because there are no press conferences and lavish step-and-repeats outside of the various venues around town."
Davis reports later in the post that:
“Telluride will be mostly unaffected,” one studio executive tells Variety. “I can’t say the same for the others.”
There have even been some speculation in the ether that Telluride might end up landing some screenings that might not otherwise have made the trip to Colorado as a result of distribs/studios and producers baling on original plans.
INDIEWIRE REPORTS...NYAD?
Anne Thompson, also writing last Thursday about the effect of SAG-AFTRA'S strike on the upcoming film festivals revealed that Annette Bening was to have been a TFF tribute recipient (and I guess still could be should the strike be settled in time) and that her film Nyad would be a part of the TFF #50 lineup. Nyad was #5 on last week's Ten Bets list.
Thompson also implies that it's likely that Nyad stills screens in Telluride.
From her post:
"Scratch rumored tribute star Annette Bening, star of Netflix release “Nyad.” Directors like Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi will be carrying the ball at Telluride"
COULD WE SEE HAYAO AFTER ALL?
Hardly any hard news about what is purportedly animation master Miyazaki Hayao's final film has been forthcoming over the past few months. I have noted here that Hayao has had a sturdy presence at Telluride over the last couple of decades but consistent indications that his new film would not be playing any festivals has kept me from even considering it for a place among the Ten Best Bets for Telluride or even among the possibilities.
That, however. might be changing.
Variety's Patrick Frater, among others, reported this weekend that U.S. distributor Gkids had acquired what has been known as How Do You Live and will release it in the U.S. under the title The Boy and the Heron.
Even more intriguing was this passage from the reporting:
"Gkids indicated that it would give “The Boy and the Heron” a North American theatrical release “later this year.” The picture is also expected to make appearances at various fall festivals."
My thinking is that if festivals are back in play then Telluride has a very good shot at screening the new film as a part of TFF #50.
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