Distributors Monday: Netflix / Animal Farm Clip / Tidbits

DISTRIBUTORS MONDAY: NETFLIX

We start this Monday (and the next several Mondays) by taking a look at the dozen or so distributors that frequently have films in the Telluride Film festival.  Distribution companies are the key connection between a film and where and when it plays.  Taking a look at the films that they have available can, sometimes, give us insight as to what might make the Labor Day weekend fest.

And sometimes not.  In prep to do this nearly annual assessment of distribution companies I looked back at my track record.  It's not that great.  So take these guesses with a big, big grain of salt.  Nevertheless, the list of possible films from each outlet, at a minimum, gives us a pretty extensive group of titles to consider.

So we begin these looks with Netflix and the reason we begin here is that Netflix has placed more films at T-ride over the last decade than any other distributor including Roma, The Irishman, Marriage Story and The Power of the Dog.

At this point it looks like Netflix has five possibilities, although there are likely more which are fairly obscure at this point.  Here's a bit of info on each which are listed in order of what I think the chances are for them to be at TFF #52. (Individuals who have previously attended Telluride are indicated with *).

The Ballad of a Small Player.  Director: Edward Berger*.  Stars: Colin Farrell, Tilda Swinton*.  Release Date: TBD. IMDb description:

When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.

 

Berger's appearance last year with Conclave and its level of success make me think that "Ballad" has a good shot at TFF #52.

Jay Kelly.  Director: Noah Baumbach*.  Stars: George Clooney*, Adam Sandler*, Billy Crudup*, Laura Dern*, Emily Mortimer, Patrick Wilson, Greta Gerwig*.  Release date: Nov. 14th (though IMDb already says it will play the Venice Film Fest).  IMDb description:

Everyone knows Jay Kelly, but he doesn't know himself.

Baumbach at Telluride: Margot at the Wedding, Frances Ha and Marriage Story.

There are so many people involved in Jay Kelly that have been to TFF that you sort of have to believe Jay Kelly is a cinch but plenty of Baumbach's work has not played there including: The Squid and the Whale, Greenburg, While We're Young, Mistress America and White Noise.

Frankenstein.  Director: Guillermo Del Toro*.  Stars: Oscar Isaac*, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz.  Release date:  IMDb lists its internet release as Nov. 2025.  No news about a theatrical release.  IMDb description:

A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Having seen the trailer for this, it's one of my most hoped-for possibilities.  However, despite Del Toro's past at TFF (as well as that of his "amigos" Inarritu and Cuaron) I'm just not sure this makes the trip.

Left-Handed Girl.  Director: Shih-Ching Tsou,  Stars: Janel Tsai. Played Cannes Critics Week section. Release date: TBD.  IMDb description: 

A single mother and her two daughters relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall, each navigating the challenges of adapting to their new environment while striving to maintain family unity.

Netflix picked this up at Cannes after the film was very well received critically.  Additionally Sean Baker, fresh off of winning four Oscars for Anora, is co-writer, producer and editor of the film.    That makes me think it could be a TFF choice.

Nouvelle Vague. Director: Richard Linklater.  Stars: Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deucth, Aubry Dullin. Played Cannes Palme Competition category.   Release date: TBD.  IMDb description: 

Follows the production of Jean-Luc Godards's "Breathless".

Linklater, to the best of my knowledge, has never had a film at TFF.  A few posts back I wrote that this could be the year that changes that with this and his other film, Blue Moon, both coming out.  Blue Moon does have an announced release date of Oct. 17th.

Chances:

The Ballad of a Small Player 50%

Jay Kelly 40%

Frankenstein 35%

Left-Handed Girl 30%

Nouvelle Vague 20%

Next Monday: Sony Pictures Classics

ANIMAL FARM CLIP

In my previous post I passed along the news that Andy Serkis's Animal Farm is ready to roll.  It is headed for the Annecy International Animation Festival which kicked off yesterday.  The film also has a clip up now on YouTube.  Here it is:

TIDBITS

***Neon has announced that Cannes Grand Prix winner Sentimental Value will be released in the U.S. on November 7th.  That would allow a combo of Telluride and/or Toronto and New York.

***World of Reel reports that the Venice Film Fest will screen Jim Jarmusch's Father Mother Sister Brother and Paolo Sorrentino's La Grazia.  Venice won't actually announce its lineup for another month and then it won't be until August until they announce their screening schedule which can point to Telluride titles.

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As We Head Into June / Ken Burns' Next Big Thing / Maybe we Can Join The Serkis?

AS WE HEAD INTO JUNE

As I have mentioned, we're only a few days away from beginning a couple of summer traditions here at MTFB.  Starting Next week I'll begin running down each of the distributors that have been the most common players with films at Telluride.  I'll take a look at the films from each outfit that are the most probable TFF choices and try to assess each film's chances of actually going to TFF #52.

As a way of setting the table for that, here's a quick look at which distributors we're talking about.  First, a little methodology.  I looked at each year going back to 2015 to gather the info.  I did leave out the covid year cancelled TFF despite the fest having released a lineup because it was surely not complete at the time the decision was made to cancel that year.

That said, here are the eight distributors I'll be looking at over the next few weeks based on the number of films they have screened at Telluride since 2015:

Netflix: 34 (3.8/yr.)

Sony Pictures Classics (SPC): 31 (3.4/yr.)

Neon: 19 (2.1/yr.)

A24: 16 (1.8/yr.)

(Fox) Searchlight: 14 (1.6/yr.)

Amazon/MGM: 12 (1.3/yr.)

Focus Features: 10 (1.1/yr.)

Mubi: 5***

***I include Mubi on the list with its small number of five films because it's a late-comer to The SHOW having screened all 5 within the last four fests for an average of 1.25/yr.

Some interesting tidbits...

Obviously, Netflix has screened the most films since 2015 (its first appearance at TFF came that year) but SPC is only three behind and both distribs are the only outfits that have had films screen every year of this survey. 

Searchlight only missed one year in this time frame in 2016.

Three of these distributors only missed two years:

Neon in 2017and 2015.

A24 in 2024 and 2018.

Focus Features in 2019 and 2016.

Monday we'll start with Netflix and look at what films they have and what might play TFF #52.  Subsequently, we'll look at the other distributors each week in the order of which house has played the most at T-ride since 2015.

KEN BURNS' NEXT BIG THING

TFF Board of Governors member Ken Burns has begun promoting his next big project which is a documentary look at American Revolution as the nation begins to hit the 250 year milestones that will lead up to the nation's Semiquincentennial or Bisesquicentennial coming on July 4th, 2026.

The six part 12 hour series will air on PBS beginning on Nov. 16th.  Normally it would be a no-brainer to think that at least some portion of the series, if not all six parts, would play at TFF...but... as a part of the roll out for it they've already begun a nationwide tour which has/will include screenings of at least some of the doc.  Those began last march in Richmond, VA. and will continue through Oct. 9th in Washington D.C.  The press release says that additional dates are forthcoming.

One wonders if those presentations will dissuade TFF from screening any of it.  It is of note that there is a gap between a July 17th presentation in L.A. and sept. 20th presentation in Saratoga, NY.

Here's a link to its PBS landing page including a small clip from the doc.

And here's a link to the official press release.

All things considered, I still think it's likely that at least some segments will be screened at TFF #52.

MAYBE WE CAN JOIN THE SERKIS?

Animal Farm still via World of Reel

Jordan Ruimy at World of Reel reports that Andy Serkis' animated adaptation of George Orwell's classic Animal Farm will premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.  That fest is set to run June 8-14.

I have thought for awhile that this could be a TFF choice and its inclusion for Annecy is in no way a TFF disqualifier.  As a matter of fact I could see it playing along with Raoul Peck's Documentary about Orwell: Orwell: 2+2=5 which just screened at the Cannes fest last month as a kind of TFF double bill.

Just a thought.

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Checking the Distributors: Netflix / Best Films of 2024 So Far?

 CHECKING THE DISTRIBUTORS: NETFLIX

Netflix first showed up in the Telluride lineup in 2015 with Beasts of No nation and Winter on Fire.  Since then the streamer/producer has been a sturdy presence at TFF.  Here's their titles that have made an appearance at T-ride:

2015: Beasts of No Nation, Winter on Fire

2016: I Called Him Morgan, The Ivory Game, Into the Inferno

2017: First They Killed My Father, Wormwood

2018: Dovlatov, Girl, Reversing Roe, Roma, The Other Side of the Wind, They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

2019: Inside Bill's Brain, Marriage Story, Tell Me Who I Am, The Two Popes

2020: No announced films

2021: The Hand of God, The Lost Daughter, The Power of the Dog, Procession

2022: Bardo, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sr., The Wonder

2023: El Conde, Nyad, Rustin

The Netflix run has included major Oscar players such as Roma, The Power of the Dog and Marriage Story.

This year the Netflix larder of films that feel TFF-like seems thinner than most recent years.

The most likely title to make it to TFF #51 is Jacques Audiard's Cannes award (the Jury Award and a collective Best Actress award for the four main players) winner Emilia Perez.  Audiard has been represented at Telluride in the past but its been awhile.  SHOW passholders saw A Prophet in 2009 and Rust and Bone in 2012. 

Also in play is Malcolm Washington's filmed adaptation of the August Wilson stage play The Piano Lesson starring Samuel l. Jackson and John David Washington.

And there's a very outside shot that Noah Baumbach's latest might be ready for screening and should that happen it would be something we'd have to take very seriously for TFF #51.  IMDb reports that the film has been in post-production since early May.  Not much is known as the plot has been kept under wraps but the cast is stacked with George Clooney, Laura Dern, Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup, Emily Mortimer (who co-wrote the screenplay) and Greta Gerwig.

Chances:

Emilia Perez 50%

The Piano Lesson 25%

Untitled Baumbach 10%...mostly because it's just not likely to be ready in time.

BEST FILMS OF 2024 SO FAR?

I was invited to participate in World of Reel's poll to determine the best films of the year as we mark the end of the first half of 2024.

Of interest, perhaps to TFF fans is that two of the top ten were TFF #50 films.  Alice Rohrwacher's La Chimera landed at #8 and Jeff Nichol's The Bikeriders was at #10 (Bikeriders was on my list of five films that I submitted).

At the top of the list is Denis Villenueve's Dune Part Two.

The entire list from World of Reel is here.

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Daddio Full Trailer / Looks at Cannes/TFF Possibilities / Participant and Netflix Choices Could Impact TFF

First, my apologies for not having a post up last Monday.  I was finishing up a very, very busy weekend and just ran out of time.

DADDIO FULL TRAILER

Sony Pictures Classics has delivered a full trailer for Christy Hall's Daddio starring Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn. This follows a teaser that was released a few weeks ago. The TFF #50 selection  is set for a limited open on June 28th.

Here's the IMDb description for those who didn't see the film at the fest:

"A woman taking a cab ride from JFK engages in a conversation with the taxi driver about the important relationships in their lives."

LOOKS AT CANNES/TFF POSSIBLES

With the announcement of films for the Cannes Film Fest have come some promotional materials allowing us to begin to see images for those films and perhaps some for films that will then play TFF #51,  Here's a couple:

Barry Keoghan in Andrea Arnold's Bird:

And a photo of Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan from Ali Abbasi's The Apprentice:

From Guy Maddin, Evan and  Galen Johnson's Rumours:

PARTICIPANT AND NETFLIX CHOICES COULD IMPACT TFF

Word this week that Participant, the production company behind such TFF fare as Roma, Spotlight, Flee, The Look of Silence and numerous others will be closing up shop.  Meanwhile, it was reported that Netflix is shifting focus in terms of the films it produces and will be less auteur focused.  Netflix has been among the most represented film producer/distributors at Telluride for the past decade.

Both circumstances could have a real effect on TFF programming.

Both stories were reported at World of Reel.  Here's the Participant story and here's the Netflix story.

       

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Checking the Distributors: Netflix / Venetian Thoughts

CHECKING THE DISTRIBUTORS: NETFLIX

One of the methods that I've used over the past several years to "inform" my TFF speculation is to look at the history of films from specific distributors and Telluride.  It's not an exact science but can give insight.

So, without further ado we start with what has become over the last 7-8 years the most screened distributor at the Telluride Film Festival: Netflix.  Netflix has screened 25 films at TFF since first showing up in 2015.  That's an average of 3.6 films/year (I have left out the anomalous Covid year of 2020).

Here's the Netflix track record since 2015:

2015: Beasts of No Nation, Winter on Fire

2016: I Called Him Morgan, The Ivory Game, Into the Inferno

2017: First They Killed My Father, Wormwood

2018: Dovlatov, Girl, Reversing Roe, Roma, The Other Side of the Wind, They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

2019: Inside Bill's Brain, Marriage Story, Tell Me Who I Am, The Two Popes

2020: No announced films

2021: The Hand of God, The Lost Daughter, The Power of the Dog, Procession

2022: Bardo, Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sr., The Wonder

In 2022 it felt like Netflix's slate-both at Telluride and overall- didn't have the same punch as it had in 2018, 2019 or 2021.  

That might change in 2023.  I checked on the early Oscar lines from a variety of sources to get a sense of the heat for some of Netflix's films.

Variety's Clayton Davis has Netflix titles Maestro (d. Bradley Cooper) and May December (d. Todd Haynes) in his current "early" Best Picture predictions.  He also has David Fincher's The Killer in  his "Next in Line" list at #19.

Joey Magidson at Awards Radar has 3 Netflix properties in his Best Picture Top 20:

Maestro at #5

Rustin at #16

May December at #17

Mark Johnson of Good as Gold has 3 Netflix titles in his early Best Picture Top 20:

Maestro at #4

The Killer at #15

Rustin at #16

Gold Derby has Maestro and Rustin on its Top 20 "Incredibly Early" Best Picture Oscar contenders list.

So, with all that in mind, here's where I'd estimate we are regarding titles that are in the Netflix stable and their chances of a Telluride #50 play:

At the top is Todd Haynes' May December.  Chances to play at TFF: 70%.

Then:

Nyad (Chin and Vasarhelyi) 55%

El Conde (Larrain) 50%

In the "maybe but lesser likelihood" category: Leave the World Behind, Pain Hustlers, Shirley, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Rustin,

Right now, I'm thinking Maestro and The Killer (if it's even ready) are unlikely for T-ride.  I'd like to be wrong about these.

VENETIAN THOUGHTS

Jordan Ruimy at World of Reel reported over the weekend on the Venice speculation coming from Italy's La Repubblica.

Among the titles that are mentioned that could subsequent to a Venice screening find their way to the San Junas:

Matteo Garrone's Il Capitano

Jeymes Samuels' The Book of Clarence

Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things

Luca Guadagnino's Challengers

Sophia Coppola's Priscilla

Chin and Vasarhelyi's Nyad

Bradley Cooper's Maestro.

From this list I am currently most bullish on Poor Things and Nyad for TFF #50 and think the least likely is  Maestro.

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Couple of Deals to Note / Cannes and the Critics / Trailers and Clips: May/December, La Chimera, Perfect Days

A COUPLE OF DEALS OF NOTE

Two acquisition deals of note occurred at Cannes since last Monday's post.  

Netflix nabbed North American rights for Todd Haynes' May/December for $11 million.  May/December has long been  on the MTFB radar as a possible TFF #50 selection and while the Netflix action doesn't guarantee a TFF berth it sure doesn't hurt.

The other deal that caught my eye was from NEON which took North American rights for Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall.  Anatomy began the festival as just another Cannes title that I had not focused on regarding its TFF chances but with a very solid critical response (88 on Metacritic, 100% on RT),  Plame d'Or buzz and this acquisition from NEON, which has become a frequent contributor to the TFF lineup (Parasite, Broker, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed), I have to think that Anatomy of a Fall has emerged as a serious candidate for TFF inclusion.

Here is reporting from The Hollywood Reporter on the Netflix May/December deal and for the NEON deal for Anatomy of a Fall.

CANNES AND THE CRITICS

As the 76th Cannes Film Festival makes its turn into the final stretch...awards are Saturday night, here's a snapshot of where the critical reaction has been to films that have played thus far in the Palme d'Or competition.

The top five from Screen Daily:

1) Fallen Leaves 3.2

2) Anatomy of a Fall 3.0

2) May/December 3.0

4) The Zone of Interest 2.8

4) The Pot Au Feu 2.8

4) Youth 2.8

4) About Dry Grasses 2.8

The top five from Ioncinema:

1) The Zone of Interest 3.9

2) Fallen Leaves 3.8

3) Anatomy of a Fall 3.5

4) About Dry Grasses 3.4

5) May/December 3.3.

The top five from the International Cinephile Society:

1) The Zone of Interest 4.21

2) Fallen Leaves 3.88

3) Anatomy of a Fall 3.50

4) About Dry Grasses 3.42

5) Youth 3.33

Normally I would be including the massive critical compilation from Reini Urban but that link is currently down.

TRAILERS AND CLIPS

MAY/DECEMBER

LA CHIMERA

From NEON's Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/neonrated/status/1660999454034472962

PERFECT DAYS

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Feinberg's First Oscar Take / New Trailer for TAR / Aftersun Poster and Trailer / Denmark Selects Holy Spider and We Get a New Trailer / Netflix Acquires Sr.

FEINBERG'S FIRST OSCAR TAKE

In my last post I ran down the Oscar predictions from Variety's Clayton Davis in as far as TFF #49 films were concerned.  Today,  I'm taking the same approach with The Hollywood Reporter's Chief Awards Editor Scott Feinberg who dropped his first look at the Oscar race on Tuesday.  If Scott is 100% accurate, this is how Oscar nominations shake out in the 11 categories he has included in his predictions.

Women Talking: Best Picture, Direction, Supporting Actress/Foy, Supporting Actress/Buckley, Adapted Screenplay

TAR: Best Picture, Direction, Actress/Blanchett

Empire of Light: Best Actress/Colman

Close: International Feature

Holy Spider: International Feature

Bardo: International Feature

Goodnight Oppy: Documentary Feature

Retrograde: Documentary Feature

Other TFF#49 Films/Performers who Feinberg has listed as "Major Threats" Include:

*Close and Goodnight Oppy in Best Picture

*Close/Lukas Dhont in Best Direction

*Living/Bill Nighy in Best Actor

*Women Talking/Rooney Mara and One Fine Morning/Lea Seydoux in Best Actress

*Women Talking/Ben Whishaw, Armageddon Time/Jeremy Strong and Empire of Light/Michael Ward in Best Supporting Actor

*Lady Chatterley's Lover and The Wonder in Adapted Screenplay

*TAR, Close and Armageddon Time in Original Screenplay

*All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Sr., The Return of Tanya Tucker and Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen (TFF #48) in Best Documentary

*Bones and All in Best Song

You can find the entirety of Feinberg's first forecast linked here.

NEW TRAILER FOR TAR

Focus Features dropped a new trailer for Todd Fields' TAR starring Cate Blanchett yesterday.  The film has earned strong reviews and won both MTFB's Professionals poll as well as the Composite poll.  TAR is scheduled for release next week: Oct. 7th.

Here's the new trailer from YouTube:

AFTERSUN POSTER AND TRAILER

A24 has revealed a poster for Charlotte Wells' Aftersun as well as releasing a first trailer for the film.  You can see the poster above and the trailer below via YouTube:

Aftersun is set to be released on Oct. 21st.

DENMARK SELECTS HOLY SPIDER AND WE GET A NEW TRAILER

Denmark has selected Ali Abbasi's Holy Spider as its entrant for the Best International Feature Oscar race.  Last year Denmark entered Flee which ended up with an incredible set of nominations for Best International Feature, Best Documentary and Best Animated Feature.  

Holy Spider is being distributed in the U.S. by Utopia and does not yet have a scheduled release date.

The announcement was made Tuesday by the Danish Film Institute.  You can find that official announcement here.

And here's the new trailer for the film that was released yesterday (from YouTube):

NETFLIX ACQUIRES SR.

News this week that Netflix had acquired the documentary about Robert Downey Sr. that screened in Telluride four weeks ago.  The film was well received by Telluride attendees as it finished third in my Telluride People's poll just behind women talking and TAR.

Sr. is directed by Chris Smith.

The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Netflix plans and Oscar push for the film and to expect it to be available on the streaming service before the end of the year.

Here's the story from THR.

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SPC Acquires One Fine Morning / A24 Nabs Aftersun / Critics from Cannes / What's Netflix Got?

SPSC ACQUIRES ONE FINE MORNING

Mia Hansen Love has been a significant presence at Telluride for some time.  That's also been true for her films as far as being invited to Cannes.  This year she has another film playing in France as a part of the Director's Fortnight section.  One Fine Morning has been getting more than decent critical notices.  As such, it has already been mentioned here as a potential TFF #49 selection.

Now comes news that Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the film for North America and beyond.  That acquisition increases that chances that the film will make a trek to the San Juans over Labor Day weekend.  As most readers of this Blog know, SPC has had a very good relationship with TFF for many years.

Hansen-Love films that have screened at Telluride: Goodbye First Love, Things to Come and Bergman Island

Recent SPC films at TFF: Julia, The Duke, The Father, Pain and Glory, A Fantastic Woman, The Rider and Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool.

Details of the SPC move are here from Variety.

A24 NABS AFTERSUN

Meanwhile, A24 has acquired Charlotte Wells' Aftersun.  The film has made a splash in France.  The solid critical response and the A24 move means that we have to give it some serious thought about a spot at The SHOW.  Adding fuel to the T-ride speculation is that the film is produced, in part, by Barry Jenkin's PASTEL.  You have to think that helps it be on the Telluride radar.

Deadline has the story.

CRITICS FROM CANNES

As we head into the home stretch of the Cannes Film Fest and the choice for the winner of the Palme d'Or looms, here is your latest check of potential TFF films screening in France and their current critical standing based on Reini Urban's collected sample of critics.

Decision to Leave (Park Chan-wook) 7.54

Close (Lukas Dhont) 8.71

Holy Spider (Ali Abbasi) 6.66

Final Cut (Michel Hazanavicius) 7.42

One Fine Morning (Mia Hansen-Love) 7.45

Armageddon Time (James Gray) 6.88

All the People I'll Never Be (David Chou) 7.05

Showing Up (Kelly Reichardt) 6.75

R.M.N. (Cristian Mungiu) 6.81

Aftersun (Charlotte Wells) 8.25

Broker (Hirozaku Kore-eda) 6.25

Tori and Lokita (The Dardennes Brothers) 6.35

Stars at Noon (Claire Denis) 7.54

WHAT'S NETFLIX GOT?

It's that time of year where I try to peer into the films that we think could be ready for a Labor Day screening from some of the producers/distributors that have been common players at previous Telluride Film Fests.

And we start with what has become the most ubiquitous player at TFF over the past few years.  Since 2015Netflix has shown:

2015: Beasts of No Nation, Winter on Fire

2016: I Called Him Morgan, The Ivory Game, Into the Inferno

2017: First They Killed My Father, Wormwood

2018: Dovlatov, Girl, Reversing Roe, Roma, The Other Side of the Wind, They'll Love Me When I'm Dead

2019: Inside Bill's Brain, Marriage Story, Tell Me Who I Am, The Two Popes

2020: No announced films

2021: The Hand of God, The Lost Daughter, The Power of the Dog, Procession

That's an impressive run.  But...

You have to wonder with all the turmoil at Netflix of late...decreasing membership, lower stock prices and layoffs as well as the inability of the big streaming giant to land a Best Picture win (3 big shots at that prize over the past four years-Roma, Marriage Story and The Power of the Dog) if they will consider changing strategies this year.

Then there's the question of what they have that could be players in awards season.

Noah Baumbach's White Noise

Andrew Dominik's NC-17 rated Blonde

George C. Wolfe's Rustin

David Fincher's The Killer  (Will it be ready by September?)

Tobias Lindholm's The Good Nurse

Kenya Barris' You People

Guillermo Del Toro's Piniocchio (Will it be ready?)

John Ridley's Shirley

Sebastian DeLilio's The Wonder

From this group and at the moment it feels like the best bets are White Noise, Shirley and The Wonder with honorable mentions for Blonde and Pinocchio.

***Added on June 9th- Look out for The Good Nurse

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The Netflix List / News on Dune and The Card Counter / Cannes News A Week Later

THE NETFLIX LIST

As promised in the last edition of MTFB, today I'm beginning to look distributors who have the most presence at the festival over the past five years.  I'm starting with Netflix.  They have had 17 films at the last five TTFs. 

Netflix has two films as part of the announced TFF #47 lineup and those came as acquisitions after the fact as Netflix did not have rights for Concrete Cowboy or Pray Away when the film was named to the TFF 2020 list.

If Netflix continues to be a substantial player at Telluride, what films might that mean for TFF #48?  Navigating the vast number of titles Netflix perpetually is developing or acquiring makes parsing its possibilities a challenge, but let's give it a go.

At the moment, I have landed on five films that, should they be ready, might be part of a Telluride conversation.  In order of what I believe the likelihood of them making the actual TFF #48 lineup:

Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog

Andrew Dominik's Blonde

Paolo Sorrentino's The Hand of God

Lin Manuel Miranda's tick, tick...BOOM

Adam McKay's Don't Look Up

Untitled Nora Fingscheidt Project (with Sandra Bullock)

And who knows what else Netflix might pick up along the way.

NEWS ON DUNE AND THE CARD COUNTER

Denis Villenueve's Dune is reportedly a very likely choice for the Venice Film Festival according to Variety last Friday.  Villeneuve has had an extensive relationship with TFF over the years:

1998-August 32nd on Earth

2010-Incendies

2013-Prisoners

2016-Arrival

The news that his take on the Frank Herbert Sci-Fi classic is likely to play Venice normally would not necessarily be an immediate death knell for a Telluride North American premiere as the Venice to Telluride Two Step has become a fairly common place occurrence over the past several years.  Complicating matters this year include the ongoing pandemic.

Nevertheless, keep Dune in mind as a TFF #48 possibility.

Other films that Variety suggests are being rumored for Venice include Paolo Sorrentino's The Hand of God (see the Netflix list above), Gabriele Mainetti's Freaks Out, Bruno Dumont's On a Half Clear Morning and Xavier Giannoli's Lost Illusions.

Meanwhile Deadline reported over the weekend that Paul Schrader's The Card Counter starring Oscar Isaac has been dated by Focus Features for a Sept. 10th domestic release.  That allows for the chance of bows at Telluride and/or Cannes, Venice.  It essentially rules out a Toronto screening as TIFF opens Sept. 9th.

Schrader has a noticeable Telluride list:

1985-Misima: A Life in Four Chapters

1988-Patty Hearst

1990-The Comfort of Strangers

1997-Affliction

2000-Forever Mine

2002-Auto Focus

2008-Adam Resurrected

2017-First Reformed

CANNES NEWS A WEEK LATER

We found out Friday that we'll have to a week longer to find out what films have been selected to screen at the belated 2021 Cannes Film Festival.  Originally, the announcement had been planned for May 27th.  However, Variety's Elsa Keslassy reported on May 14th that the French film institution has moved the announcement to June 3rd.  

According to Variety:

"The reason for the date change is an abundance of movies that have been submitted to the festival, according to an industry source. The Official Selection, in particular the competition, is expected to be larger than usual."

The article goes on to repeat some things we already know, namely the Annette is opening the fest and Benedetta will play in competition.  Other films speculated as possible within the article include Flag Day, The Power of the Dog and Bergman Island.

The complete article is linked here.

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Oscar Update: Adapted Screenplay / Coming Attractions?

 OSCAR UPDATE: ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Here are my latest Oscar nomination predictions for Best Adapted Screenplay updated since I last posted this category on  Oct. 8th.  A screenplay's past position is indicated to the right in parentheses.  TFF #47 films are indicated in Bold.

1) Nomadland (1)

2) One Night in Miami (3)

3) The Father (2)

4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (5)

5) News of the World (4)

6) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (6)

7) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (-)

8) First Cow (8)***

9) The Personal History of David Copperfield (-)

10) Hillbilly Elegy (7)

Others: The United States vs. Billie Holiday, French Exit, The White Tiger

***First Cow was a selection of TFF #46

COMING ATTRACTIONS?

Jordan Ruimy/World of Reel reported this week that Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig will collaborate again on a film project set up at Netflix.  Ruimy also reports that Adam Driver, who was Oscar nominated for Baumbach's Marriage Story has also been cast.  Ruimy further suggests that the film could be ready toward the end of 2021.

All of those factors suggest a possibility of inclusion for a run as a part of TFF #48.  Lots of connections over the years between these people, Netflix and T-ride.  Put it on your radar!

The World of Reel story in its entirety is linked here.

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Two Years Running / Blues and Brews Bows Out of 2020 / Add to Amazon / Nomadland Is Imminent / The Distribs: Bleecker Street / Netflix Adds the Chicago 7

TWO YEARS RUNNING

For the second consecutive year Michael's Telluride Film Blog has been denied press accreditation for the actual fest itself.  Here's a screenshot of the email informing me yesterday afternoon:

So again, after having been granted that status from 2011-2018, TFF has said no. 

When I was denied last year, I asked at the time if there was a specific reason (I've sent that question again this year) and also if there was an appeal process.  I never got an answer.

As I said last year, I fully grasp that the fest can chose who to accredit who not to accredit.  I get that.

Further, I understand that I have published articles that have not been well received within the fest's hierarchy. This past year I have tried to be circumspect with regard to the stories I post and have, on a number of occasions, self-edited as I determined that a particular  thought or story might land badly.  That doesn't seem to have curried any favor.

And, of course, I'm aware that the very point of the blog (sussing out what might play at the fest) is antithetical to the fest's goal of keeping the lineup under wraps.

Still, after having been granted the status for eight years and then being denied for these last two, I am curious as to whether MTFB will ever be accredited again. 


BLUES AND BREWS BOWS OUT FOR 2020

The Telluride Daily Planet reported yesterday that the Telluride Blues and Brews Fest has been canceled for this year.  That leaves TFF as the only fest left standing for Telluride this year.  Blues and Brews was scheduled for Sept. 18-20-two weeks after The SHOW.

Festival director Steve Gumble is quoted in the paper with this:

“We held on to each day and each update and watched our hopes of holding Blues & Brews fade as each day passed.  Having said that, it is with tremendous sadness that I sit here forced to write what I thought I would never have to write — the 27th Telluride Blues & Brews Festival will be canceled for 2020. This is the toughest decision I have made, but without a doubt, it is the right thing to do.”

The complete story is here.


ADD TO AMAZON

Last Monday I took a look at the films that I thought might be possible TFF #47 players from Amazon Studios.  Since then, Amazon Prime Video has acquired a new foreign film title that probably should enter in our consideration

Variety reported on Monday that the streaming service had snagged Chilean hit Jailbreak.  The film is based on the true story escape that occurred in 1990.  Variety reports that the film is Chile's biggest hit in the past few years.

My guestimate at the chances of Jailbreak making a stop in Telluride are 25%.

The Variety story is linked here.


NOMADLAND IS IMMINENT

Chloe Zhao's Nomadland seems to be done...complete...wrapped and locked.  Next Best Picture's Will Mavity tweeted the info yesterday that Nomadland has received its MPAA rating.  It's R by-the-by.

Here's Will's Tweet:

In the comments following Will's Tweet are a couple of references to its possible inclusion for Telluride.

Many readers know that I had Nomadland on my list for a good long while last year as a TFF #46 potential title.  I even still listed as a "possible" choice outside the final 25 "Bets" posted the day before Telluride announced its lineup.

Nomadland stars Frances McDormand.  Its IMDb listing is linked here.



THE DISTRIBS: BLEECKER STREET

Bleecker Street Media is the definition of a specialty house/film distribution company.  Their presence at Telluride over the years has been spotty but not invisible.  Last year they were represented at Telluride with Kitty Green's The Assistant which has gotten very good reviews since its theatrical release in late January.  Some have included it in their Ten Best lists for the first half of 2020.

The Bleecker Street T-ride profile looks like this:

2019- The Assisstant
2015- Beasts of No Nation (partnered with Netflix)


As we look to TFF for 2020 Bleecker could have a couple of films that we should consider:

The Secrets We Keep from director Yuval Adler whose Bethlehem was included by TFF in 2013.  The Secrets We Keep is a post-World War II story of Holocaust survivors trying to make their way in New York.

The other project is John Patrick Shanley's Wild Mountain Thyme.  Shanley is an Oscar, Pulitzer and Tony award winning writer.  He previously directed Doubt (Based on his own stage play) and Joe Versus the Volcano.  Wild Mountain Thyme stars Emily Blunt, Jon Hamm and Jamie Dornan.  IMdB's description of the film reads:


"A pair of star-crossed lovers in Ireland get caught up in their family's land dispute."

My guestimate:

The Secrets We Keep 45%
Wild Mountain Thyme 20%


NETFLIX ADDS THE CHICAGO 7

After weeks of teasing that a deal was probably coming and reported hangups regarding international rights, Netflix has acquired Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7 from Paramount for $56 million.  In a normal year that would shoot the film right to the top of my Telluride chart but because Netflix has announced that they're not taking any of their films to any of the festivals that won't be happening.

Now, just for fun, close readers of this space have noticed that I have picked up on a couple hints here and there that the Netflix decision may not be as ironclad as it seems.  I have wondered if we might see some Netflix titles as a "surprise" in Telluride.  Those aforementioned hints, Netflix's presence at the fest over the last half decade, Netflix saying that they will continue sponsoring fests- they sponsored the Chuck Jones Theater last year and the Labor Day Picnic in 2018 and I believe they'll be a sponsor of some sort again this year- all make me think that there's at least a glimmer of a chance that some of their projects could end up in the San Juans over Labor Day weekend.

Now that list of projects includes Sorkin's Chicago 7 film.

Variety has the acquisition story here.

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Mank in October and an Interesting Note / Netflix and the Chicago 7 / The Distribs: A24

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".

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%.

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