New York Reveals Full Slate / "The Hateful Eight" Has a Trailer / Looking at Hank Williams/Tom Hiddleston / A Look at "Our Brand is Crisis"

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday...


A very busy 24 hours since my last post vi-s-a-vis The 42nd Telluride Film Festival with new information and also views of some films that could play at T-ride that we haven't seen much of anything from...yet.  Let's start with new info from...

NEW YORK REVEALS FULL SLATE (AND TELLS US SOME THINGS ABOUT TELLURIDE)

The New York Film Festival dropped the rest of their film lineup (barring any surprise screenings...and NYFF has certainly done some of that in the past) out of the blue yesterday.  Last year the NYFF program was revealed on Aug. 14 so we knew it was likely very soon.

Here's what we can discern/glean:

Announcements of Danny Boyle's "Steve Jobs" (which we knew from its earlier announcement as NYFF's centerpiece) is still label less in terms of premiere status.  That's a pretty strong indication that it's Telluride bound.

Todd Haynes "Carol" was also in the announcement yesterday with no premiere status indicated which tells me Telluride.

The ONLY other film that fits the "no premiere" status condition is Corneliu Porumbiou's "The Treasure".  It played Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section.  Critics loved, loved, loved it.  Looks like it's going to make the trip to the San Juans.

"The Treasure's"  IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4515684/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


We are also able to deduce that some films are now off the Telluride radar owing to their NYFF posted premiere status (barring mistakes or weirdness).  Off the T-ride table would appear to be:

Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies"
"Arabian Nights"
"Les Cowboys"
"The Measure of a Man"
"Mia Madre"
"Microbe and Gasoline"


There are also others off the Telluride grid but we either already knew that or never thought they were likely for Telluride to begin with.

Want some weirdness?  Seems like only three films will crossover this year between Telluride and New York.  Last year it was 11 films that played both fests.  Not sure why but that's a dramatic difference.

Finally, for those keeping score, films that we still haven't seen on any of the three major fall fest lists (TIFF, Venice, NYFF) are:

"Suffragette"
"I Saw the Light"
"Our Brand is Crisis"
"In the Heart of the Sea"
"By the Sea"
"Truth"
"Manchester-by-the-Sea"
"Secret in Their Eyes"
"Queen of the Desert"
"Salt and Fire"
"45 Years"
"13 Minutes"
"Macbeth"
"Adam Jones/Burnt"
"Snowden"
"Joy"

"The Light Between Oceans"

"Crimson Peak"

"The 33"

"The Last Face"

Of these, I feel that the best added Telluride shots are:

"Suffragette"

"I Saw the Light" (see below)

"Our Brand is Crisis"

"Truth"

"Secret in Their Eyes"

"Queen of the Desert"

"45 Years"

"13 Minutes"

"Macbeth"

Here are links to a slew of NYFF coverage:

http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2015/daily/the-new-york-film-festival-sets-26-films-for-the-2015-main-slate/

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/12/spielberg-coens-drama-bridge-of-spies-gets-new-york-film-festival-premiere/

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/12/new-york-film-festival-lineup-2015-bridge-of-spies

http://www.indiewire.com/article/53rd-new-york-film-festival-announces-main-slate-offerings-brooklyn-carol-and-bridge-of-spies-top-list-20150812

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/what-did-the-new-york-film-festival-get-20150812

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-york-film-festival-adds-world-premiere-of-steven-spielbergs-bridge-of-spies-to-main-slate-and-more-20150812

We should have more insight next week with the next wave of major announcements from Toronto.

"THE HATEFUL EIGHT" HAS A TRAILER

Well, let's all say it together: "The Hateful Eight" will not be ready in time to screen at TFF #42.

There's the disclaimer.

But I will say again that I do think we could see some footage of some kind.  I don't think that's stretch.  Maybe clips.  Maybe and extended scene or two.  Maybe a Quentin Tarantino tribute?

All possible.  

Yesterday's trailer release is reportedly what was shown at Cannes in May.  Check it here via YouTube:

And, as you might expect, I have linked a number of stories that accompanied the trailer release:


http://variety.com/2015/film/news/hateful-eight-trailer-quentin-tarantino-1201568499/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/first-trailer-quentin-tarantinos-hateful-814804

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/08/hateful-eight-trailer-gives-season-much-needed-shot-in-the-arm/

http://thefilmstage.com/trailer/quentin-tarantino-returns-to-the-western-in-first-trailer-for-the-hateful-eight/

http://www.slashfilm.com/hateful-eight-trailer/

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-quentin-tarantino-returns-to-the-western-with-a-gun-slinging-hateful-eight-teaser-20150812

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-bloody-blazing-trailer-for-quentin-tarantinos-the-hateful-eight-20150812


LOOKING AT HANK WILLIAMS/TOM HIDDLESTON IN "I SAW THE LIGHT"

We got our first official glimpse yesterday of Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams in the Marc Abraham film "I Saw the Light" as you can see above.

As I was monitoring the internet traffic as the image was being reported I noted an exchange highlighted between @PennJK and the official Toronto Film Festival Twitter account.  TIFF tweeted the image themselves:

https://twitter.com/TIFF_NET/status/631573216054525952/photo/1

 In the exchange @PennJK asks if the tweet means that "I Saw the Light" will play in Toronto to which the TIFF account replies:

"No plans as of now.  Just a savory slice of film industry news."

Which strikes me as an non denial denial.  It seems to me to be too convenient a pic for the TIFF account to tweet if it weren't going to go to TIFF.  Kind of makes me think that it WILL play TIFF and I'd bet if it does that it plays Telluride first.  Perhaps we'll find out next week.

Your links to stories with the "I Saw the Light" image from yesterday.  The Anne Thompson post suggests the possibility of Telluride:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/i-saw-the-light-first-look-tom-hiddleston-as-country-star-hank-williams-20150812

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/12/tom-hiddleston-hank-williams-i-saw-light-first-lo

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-tom-hiddleston-as-hank-williams-in-i-saw-the-light-20150812

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-picture-of-tom-hiddleston-as-hank-williams-in-i-saw-the-light/

ALSO A LOOK AT "OUR BRAND IS CRISIS"

Just about the same time all the Hateful trailer stories and Hiddleston as Hank stories were blowing up, the folks behind the P.R. for David Gordon Green's "Our Brand is Crisis" were busy with the first official look of Sandra Bullock from that film (above).

Could this film play Telluride?  It's still on my list of possibilities.   Coverage is here from Entertainment Weekly:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/12/sandra-bullock-our-brand-crisis-first-look


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Distribution: Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, Saban Films/Ten Bets #3/The Playlist's 50 Film Wish List for Fall Film Fests

It's Friday, Friday, Friday...

DISTRIBUTION: ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS/LIONSGATE/SABAN FILMS

On this Friday I continue my extensive look at film distributors with pasttrack records at the Telluride Film Festival to suss out clues about what films might play at this year's 42nd edition of the fest. Today I'm looking at the inter-related companies of Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate and Saban Films.


Taking each as an individual entity, here are their recent Telluride histories, such as they are:

Roadside Attractions:

2010: Biutiful
2011: Albert Nobbs
2012: Stories We Tell
2013: All is Lost, Gloria
2014: '71, The Homesman, Mommy


Lionsgate

2013: All is Lost

Saban:

2014: The Homesman



As you can see, Roadside has steadily increased its presence in the five year run since it first showed up at The SHOW in 2010.  Lionsgate and Saban have been peripherally involved on a couple of projects in that time.  So, what do these firms have in their collective quiver that might whet the appetite of T-ride programmers?

From Roadside: "A Hologram for the King", "Miss You Already", "The Sea of Trees", "Stonewall",

From Lionsgate: "A Hologram for the King", "Freeheld", "Miss You Already", "Sicario" "The Sea of Trees", "Genius"

Saban Films doesn't appear to have any film that looks Telluride-y, at least according to their IMDb listing.

It seems to me that Lionsgate actually has the strongest hand in as far as possible Telluride programming is concerned.  Probably the safest "bet" is Denis Villeneuve's "Sicario".  After that, it's all relatively doubtful for the remainder of the Roadside/Lionsgate/Saban field and even "Sicario" is iffy.

Chances:

"Sicario" 50%
"Freeheld" 40%
"A Hologram for the King" 35%
"Genius" 30%
"Miss You Already" 25%
"The Sea of Trees" 25%

Roadside, after a strong run last year, may be on the outside looking in.




TEN BETS #3

Last week's "Ten Bets" were:

10) "Queen of the Desert"
9) "Mountains May Depart"
8) "Suffragette"
7)  "13 Minutes"
6) "I Saw the Light"
5) "Youth"
4) "45 Years"
3) "Carol"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"

This week's updated "Ten Bets" for TFF #42:

10) "The Club"
9) "Suffragette"
8) "13 Minutes"
7) "Queen of the Desert"
6) "45 Years"
5) "I Saw the Light"
4) "Carol"
3) "Youth"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"

Pablo Larrain's "The Club" bumps "Mountains May Depart"...but it's close.


THE PLAYLIST'S 50 FILM WISH LIST FOR THE FALL FILM FESTS

The Playlist was up yesterday with their annual "wish list" of films for the upcoming fall film fest.  The yearly "wish/prediction" post has come to be a staple for parsing here at MTFB...

So, here's what they "wish/predict" as it pertains to what films they feel might make the lineup for Telluride:

The first film referenced for Telluride is the Bradley Cooper starring, Weinstein Company distributed "Adam Jones".  The Playlist says Telluride is a "possibility".

Next is Scott Cooper's "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as mob murderer Whitey Bulger.  "Black Mass" is from Warners.  You may recall that I think Warners will have a film or two at Telluride this year's list.  The Playlist suggests that a "sneak preview" is "very possible".

The next Telluride mention is for Guillermo Del Toro's "Crimson Peak".  Read my earlier posts that suggest that Del Toro could follow the footsteps of his "three amigos hermanos" Alejandro Inarritu and Alfonso Cuaron.

Their next T-ride mention surprised me a bit as they suggest that Tom Hooper's "The Danish Girl" starring last year's Oscar Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne could play Telluride as Hooper could follow the path that his "The King's Speech" did to Oscar glory with a Telluride appearance in 2010.

"I Saw the Light" from director Marc Abraham ("Flash of Genius" T-ride 2008) is called a "maybe" for TFF #42.  It's a biopic about country music legend Hank Williams starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen.  I think this film is a real Telluride possibility.

The next film that The Playlist gives a "maybe" is Derek Cianfrance's "The Light Between the Oceans" with Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.  It's distribution is still up for grabs for the U.S.

Kenneth Lonergan's "Manchester-by-the -Sea" is suggested as a Telluride possible.  The film stars Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler and is also looking for U.S> distribution.

Joe Nichols' "Midnight Special" starring Michael Shannon is termed a "good bet" and is another of the four Warners films that could make the trip to the San Juans.

The Playlist actually says that Jodie Foster's "Money Monster" starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts could make the Telluride program.  That would be cool.  Sony Pictures/TriStar are distributing.  (See my upcoming 2015 edition of "The Unified Clooney Theory" in a week or so).

David Gordon Green's "Our Brand is Crisis" is the third Warners film that the article says could make it to Telluride.  The film stars Sandra Bullock and is produce, in part, by Clooney (see "UCT" note above).

Sarah Gavron's "Suffragette" is said to be "expect(ed)" for Telluride after its announcement as a "European" premiere to open the London Film Fest.  The film stars Carey Mulligan and is distributed in the U.S. by Focus Features.

Richard Linklater's follow up to his critical darling "Boyhood" and the "spiritual sequel" to his classic "Dazed and Confused",
"That's What I'm Talking About" is called "very likely" for Telluride or Toronto or New York.

The last film that The Playlist lists Telluride as a possibility is "Truth" from director James Vanderbilt.  The post says that the film is "very likely" as it's from  Sony Pictures Classics.  The film stars Robert Redford as newsman Dan Rather and tells the story of his fall from grace at CBS News.

That's 13 of the 50 films listed in the post mentioning Telluride.

There are 37 other films (plus a bonus set at the end of the article) that The Playlist does not mention Telluride as a possibility.  Of those, I actually think that some DO have a shot.  For example:

Thomas Vintenberg's "The Commune"
Jean-Marc Vallee's "Demolition"
Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight"
Ron Howard's "In the Heart of the Sea"
Stephen Frears' "The Program"
Billy Ray's "Secret in Their Eyes"
Thomas McCarthy's "Spotlight"
Danny Boyles' "Steve Jobs"
Jay Roach's "Trumbo"
Justin Chadwick's "Tulip Fever"

are among The Playlist's 50 that they don't peg for a Telluride slot but that I think could play.

The only "Honorable Mentions" that they include that I feel have some shot at making Telluride is "Freeheld"

A lot to digest...

The complete post is here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/50-movies-on-our-fall-film-festival-wishlist-20150709

That's all for Friday.  Have a great weekend!  More on Monday...


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Distribution: Frequent Distribs at Telluride: Sony Pictures Classics/Trailer for "The Assassins"/"Hateful Eight" News

Good Monday Everyone...I hope you had an excellent Independence Day weekend.

We start our series today that looks at Film distribution companies that have a history with Telluride and what their current lineup might tell us about this year's possible lineup.

DISTRIBUTION: FREQUENT DISTRIBS AT TELLURIDE: SONY PICTURES CLASSIC (SPC)

SPC is the "Big Dog" of Indie distributors at Telluride.  No other company has as long and consistent track record of having film's selected for The SHOW program as Sony Pictures Classics.

Here's what SPC has shown in Telluride in the last 12 years :

2014: Foxcatcher, Leviathan, Red Army, Mr. Turner, Wild Tales, Salt of the Earth and Merchants of Doubt (7)
2013: The Invisible Woman, The Lunchbox, The Past, Tim's Vermeer and Jodorowsky's Dune (5)
2012: The Gatekeepers, At Any Price, Rust and Bone, No, Wadjda, Amour (6)
2011: A Dangerous Method, In Darkness, Footnote, A Separation (4)
2010: Incendies, Of Gods and Men, Tamara Drewe, Another Year, The Illusionist, Inside Job (6)
2009: The Last Station, The White Ribbon, Coco Before Chanel, A Prophet, An Education (5)
2008: Waltz with Bashir, I've Loved You So Long, O'Horten (3)
2007: Brick Lane, When Did You Last See Your Father, Persepolis, The Band's Visit, The Counterfeiters (5)
2006: Jindabyne, The Lives of Others, Volver, The Italian (4)
2005: Breakfast on Pluto, Capote, Cache, The Child (4)
2004: Being Julia, House of Flying Daggers, Bad Education, Merchant of Venice, Up and Down, Yes (6)
2003: The Fog of War, My Life Without Me, The Triplets of Belleville, Young Adam (4)

SPC averages 5.3 films per year at Telluride with seven last year, the most they've had at any TFF in the last dozen years.

This year's possible crop from Sony Pictures Classics (according to today's IMDb listing) includes:

"I Saw the Light"
"Son of Saul"
"Our Little Sister"
"13 Minutes" ("Elser")
"Truth"


Other SPC films that would seem to be disqualified: "Grandma", "Dark Horse" and "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" as they played at Sundance.

Of the six left as SPC possibles, we 'd be wise to remember that SPC usually doesn't get every film available into the fest.  Last year's "Coming Home" is a good example.  So, it's unlikely that all six of these films play.

Four of the five have already appeared on at least one of my two "Ten Bets" lists this last couple of weeks.  A really good case can be made for five of them.

"Truth" looks like a fairly substantial play for Awards recognition as does "I Saw the Light" which also has Marc Abraham directing who previously brought "Flash of Genius" to Telluride in 2008.

"13 Minutes"made some noise at Berlin.

"Our Little Sister" and "Son of Saul" both played at Cannes and "Son if Saul" particularly well winning the Grand Prix prize.

Chances (with current "Ten Bets" postions in parenthesis where applicable) :

"Son of Saul" 90%  (#2)
"I Saw the Light" 80% (#6)
"13 Minutes" 75% (#7)
"Truth" 65%
"Our Little Sister" 50%
"Testament of Youth" 10%


Tomorrow's distributor to look at: Fox Searchlight.

TRAILER FOR "THE ASSASSIN"

"The Assassin" teaser/trailer via YouTube

We saw our first trailer released this weekend for Cannes Best Director winner Hou Hsaio-Hsein's "The Assassin".  Its reception at Cannes makes the film one that we need to keep in mind as a possible choice for Telluride programming.  One note, however, the film's U.S. distribution is with Well Go Entertainment, for which I can find only the barest of connections to T-ride...they distributed the video for TFF 2010 selection "Oka! Amerikee".

Both The Playlist and FirstShowing posted coverage of the trailer release this weekend:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-hou-hsiao-hsiens-cannes-award-winning-the-assassin-20150704

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/watch-teaser-trailer-for-hou-hsiao-hsiens-cannes-hit-the-assassin/



"HATEFUL EIGHT" NEWS

First, we found out  that Tarantino will be bringing a presentation about the film to Comic Con which starts in San Diego next week.  "The Hateful Eight" panel is scheduled for July 11th.  Here's coverage from Variety, The Wrap and Thompson on Hollywood:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/quentin-tarantinos-hateful-eight-headed-to-comic-con-1201529411/

http://www.thewrap.com/quentin-tarantinos-the-hateful-eight-to-attend-san-diego-comic-con/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/tarantino-takes-hateful-eight-footage-to-comic-con-20150626


Additionally, we tumbled across an Entertainment Weekly story in which Tarantino calls the film the "funniest snow western ever made" which seems to me to be a pretty limited category.  Here's The Entertainment Weekly story:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/02/hateful-eight-exclusive-image-kurt-russell

The bottom line here is that the Comic Con presentation of footage means that QT is making progress on the edit of the film and with just under two months still left before Telluride, you have to wonder if he might just make it under the wire for Labor Day despite the fact that the film isn't getting a release until Dec. 25.

We'll see.


That's all for Monday...tune in again tomorrow...


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Domestic Trailer for the "Queen/Wozniak on "Jobs"/"Ten Bets" #2

Good Morning Star Shine...the Earth says, "It's Friday!"


DOMESTIC TRAILER FOR THE "QUEEN"

Werner Herzog's long gestating "Queen of the Desert" dropped a trailer for U.S. audiences yesterday. The film stars Nicole Kidman as real life British pioneer Gertrude Bell.  The film also stars James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damian Lewis.  "queen" premiered last February at the Berlin Film Festival.  I had it last week as the #10 film on the first 2015 Telluride "Ten Bets' list.  Does it continue on the list this week?  Find out below.

"Queen of the Desert" trailer via YouTube

Here's coverage of the U.s. trailer release from yesterday:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-epic-new-trailer-for-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman-robert-pattinson-more-20150702

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/full-us-trailer-for-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman/


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/new-3-minute-queen-of-the-desert-trailer-starring-nicole-kidman-and-robert-pattinson/


WOZNIAK TALKS "JOBS"

Yesterday's release of a full scale trailer for "Steve Jobs" looks to have prodded a couple of outlets to publish reaction stories from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (who is played in the film by Seth Rogen).  Business Insider and Variety posted stories based on Wozniak's response to Bloomberg Business which sought him out to get his reaction to the scenes in the trailer,

Here are those stories from Variety and Business Insider:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/steve-wozniak-steve-jobs-trailer-1201533382/

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-wozniak-steve-jobs-movie-trailer-exaggerated-2015-7


TEN BETS #2

As we toil toward the first wave of films that will be announced at the Toronto Film Festival (less than three weeks away) and its possible use as a tool to derive clues for the Telluride lineup, it's time to re-evaluate my list of ten films that seem, to me anyway, to be the most likely to play come Labor Day.

Last week's "Ten Bets" were:

10) "Queen of the Desert"
9) "Suffragette"
8) "Truth"
7) "45 Years"
6) "13 Minutes"
5) "I Saw the Light"
4) "Youth"
3) "Carol"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"

This week's updated "Ten Bets" list:

10) "Queen of the Desert"
9) "Mountains May Depart"
8) "Suffragette"
7)  "13 Minutes"
6) "I Saw the Light"
5) "Youth"
4) "45 Years"
3) "Carol"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"

Minor movement with "Truth" dropping out of the list, but still hovering just below, and "Mountains May Depart" moving onto the list.  The top three remain the same with minor shuffling in the 4-7 spots.


That's all for this week.  Come back Monday for the start of my look at film distributors and their relationship to Telluride and what that could tell us about which films could make The SHOW.


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Future Telluride: "Wilson" Begins Filming/Coppola and Insdorf Talk Film/2015's First "Ten Bets"

Welcome to Friday...


FUTURE TELLURIDE: "WILSON" BEGINS FILMING

Once director now producer of "Wilson", Alexander Payne

Principal photography has begun on "Wilson" a film that, at one point was to be directed by Alexander Payne but is now under the direction of Craig Johnson ("The Skeleton Twins").  Payne is still listed as a producer which makes me think that it is still a film that we probably should have on our T-ride 2016 watch lists.


"Wilson" will star Woody Harrelson, Judy Greer and Laura Dern.

I have linked reporting from Thompson on Hollywood and The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/wilson-starring-harrelson-and-dern-starts-filming-for-fox-searchlight-20150625

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/production-begins-on-adaptation-of-dan-clowes-wilson-starring-woody-harrelson-full-cast-revealed-20150625



COPPOLA AND INSDORF TALK FILM

It seems like it should have, has happened at Telluride.  Long time Telluride interviewer Annette Insdorf sat down with legend Francis Ford Coppola for 92Y's Reel Pieces series.  The 30 minute interview and brief story can be found here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-francis-ford-coppola-on-the-future-of-cinema-marlon-brando-and-regrets-20150625



2015'S FIRST "TEN BETS"

It's the last Friday in June and that means it's ponce again time for me to put my figurative money where my mouth is and take a stab at naming ten films that I think have a real shot at making the Telluride lineup for this year.

If the past is any guide, anywhere from five to seven of the following films will actually end up being a part of the TFF #42 lineup.

I'll continue through the rest of the summer posting revised "Ten Bets" lists each Friday right up to the final "Ten Bets" a day or two before the official lineup is announced.

So...here goes nothin':

#10) "Queen of the Desert" Despite it's sub par critical reception at Cannes I expect Werner Herzog's film to make The SHOW.

#9) "Suffragette"  Makes the list, barely, on the thinnest of clues...it's "European" premiere designation for the London Film Fest.

#8) "Truth" The Dan Rather story starring Robert Redford from SPC

#7) "45 Years"  Double acting wins at Berlin and from the Sundance Selects/IFC Films stable.

#6) "13 Minutes" Also a Berlin standout from SPC

#5) "I Saw the Light"  Other than it's from SPC, I have no other really great reason that I think it'll play T-ride...but I have a feeling...

#4) "Youth" Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel earned high praise at Cannes and it may be Fox Searchlight's strongest shot at awards season.

#3) "Carol" from Todd Haynes, who I'm predicting returns to Telluride with this awards season shot from The Weinstein Company.

#2) "Son of Saul"  SPC's Cannes sensation.

#1) "Dheepan"  I really do anticipate that Jacques Audiard returns to Telluride with this year's Palme d"Or winner.

On the outside...but close: "Macbeth", "Our Little Sister", "He Named Me Malala", "Demolition", Freeheld", and something from Warners: "Our Brand is Crisis", "Black Mass" or "In the Heart of the Sea"


That's your first "Ten Bets" and that's all for this week...more on Monday...

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Haneke's Plans Change/Future Telluride: "It's Only the End of the World"/"Elser" becomes "13 Minutes" and Drops a Trailer

Hello on a Tuesday in June...



HANEKE'S PLANS CHANGE

In the run up to this year's Cannes Film Fest there was some thought in some quarters that auteur Michael Haneke's secretive "Flashmob" might show up as a part of one of the programs during the fest.  I also had it as an outside shot film to keep an eye out for at Telluride because Haneke has made a home there with frequency.  But the Cannes screening did not happen, of course, and now we know why.

Haneke has abandoned the project and moved on according to a number of reports.  Apparently, things did not come together to his liking and thus, after having postponed the film for some time, Haneke has turned the page and moved on to something new.

Here's the reporting from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-haneke-drops-flashmob-working-on-new-film-set-in-france-20150609


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/michael-haneke-wont-incite-flashmob-working-something-else/




FUTURE TELLURIDE: "IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD"

Marion Cotillard in the first image from Xavier Dolan's "It's Only the End of the World" via The Playlist

Xavier Dolan joined the ranks of Telluride alumni with the presentation of his film "Mommy" in 2014.  In 2012, Marion Cotillard was feted as a recipient of a TFF tribute which was accompanied by Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone".  We found out the last 24 hours that Dolan and Cotillard are teaming for a new film: "It's Only the End of the World" which focuses on a family dealing with a member with a terminal illness.  

The film is expected to be released in 2016 and IMDb lists it as currently filming.  One could reasonably expect that the film might make its way to TFF #43 next year.  

Parenthetically, one also might see both Audiard and Cotillard return to Telluride this year.  Audiard with "Dheepan" and Cotillard with Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth"  (yes please!)

Here's reporting on the Dolan film from The Playlist and Rope of Silicon:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-20150613


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/first-picture-of-marion-cotillard-in-xavier-dolans-next-film-plus-tom-at-the-farm-coming-to-u-s-theaters/



"ELSER" BECOMES "13 MINUTES" AND DROPS A TRAILER

UK Trailer for "13 Minutes" (formerly "Elser") via YouTube

One of the films that emerged as a result of the Berlin International Film Festival back in February was Oliver Hirschbiegel's "Elser".  The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and was generally well received critically.

We found out yesterday that the film has changed titles.  It is now called "13 Minutes".

The film is based on a true story about a lesser known attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939 (as opposed to the more well known attempt immortalized by Tom Cruise in Bryan Singer's 2008 film "Valkyrie".

I may have "13 Minutes" on the very first "Ten Bets" list for 2015 which is coming in about 10 days...

"13 Minutes" reporting is linked here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-downfall-director-oliver-hirschbiegels-hitler-assassination-thriller-13-minutes-20150615

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/must-watch-first-trailer-for-13-minutes-from-oliver-hirschbiegel/


And its IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708135/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1



More on Wednesday...

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