MANK IN OCTOBER AND AN INTERESTING NOTE
Mank Photo montage via World of Reel
Multiple outlets reported recently that Eric Roth, one of the producers on David Fincher's upcoming Netflix film Mank, has said that the film will premiere at some point in October.
Roth made the statement on the Pardon My Take podcast.
If it's true it suggests that the film might have been ready in time for some of the fall fest run. As we know, however, Netflix has announced that none of their projects will be fall festing this year.
There are a couple of cracks in that armor, however. You may recall that I wrote the following in my June 1 post:
"Further, Hammond (Deadline) opens the door slightly to there being the possibility that Netflix's announcement that it would be doing any fall fests might not be 100% carved in stone:
"Netflix, which has been a key presence in the last couple of years is sitting this one out, at least at this point."
The key sentence there being the "At least at this point".
"Netflix, which has been a key presence in the last couple of years is sitting this one out, at least at this point."
The key sentence there being the "At least at this point".
And, as an aside...due to Telluride's secretive nature, you kind of have to wonder that if Netflix was ONLY going to screen at Telluride that they might suggest they weren't going anywhere.
Personally, I take Netflix at its word that they won't screen anywhere...but it's fun to speculate."
Now, in the Zack Sharf/Indiewire article about the possible October release for Mank, there's this sentence:
"While Netflix has not confirmed the “Mank” release date, a fall debut around October or November has been widely expected considering the title is one of the streaming giant’s big Oscar contenders. Similar to last year’s “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story,” Netflix is expected to world premiere “Mank” at one of the fall film festivals."
The Playlist's Charles Barfield seemed to second the motion writing in a story posted on Friday:
"that would give the film ample time to premiere at one of the upcoming fall festivals, which have been welcoming to Netflix films in years past, especially ones with well-known filmmakers and possible awards recognition. So, maybe we’ll see “Mank”
In fairness, Barfield mentions Venice and Toronto as possible destinations...but still...
The Playlist story is here
So, clearly, something is off-kilter here somewhere.
It's worth keeping an eye and an ear open on this topic.
The entire Sharf/Indiewire post is here.
NETFLIX AND THE CHICAGO 7
I saw reporting over the weekend that Netflix is nearing a deal with Paramount to acquire domestic distribution for Aaron Sorkin;s The Trial of the Chicago 7. Variety reported over the weekend that negotiations were ongoing.
I've had this Sorkin project on my TFF #47 radar since October of 2018. The film's TFF chances for a TFF berth seemed to be 50/50. Then with the stoppage of work in post-production because of the pandemic I had begun to think that it wouldn't be ready in time. Now, also working against it's Telluride chances, assuming the deal gets done, is Netflix announcing that it won't be taking any of their films to film fests.
The Variety article suggests that the film might still be aimed for release prior to election day in November.
Given the Netflix weirdness detailed in the first section of this post above, I can't definitively say that Chicago 7 won't be a TFF selection. The door is still open just a wee bit.
THE DISTRIBS: A24
A24's presence at Telluride has been a hit and miss affair since the company's first appearance at the fest in 2012 but their level of success when they have had films there has been impressive with three of the ten films they've screened at Telluride earning Best Picture nominations and, of course, having Moonlight's win after premiering at TFF in 2016.
Here's A24's past at the Telluride Film Festival":
2019: First Cow, Uncut Gems, Waves
2018: No SHOW
2017: Lean on Pete, First Reformed, Lady Bird
2016: Moonlight
2015: Room
2014: No SHOW
2013: Under the Skin
2012: Ginger and Rosa
Ten films in eight years. But, as I said...it's been hit or miss with No SHOW's in 2014 and 2018 but three films apiece in 2017 and 2019.
A24 has several films that could be in for a TFF play:
Sofia Coppola's On the Rocks. Coppola re-teams with Bill Murray for the first time since her debut film, Lost in Translation, which screened at Telluride in 2003. She hasn't returned to TFF since. Murray was in town in 2012 in support of Hyde Park on Hudson. Rashida Jones also stars. also in its favor-It went into post-production last July. I was surprised that the film wasn't on the list of films that Cannes "selected". That makes me think that it may be headed to Venice. With the uncertainty about how the pandemic will impact fests, films and fest-goers decision making, my sense is that we may see less Telluride/Venice crossover than in recent years.
Mike Mills' C'mon C'mon starring recent Best Actor Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix. Mills has never been to Telluride but he hasn't been averse to playing the fest circuit with his past films:
Thumbsucker: Sundance, Berlin, Toronto
Beginners: Toronto
20th Century Women: New York, AFI
The film went into post in December which may suggest that it hasn't had enough time to be completed.
Stephen Karam's adaptation of his Tony Award winning play The Humans. Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer and Beanie Feldstein star in the story of a family gathering at Thanksgiving. It's Karam's first gig as director but he has a scripted adaptations of his own play, Speech and Debate as well as Chekhov's The Seagull. The film went into post in October so is possibly ready.
Three other A24 titles that seem to be less likely TFF participants are False Positive, After Yang, The and the Untitled Lila Neugebauer Project.
I appears that the Joel Coen MacBeth project starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand has been moved to 2021.
Chances:
On the Rocks 30%
C'mon C'mon 30%
The Humans 30%
All other A24 properties: 10%.
EMAIL: mpgort@gmail.com
