THE DISTRIBUTORS 2019: FOCUS FEATURES
Focus Features has had a very spotty record with Telluride over the years that I have been attending as you can see from the list below, Focus has been on the program five times since 2006:
2018- Boy Erased
2017- Darkest Hour
2015- Suffragette
2012- Hyde Park on Hudson
2006- Catch a Fire
However, also note that Focus has played Telluride two years consecutively and three of the last four TFFs. Additionally, Darkest Hour was very successful with its run two years ago with two Oscar wins including Gary Oldman for Best Actor and another four nominations including one for Best Picture.
I'd also guess that Focus was aiming/hoping for the same kind of success last year with Boy Erased. That didn't happen as Oscar nominations didn't pan out, though Boy Erased was nominated for two Golden Globes.
Both films...as a matter of fact, I believe all five of these listed Focus Feature films first screened at Telluride. Also, in most cases, the directors of the films had been involved with a film that had played Telluride previously.
Last year this is how I handicapped the possible Focus Feature films:
Everybody Knows 50%
Boy Erased 40%
On the Basis of Sex 40%
Mary Queen of Scots 40%
As to 2019, Focus has two films that might be possible. Kasi Lemmons Harriet Tubman biopic starring Cynthia Ervio is one and Todd Haynes untitled film currently listed by IMDb as being in post-production since March is the other.
Mark Ruffalo takes the lead in the film as an attorney fighting corporate environmental malfeasance. The film is based on a Nataniel Rich article from The New York Times Magazine in 2016. The title Dry Run has been used in the past for this film. That article is linked here.
Lemmons played Eve's Bayou at T-ride in 1997. Haynes has been a frequently programmed director with Carol, Wonderstruck and I'm Not There.
There's an outside shot that Eliza Hittman's Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always gets some attention as well.
Focus also has the Downton Abbey film which opens Sept. 20th but seems an unlikely TFF choice.
Soooo...my percentages for Focus...
Harriet 50%
Haynes/Dry Run 50%
Never, Rarely 25%
Downton 10%
Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if Focus landed two films at Telluride this year.
APPLE WANTS TO PLAY
The New York Post reported yesterday that Apple wants to get into the theatrical release/Oscar game as they roll out their own streaming platform, Apple+. Indiewire also carried the story.
Apple seems to be wanting to produce half a dozen small budget/high prestige fare with an eye toward awards season.
The Post's source is quoted in the article as saying that Apple aims to create "Focus Features-esque awards contenders" and specifically mentions BlacKkKlansman, Boy Erased and Dallas Buyers Club.
Of course, from my perspective, the questions that raises are: "Will Apple strive to compete for fall festival slots?" and, of course and specifically, "Will they make the attempt to get into Telluride?"
Seems like that will be really interesting to keep an eye on.
SOON TO SEE THE GOOD LIAR
Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren photo from The Good Liar via USA Today
Anton Volkov's Trailer Track website reported yesterday that we are soon to see a trailer for The Good Liar. The film stars Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen. The film is directed by Bill Condon and set for U.S. release on Nov. 15th. It is being distributed by Warner Bros.
All of these factors make it a possible choice for Telluride.
Volkov says he expects the trailer online in the next 10 days or so and likely to be timed with next week's release of Danny Boyle's Yesterday.
In the film, McKellen plays an aging con artist and Mirren a well-to-do widow according to the film's IMDb web page.
Check out Volkov's post at this link.
That's a wrap for this Tuesday. I'll have more on Thursday...
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