Toronto Announces Canadian Based Titles / New York Will Close with The Lost City of Z / First Look at Allied

Good Thursday Everyone...

In the last 24 hours we've learned more about what won't be at Telluride...


TORONTO ANNOUNCES CANADIAN BASED TITLES

The Toronto International Film Festival announced its second wave of films for a variety of parts of their program yesterday.  As they have done traditionally, this second wave focused on Canadian films that would be playing across the spectrum of TIFF's sections.  From those announcements we can conclude that Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World will NOT play Telluride as TIFF lists it as a North American premiere.

I had thought its chances diminished in the wake of withering critical response at Cannes BUT the film did win the Grand Prize from the Jury as well as the Ecumenical Jury prize which stunned me and others but was enough for me to keep it mind for TFF #43.  Another factor that kept me from completely dismissing its Telluride chances were the fact that Dolan, despite his Canadian pedigree played Telluride two years ago to wide acclaim with his Mommy.

Seems like we have our answer now.

One other film was announced as a Canadian Premiere which is often an indication that a T-ride berth is in the works.  The film is Jean of the Joneses.  Some digging reveals that the film has previously played at South by Southwest, as well as the L.A. and Nantucket Film Fests...so the Canadian designation almost certainly is reflective of that rather than an indication that it might play in the San Juans.

Here's coverage from yesterday's Toronto additions:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-film-festival-unveils-canadian-916812

http://www.thewrap.com/toronto-film-festival-adds-canadian-dramas-about-rape-politics-journalism/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/tiff-2016-its-only-the-end-of-the-world-mean-dreams-rising-stars-1201712678/


NEW YORK WILL CLOSE WITH THE LOST CITY OF Z

Along the same lines as the first story in today's blog, the announcement yesterday from the New York Film Festival that its closing night film will be the world premiere of James Gray's The Lost City of Z takes it off the Telluride table.


I have been convinced for the last four years that Gray would be headed to Telluride with a film as he was part of the presentation in 2012 of the tribute to Marion Cotillard.  Despite his appearance as an interviewer at T-ride recently (in 2014 for Apocalypse Now), he just hasn't made the trip.

Admittedly, I thought Z was a long shot to make the playbill this year but I also haven't thought that it was impossible.  Now, if the NYFF premiere status is to be believed, Z is lost to Telluride.

Coverage here:

http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2016/daily/james-gray-the-lost-city-of-z-nyff-closing-night/

http://variety.com/2016/film/news/the-lost-city-of-z-new-york-film-festival-2016-1201829118/

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/03/new-york-film-festival-2016-closing-film-lost-city-z

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/new-york-film-festival-james-gray-the-lost-city-of-z-nyff-1201712674/


FIRST LOOK AT ROBERT ZEMECKIS' ALLIED

We got our first still from Robert Zemeckis' Allied starring Brad Pitt and the above-mentioned Marion Cotillard yesterday via the breaking exclusive from People:

You have to admit, they look pretty.  Allied's T-ride profile is all but non-existent save for the fact that both Pitt and Cotillard have been at the fest (Cotillard, as mentioned above in 2012, Pitt with 12 Years a Slave in 2013) and that Paramount, which is a rare player at Telluride most years, seems to be already planning to be there with Denis Villenueve's Arrival.  Allied has an announced release date of Nov. 23.

So...not likely...but not impossible.  We'll see if the film pops up in any further announcements for Toronto, New York and/or London.

http://www.people.com/article/first-look-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-in-allied

https://thefilmstage.com/news/first-look-at-robert-zemeckis-allied-starring-marion-cotillard-and-brad-pitt/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/allied-first-look-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-robert-zemeckis-wwii-thriller-1201712758/

http://theplaylist.net/first-look-brad-pitt-marion-cotillard-allied-20160803/


That's it for Thursday...more tomorrow...

Contact MTFB at:

mpgort@gmail.com

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Distribution: The Weinstein Company (and Variations) / Dardennes Re-Tool Unknown Girl / Trailering It's Only the End of the World

Good Wednesday World...


DISTRIBTUION: THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY (AND VARIATIONS)

Tracking the Weinsteins as distributors at Telluride for the past decade shows us that they've been a part of The SHOW for a good long while.  Here's their Telluride slate as Miramax or The Weinstein Company or Radius-TWC since 2006:


2006: Venus, Indigenes
2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, My Enemy's Enemy, I'm Not There
2008: Happy-Go-Lucky
2009: The Road
2010: The King's Speech
2011: The Artist, Butter
2012: The Sapphires  (also was represented during the Marion Cotillard tribute by James Gray and 5 min. of The Immigrant)
2013: The Unknown Known, Salinger, Tracks
2014: The Imitation Game", "Escobar: Paradise Lost"

2015: Carol

18 films over the past decade including Best Picture winners in 2010 and 2011.  With an average of 1.8 films and a presence every year at the fest, TWC and its ancillary companies are the third most prolific distributor and one of the most consistently represented at Telluride over the past decade.

Let's look at The Weinstein Company's playlist as it is listed today in IMDb:

Lion

Wild Oats

Ballerina

At this point, these look like the only films in the line at TWC that might have a shot at playing. Clearly the most probable is Garth Davis' Lion which is dated for a Nov. 25 release.  The other two films seem as if they don't have a big chance.  I wouldn't completely rule them out though.  Wild Oats stars Jessica Lange and Shirley McLaine and they're enough to make you wonder at least a little about the film.  

One other note...the dating for the release of John Lee Hancock's (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) The Founder starring Michael Keaton has me scratching my head.  It's set to come out a full month before T-ride/Toronto on Aug. 5th.  This is a film whose pedigree would (and did at one point) make me think that it would be both a T-ride possible and maybe a part of the Oscar convo.  That Aug. 5 date, though, takes it off the fall fest circuit and, for me anyway, sends up a red flare of concern.

Probabilities:

Lion 60%

Wild Oats 30%

Ballerina 15%

 Tomorrow we look at Fox Searchlight.


DARDENNES RE-TOOL UNKNOWN GIRL

Reports surfaced yesterday that the Dardennes Brothers have re-edited their Cannes entry The Unknown Girl.  The film is reported to have been shortened by seven minutes and had 32 separate cuts since its screening in May in France.

The film was received in a lukewarm fashion from critics when it debuted.  The Dardennes actions are said to have been in response to those concerns and further, they claim that some critics have seen the re-vamped version and say that it has improved.

If you read yesterday's post, you'll know that I still regard Unknown Girl as a real Telluride possibility.  Additionally, I had it on last week's initial Telluride Ten Bets list at #4.  This news, I think, strengthens the case that The Unknown Girl makes an appearance in the SHOW.

Coverage of the announced editing is here:

http://www.screendaily.com/dardenne-brothers-re-edit-cannes-drama-the-unknown-girl/5106274.article

http://variety.com/2016/film/global/the-dardennes-brothers-have-re-edited-the-unknown-girl-1201805048/

https://thefilmstage.com/news/the-dardennes-have-re-edited-the-unknown-girl-for-theatrical-release/

http://theplaylist.net/daredennes-re-edited-unknown-girl-muted-response-cannes-20160628/



TRAILERING IT'S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD

Trailer for Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World via YouTube

Prior to the Cannes Film Fest in May, I would have regarded Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World as a near dead certainty to make the TFF #43 lineup.  Dolan has been on fire here at the start of his career including success at Cannes and Venice and a Telluride slot in 2014.   Additionally, a cast that include Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux and Vincent Cassels seems T-ride friendly.

The critics chewed the film up after its premiere in France in May, however.  It had a dismal 4.46 average critic rating on the Urban composite (http://cannes-rurban.rhcloud.com/2016).

After that the film took a huge nose dive in as far as I was concerned in terms of its SHOW profile. Then, at the end of  Cannes, it was named winner of the Grand Prix award.  That knocked me back a little and kept the film on my watch list.

The film still lacks a U.S. distributor and release date, though the release of its trailer yesterday reminded us that it is scheduled for release in Quebec on Sept. 21.

Here are stories covering the release of the trailer:


https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/a-family-reunites-in-first-trailer-for-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world/

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/06/its-only-the-end-of-the-world-trailer-xavier-dolan-cannes-winner-marion-cotillard-vincent-cassel-1201700306/

http://theplaylist.net/first-trailer-xavier-dolans-end-world-marion-cotillard-lea-seydoux-vincent-cassel-20160628/

http://www.firstshowing.net/2016/watch-first-trailer-for-xavier-dolans-its-only-the-end-of-the-world/


That concludes MTFB for Wednesday...come back for more tomorrow

Contact MTFB at:

mpgort@gmail.com

OR on Twitter @Gort2

OR check out Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook:

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OR leave a comment...

Cannes Prizes Announced / The Critics and Cannes / Cannes and TFF #43

Good Monday world...

CANNES PRIZES ANNOUNCED

I, Daniel Blake from Screen Daily

Palme d'Or: I, Daniel Blake
Grand Prix: It's Only the End of the World
Jury: American Honey
Director: Tie- Mungiu/Graduation and Assayas/Personal Shopper
Screenplay: The Salesman
Actress: Jaclyn Jose/Ma' Rosa
Actor: Shahab Hosseini/The Salesman

Analysis:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-awards-wrap-george-miller-jury-winners-mads-mikkelsen-20160522

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-i-daniel-blake-wins-895315

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-2016-award-winners-list-palme-dor

THE CRITICS AND CANNES

The critics loved Maren Ade's Toni Erdmann and hated Sean Penn's The Last Face.  Everything else fell somewhere between those two.  Here's the critical consensus.

Beginning with the massive critical collation from Reini Urban who collects the Cannes critical response from a vast number of sources (including two listed below).  Some sources include: Screen Daily, Ioncinema, Metacritic and Indiewire.

The top five from Urban:

1) Toni Erdmann (8.24)
2) Elle (7.94)
3) Sieranevada (7.35-tie)
43 Paterson (7.35-tie)
5) Aquarius (7.18)

The three biggest bombs: The Last Face, From The Land of the Moon, and It's Only the End of the World.

Urban also has collected critical responses for films playing in other sections for the festival.  The top films from Un Certain Regard were: Hell or High Water, The Red Turtle and After the Storm.

Urban's compilation is here:

http://cannes-rurban.rhcloud.com/2016

Meanwhile, Todas Las Criticas compiles over 40 critical responses to Cannes.  Their top five films were:

1) Elle (8.87)
2) Sieranevada (8.46)
3) Toni Erdmann (8.21)
4) Paterson (7.98)
5) Aquarius (7.64)

Bombs: The Last Face, and It's Only the End of the World and From the Land of the Moon.

The complete Todas Las Criticas chart is here:

http://www.todaslascriticas.com.ar/cannes/2016

UCR high score: The Long Night of Francisco Sanctis, Hell or High Water and The Red Turtle.

From Screen Daily which was focused on the Palme competition films:

1) Toni Erdmann (3.7)
2) Paterson (3.5)
3) Graduation (3.0-tie)
3) Sieranevada (3.0-tie)
3) Elle (3.0-tie)

Bombs: The Last Face, It's Only the End of the World and The Neon Demon

The complete Screen Daily chart is here:

http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/cannes-sean-penns-the-last-face-sets-jury-grid-low/5104244.article


And from Ioncinema-which also focuses exclusively on the films in competition for the Palme d'Or:

1) Toni Erdmann (4.0)
2) Aquarius (3.6-tie)
2) Elle (3.6 -tie)
4) Paterson (3.5)
5) Graduation (3.4-tie)
5) Slack Bay (3.4-tie)

Bombs: The Last Face, Ma Rosa and From the Land of the Moon.

In Thursday's post I'll spend some time analyzing this year's disconnect between the critics and the jury.  I'll also look back at the past several Cannes to see how anomalous this year was or if it was an anomaly at all.


CANNES AND TFF #43

As we assess what has happened in France over the last couple of weeks in the context of what it means (if anything) for the lineup of films the make The SHOW on Sept. 2-5 remember that over the last 10 years that an average of 7-8 (7.5 to be exact) films double between Cannes and Telluride.  Of that number and average of 4.1 come from the main competition slate and 1.2 from Un Certain Regard.  The remaining 2.2 come from other sections of the festival.

Films that seem to have become very likely Telluride plays: Toni Erdmann and The Red Turtle.  Their critical reception plus acquisition by both films for U.S. distribution by Sony Pictures Classics make them likely additions to The SHOW.

Films that seemed like they had some Telluride chops that took a turn for the worst include Sean Penn's critically pilloried The Last Face, Xavier Dolan's poorly received It's Only the End of the World and Nicole Garcia's From the Land of the Moon.

Films that seemed hot prospects for Telluride that now seem a little less hot are Olivier Assayas' Personal Shopper, Asgahr Farhadi's The Salesman and The Dardennes Brothers The Unknown Girl, though the awarding of prizes to both Salesman and Personal Shopper may keep them warm enough to make the lineup.

Other T-ride possibles that seem to have neither increased nor decreased their status are Cristian Mungiu's Graduation (formerly Family Photos) and Jeff Nichol's Loving.

In addition to The Red Turtle from the UCR segment, David Mackenzie's Hell or High Water (once called Comancheria) seems to have scored a significant reception and certainly stays in the T-ride convo.

More about all of this in Thursday's post.

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michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

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The Playlist Looks at 25 Cannes Films / The Pre-Cannes Peep Show Continues

Welcome back from the weekend and Welcome to Monday...


THE PLAYLIST'S LOOK AT 25 CANNES FILMS

The Playlist (at their new web address www.theplaylist.net) put up a lengthy piece this weekend examining 25 films playing Cannes in various segments of the festival.  They are:

American Honey
The BFG
Cafe Society
Dog Eat Dog
Elle
Graduation (was Family Photos)
The Handmaiden
It's Only the End of the World
Julieta
The Last Face
Loving
Money Monster
The Neon Demon
Neruda
The Nice Guys
Paterson
Personal Shopper
Risk
The Salesman
Sieranevada
Slack Bay
Staying Vertical
Toni Erdmann
Two Lovers and a Bear
The Unknown Girl

On The Playlist's Honorable Mention list are:

I, Daniel Blake
Blood Father
Hell or High Water
Sweet Dreams
Endless Poetry
After the Storm
From the Land of the Moon
Ma Rosa
Gimme Danger
The Wailing
Aquarius


What does The Playlist's list mean for Telluride?

Start with the films that you don't/can't consider: Cafe Society, The BFG, The Nice Guys and Money Monster.

One group of films is that which come from film makers that have had a significant presence at Telluride in the past:

The Dardennes (The Unknown Girl) at least three Telluride appearances: The Child (05)...at which they were recipients of a Tribute,  The Kid with a Bike (11), Two Days, One Night (14).

Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman)...two T-ride appearances: A Separation (11) and The Past (13).

Pedro Almodovar (Julieta) has screened multiple films at Telluride: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and a tribute in 1988, Talk to Her in 2002, Bad Education in 2004, Volver in 2006.

Paul Schrader (Dog Eat Dog) has been a frequent attendee/presenter at Telluirde: He was a guest in 1980, 1988, 1990, 1997 with Affliction, 2000, was tributed in 2002, 2003 and screened and Adam Resurrected in 2008.

Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper) who has played T-ride with Irma Vep in 1996 and Carlos in 2010.


Then there are the Telluride single players:

Sean Penn (The Last Face) who played T-ride in 2007 with Into the Wild

Andrea Arnold (American Honey) Telluride in 2009 with Fish Tank (and has guested before as well)

David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) his Starred Up was at Telluride in 2013)

Xavier Dolan (It's Only the End of the World) TFF #41 with Mommy in 2014

Pablo Larrain (Neruda) No at Telluride in 2012

Cristian Mungiu (Graduation/Family Photos) who was at TFF #34 in 2007 with 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days


That's a bunch (10) of directors from the Playlist 25 (plus Honorable Mentions) that have played Cannes/Telluride before.

If recency indicates anything that would point the finger at The Dardennes, Farhadi, Dolan and Mackenzie have the best shot at coming back.  I'm feeling bullish about Farhadi and The Dardennes Brothers.

Check the complete Playlist article here:

http://theplaylist.net/25-anticipated-films-2016-cannes-film-festival-20160505/



THE PRE-CANNES PEEP SHOW CONTINUES


As we count down the days to the opening of Cannes #69...we continue to get views/stills. teasers/trailers for films playing in France and, as a result, looks at films that could end up in southwest Colorado over Labor Day weekend.

I have collected more of those for your pleasure here.

It's Only the End of the World (clips):

https://thefilmstage.com/news/watch-first-clips-from-xavier-dolans-cannes-bound-its-only-the-end-of-the-world/


Personal Shopper (stills):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/kristen-stewart-cafe-society-personal-shopper-new-images-20160503


Multiple posters including: American Honey, Slack Bay, Julieta:

https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/movie-poster-of-the-week-the-posters-of-the-2016-cannes-competition/

Stills and poster for Hell or High Water:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/hell-or-high-water-first-look-chris-pine-jeff-bridges-cannes-2016


Stills from Neruda, Dog Eat Dog, Endless Poetry and more:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes-film-festival-2016-preview-directors-fortnight-risk-sweet-dreams-neruda-dog-eat-dog

Contact me at:

michael_speech@hotmail.com OR

mpgort@gmail.com OR

via Twitter @Gort2 OR to

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Pre-Cannes PR Lets Us Look at Telluride Possibilities / Will There Be Moonlight in Telluride?

Welcome to Monday...

PRE-CANNES P.R. LET'S US LOOK AT TELLURIDE POSSIBILITIES

Many of the films that are set to play at the 69th Cannes Film Fest, set to start in under two weeks-May 11, are rolling out various levels of publicity prior to their screenings in France.  The last MTFB post highlighted a perfect example of this with the release of a teaser/trailer and poster for Oliver Stone's Snowden.

Several other Cannes choices that have some chance of making the Atlantic crossing in September to Telluride have also begun sharing stories, stills, clips and more as they seek to entice prior to their bow on the Croisette.

Consequently, I've snagged some of those and am passing them along to you today...

Christain Mungiu's Graduation poster, trailer and teasers and news that the film has U.S. distribution via Sundance Selects (which doesn't hurt and probably boosts its T-ride chances) via The Film Stage:

The official trailer from YouTube:

Here's the link to The Film Stage post which has more:

https://thefilmstage.com/trailer/first-trailer-for-cristian-mungius-cannes-bound-drama-graduation/



The Film Stage also posted a multi-film article with stills and posters from a number of Cannes films including Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World and Bruno Dumont's Slack Bay among several (Elle, The Red Turtle, Sieranevada, Make Beautiful Dreams and The Handmaiden).

Poster for Dolan's It's Only the End of the World from The Film Stage

Check all of this here:

https://thefilmstage.com/news/new-images-from-cannes-titles-by-paul-verhoeven-bruno-dumont-park-chan-wook-cristian-mungiu-more/

WILL THERE BE MOONLIGHT IN TELLURIDE?

Barry Jenkins leading the Q and A after 12 Years a Slave at Telluride in 2012. (Getty Images)

Friend of MTFB, and recently Kino Lorber intern invitee (congrats!) Jason Osaison  (JASON (metalmeatwad) @MichaelNot Cera on Twitter) shared that he felt very strongly that Barry Jenkins Moonlight would make the lineup for TFF #43.

Now remember, Jason won The Gold Derby's Oscar prediction contest this year...he does his research.

Jason points out that Jenkins has been a part of the TFF staff for more than a decade and has often curated the Calling Card, Student Prints and Great Expectations as well as serving as the Ringmaster at The Zog since it opened.  Jenkins has also been a frequent contributor to the TFF program.

Additionally, Moonlight's distributor is A24, which also doesn't hurt its chances.  

A24 at Telluride recently: Room (Oscar winner Brie Larson and additional Oscar nominations  for Best Picture, screenplay and direction), Under the Skin and Ginger and Rosa.

Additionally, among the film's producers are Brad Pitt and his Plan B Entertainment, which also doesn't hurt the film's TFF chances.

Plan B at Telluride: 12 Years a Slave.  I also think Plan B's The Lost City of Z and War Machine might be TFF possibilities this year.

Osiason's points are well taken...Moonlight moves right up the list of possible/probable Telluride films for 2016.

Thanks Jason!

Here's Moonlight's  IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4975722/

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69th Cannes Film Festival Announces Its Lineup / Maybe No Warren

Good Thursday Everyone and MTFB is back.

After an unplanned layoff, I'm back in the saddle to post this Thursday and glad to be back.

69TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS LINEUP:

Here is the lineup announced from Thierry Fremaux in Cannes from early this morning (via Awards Daily):

Opening Night Film

Cafe Society – directed by Woody Allen

Competition

Toni Erdmann – directed by Maren Ade

Julieta – directed by Pedro Almodovar

American Honey – directed by Andrea Arnold

The Unknown Girl – directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

Personal Shopper – directed by Olivier Assayas

It’s Only The End Of The World – directed by Xavier Dolan

Ma Loute – directed by Bruno Dumont

Paterson – directed by Jim Jarmusch

Rester Vertical – directed by Alain Guiraudie

Aquarius – directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho

Mal de Pierres – directed by Nicole Garcia

I, Daniel Blake – directed by Ken Loach

Ma’Rosa – directed by Brilliante Mendoza

Loving– directed by Jeff Nichols

Bacalaureat – directed by Cristian Mungiu

Agassi – directed by Park Chan-Wook

The Last Face – directed by Sean Penn

Sieranevada – directed by Cristi Puiu

Elle – directed by Paul Verhoeven

The Neon Demon – directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Un Certain Regard

Varoonegi – directed by Behnam Behzadi

Apprentice – directed by Boo Junfeng

Voir Du Pays – directed by Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin

La Danseuse – directed by Stephanie Di Giusto

Clash – directed by Mohamed Diab

La Tortue Rouge – directed by Michael Dubok de Wit

Fuchi Bi Tatsu – directed by Fukada Koji

Omar Shakhsiya – directed by Maha Haj

Me’Ever Laharim Vehagvaot – directed by Eran Kolirin

After The Storm – directed by Kore-Eda Hirokazu

Hymyileva Mies – directed by Juho Kuosmanen

La Large Noche de Francisco Sanctis – directed by Francisco Marquez & Andrea Testa

Caini – directed by Bogdan Mirica

Pericle Il Nero – directed by Stefano Mordini

The Transfiguration – directed by Michael O’Shea

Captain Fantastic – directed by Matt Ross

Uchenik – directed by Kirill Serebrennikov

Outside Competition

The BFG – directed by Steven Spielberg

Money Monster – directed by Jodie Foster

The Nice Guys – directed by Shane Black

Gok Sung – directed by Na Hong-Jin

Special Screenings

Gimme Danger – directed by Jim Jarmusch

The Train to Busan – directed by Yeon Sang-Ho

A Chad Tragedy – directed by Mahamat-Saleh Aroun

The Death of Louis XIV – directed by Albert Serra

L’Ultima Spiaggia – directed by Thanos Anastopolous and Davide Del Degan

Exile – directed by Panh Rithy

Le Cancre – directed by Paul Vecchiali

Some random thoughts regarding the announced films Telluride...remember that Cannes and TFF commonly share seven-ish films by average and that usually the majority of the films come from the competition slate.

Competition films that would seem to have the most likely chance of making the Telluride lineup are:

Arnold's American Honey

The Dardennes' The Unknown Girl

Assasyas" Personal Shopper 

Dolan's It's Only the End of the World

Nichols' Loving

Mungiu's Bacalaureat (Family Photos)

Penn's The Last Face

As of today none of the titles from Un Certain Regard or the Out of Competition or Special Screening selections jump out as big possibilities.  That could change when Cannes kicks off on May 11th.  We could also see  some titles show up in the Directors Fortnight that could intrigue T-ride programmers.

MAYBE NO WARREN

There was a good deal of speculation this week regarding the Warren Beatty Howard Hughes project. Reports that it was done.   Reports that it was NOT bound for Cannes but could be looking at the fall fests (intriguing!!!) and finally, word purportedly from Beatty himself that seems to cast doubt on ANY fest screening.  The last coming from ShowBiz411 quoting Beatty's response to a "fall festival" question with the response "Why would I want to do that?"

Sooo...it seems Beatty is either playing a bluff or...the film won't play any fest (most likely).  Perhaps Beatty might not regard New York or AFI a "fall fest; which might allow either of those fests to screen the film.

But taken at face value, it doesn't sound like the highly anticipated film will be at Telluride or anywhere else for that matter.

Here's the coverage from ShowBiz411:

http://www.showbiz411.com/2016/03/29/exclusive-warren-beattys-howard-hughes-movie-gets-a-distributor-fox-now-needs-a-title-release-date

http://www.showbiz411.com/2016/04/13/exclusive-warren-beatty-film-has-no-set-release-date-because-he-doesnt-want-to-do-film-festivals

 That's all for Thursday...come back for more on Monday...

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