Venice Speculation and the Road to Telluride / Holland Could Return / Restorations for TFF #45?

Good Memorial Day to everyone...

VENICE SPECULATION AND THE ROAD TO TELLURIDE

Mike Leigh's Peterloo

The Hollywood Reporter's staff compiled a list of 15 films this week that they think have a shot at making the Venice lineup.  The scuttlebutt I've been reading is that the Venice lineup may be stronger this year (and have an even more pronounced crossover with Telluride than in past years) due to the films that passed on or were passed over for a Cannes slot.

Last year saw an uptick in films that made the trip between the two fests and that trend, at least for the moment seems like it is likely to continue this year.

Among the 15 films listed by THR here are your most likely TFF #45 prospects:

If Beale Street Could Talk
The Sisters Brothers
Peterloo
First Man
Non Fiction
Beautiful Boy
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan
Sunset
Work Without Author

The article also lists Terrence Malick's Radegund, which, frankly sounds like the most interesting Malick project since The Tree of Life.

The complete THR article is linked here.


HOLLAND COULD RETURN

Gareth Jones still from Variety

Agnieszka Holland has been a past TFF participant (1986, 1995, 2001, 2011, 2013) and her new project, Gareth Jones, seems like it could mark the return to Telluride for the director of Burning Bush and In Darkness.

Gareth Jones tells the true story of a a reporter trying to cover the story of a man made famine in Russia in the 1930s.

This week, Variety posted an interview with actor James Norton who plays Gareth Jones, the welsh journalist who tried to shine a light on that story.

The interview from Variety is here.


RESTORATIONS FOR TFF #45?

Serge Bromberg 

News this week of a  restoration project that I think could find its way to the San Juans for Labor Day weekend.   A new Serge Bromberg presentation  has been announced, that, owing to Bromberg's lengthy track record with Telluride,  has to be seriously considered as a part of this year's lineup.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center reported this week that Bromberg will present  a program of recent restoration treasures in New York on June 20.  That program will include films from Georges Melies and the Lumiere Brothers.

The press release for that presentation is here.

It wouldn't be all that surprising to see Bromberg back in Telluride this year.


That's your T-ride film news for Memorial Day 2018.  More to come on Thursday...


EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com OR michael_speech@hotmail.com

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COMMENT TO THE BLOG

Jarmusch Interview / Serge Bromberg in NYC / Annecy Animation Fest

Good Monday all...


JARMUSCH INTERVIEW

Director/Writer Jim Jarmusch talked recently to journalists at the Cannes Film Festival.  Jarmusch was there with Paterson, a small, quiet film that critics endorsed strongly.

Paterson also has a distribution deal with Amazon which I suspect will have some presence in Telluride this year.  Perhaps a major presence.

Those two factors mean that you have to consider a T-ride play for Paterson in a very serious fashion.

Here's Jarmusch's interview through the prism of The Playlist:

http://theplaylist.net/jim-jarmusch-talks-paterson-amazon-studios-star-wars-20160518/



SERGE BROMBERG IN NYC

Scene from Laurel and Hardy's Battle of the Century from The Lincoln Center

Telluride regular Serge Bromberg played New York last night with a good chunk of the program he presented last fall in Telluride with his Retour Le Flamme.

If you've never seen Serge do his thing,  think about catching it the next time he brings it to the Labor Day wing-ding.  I caught it last year for the first time and enjoyed it thoroughly.  It's a film history lesson, musical-comedy, and a validation of the importance of film preservation.

Bromberg's presentation last night was covered by The Film Society of Lincoln Center here:

http://www.filmlinc.org/films/amazing-slapstick-comedies/



ANNECY ANIMATION FEST

The Annecy Animation Festival is opening today in France.  That fest frequently is represented  at Telluride and I wouldn't be surprised if that connection doesn't show up again this year in some fashion.  Annecy runs today through the 18th.  Check this story from Variety as well as the festival's official website:

http://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/annecy-animation-film-festival-things-to-do-master-classes-screenings-1201789390/

http://www.annecy.org/home


Done for Monday...

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In Praise of James Garner/Toronto Musings/Interstellar Rumors...Not So Fast/The Return of Serge?

Welcome to Monday...

IN PRAISE OF JAMES GARNER

Photo from IMDb

Movie and television star James Garner (real last name was Baumgarner...so he changed it for Hollywood, but not by much) died this weekend.  He was 86.  Garner's career was long, varied and included more than his fair share of great stuff.  Two classic television series : "The Rockford Files" and "Maverick" as well as some notable film work: "Murphy's Romance" which earned him his singular Oscar nomination, (he won a couple of Emmys and a couple of Golden Globes along the way) "The Great Escape", the "Support Your Local..." films ( a couple of my personal favorites and a character that seemed like it was a lot pf Jim Garner and not very much "acting"), "Victor, Victoria", "Sunset" and many more.

I was always ridiculously proud that he was from Oklahoma (born in Norman in 1928).  I also liked the fact that he often stood up for actors and wasn't willing to just roll over and do what he was told.  He reportedly walked away from more than one project/situation in which he felt he was being taken advantage of.

 He really was one of a kind and we're lucky to have so much of his career saved for us to continue to enjoy.

James Garner's IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001258/?ref_=nmawd_awd_nm


TORONTO MUSINGS

The Toronto International Film Festival is supposed to announce some of their lineup tomorrow.  In the past this announcement has included most of the Galas and Special Presentations as well as a designation as to the films presumed status: World or North American premiere.

But with Toronto's new "guidelines" in place, that a film must be committed to Toronto for that designation for it to play the opening weekend, one wonders how much they will tell us.  Will they name as m any films?  Will they indicate a film's premiere status?  Will they reveal what films have been designated for the first four days?

The answers to those questions open up a number of avenues of speculation for Telluride's fest and I expect I'll spend a good chunk of tomorrow after the announcement trying to sort it out.

I expect that I will post a truncated MTFB report in the morning and then after we learn whatever we learn, I am anticipating a Toronto-centric second post later in the day.  Circumstances could change that but it's what I'm planning at the moment.

Come back...take a look...

INTERSTELLAR RUMORS...NOT SO FAST

I've mentioned over the last two weeks or so that there has been a somewhat persistent rumor that Christopher Nolan's much anticipated "Interstellar" starring Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Oscar winner Anne Hathaway and a slew of others might play Telluride.  That fire was most recently fanned last week by Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere and Pete Hammond/Deadline.

Now Wells is throwing some water on the flames, reporting over the weekend that he's hearing countering stories that Nolan is recalcitrant to show the film to programmers to some unnamed festival, though Wells thinks it could only be Telluride or New York.


So, dial back your "Interstellar" anticipation.  I don't think it's completely off the books yet but I'd still count it as a surprise if it shows at The SHOW...

Here's the link to this weekend's Wells/HE post:

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2014/07/nolans-alleged-reluctance/


THE RETURN OF SERGE

There were some people that I was surprised did NOT make it to last year's 40th anniversary edition of TFF.  I was surprised that my "girlfriend" Laura Linney was not there.  Was surprised that Peter Sellars was no where to be seen.  And I was also surprised that Serge Bromberg wasn't around.


Bromberg, who has appeared with some frequency in this decade at TFF with his specialty being rare film and animation, may well be returning this year.

I spent some time this weekend tracking down some Twitter chatter (unwitting thanks to Andy Brodie) that points to a possible presentation by Bromberg of rare and, in filmic terms, ancient footage.  Bromberg's Lobster Films has a apparently been working with an Iowa based collector to form hundreds of hours of lost film into a documentary.

Check this story from the Des Moines Register about the Iowa collector whose work may bring him and Bromberg to the San Juans in six weeks:

http://archive.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131221/NEWS/312210047/Iowan-s-collection-old-films-reveals-cinematic-history

That sounds like something right down Telluride's programming alley...based on past Fests.


More tomorrow...especially about, you know, Toronto...

Friday's Done/Saturday TBAs/Argo Happened/No is a Maybe

Good Saturday from Telluride!

FRIDAY: IN THE BOOKS

What a great start to the 39th Telluride Film Festival.  Set out to talk to specific people and re-connect with others and had a good deal of luck on all fronts.  I am angling to get an actual interview with Ben Affleck in town with his "Argo" which preemed Friday afternoon at The Chuck to rapturous response.  Maybe it happens, maybe not...talked to him about it for 15 seconds Friday morning.

Re-acquanited with Ms. Laura Linney...gracious as always.

Had a fantastic time meeting and talking to Serge Bromberg and Mark Cousins.

And Peter Sellars...the man, the myth, the legend...and incredible generosity as he met me and my wife today.

Telluride 39...much love!


SATURDAY TBAs

SNEAK PREVIEW

Argo Palm/1p Saturday Q&A

While 50 Americans are held hostage by the Ayatollah Khomeini’s Revolutionary Guard, six U.S. Embassy employees hiding at the Canadian ambassador’s residence in Teheran stage a daring escape. “Extraction” expert Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) enlists a veteran Hollywood make-up expert and producer (John Goodman and Alan Arkin, each giving disciplined comic performances) to create a sham sci-fi movie epic in the hopes of finding a way out of the country. Affleck directs with formidable precision and documentary-style immediacy, intercutting between turf battles between the CIA and Washington diplomats, the chaotic street violence during Iran’s revolution and the black comedy of spies pretending to be Hollywood types. This is thrilling, nail-biting entertainment. (U.S., 2012) In person: Ben Affleck

SNEAK PREVIEW

Argo CJC/6p Saturday

17) No Masons/3:45p Saturday

1a) Masque of the Red Death CJC/11:45p Saturday

Prededed by the Chuck Jones cartoon WEARING OF THE GRIN (U.S., 1951, 7m)

41) Calling Cards Pierre/3:45p Saturday

(Replaces PIAZZA FONTANA)

28) Amour Pierre /8:45p Saturday

The TFF Website with all programming info: http://telluridefilmfestival.org/


ARGO HAPPENED!!!

World premiering at Telluride on Friday afternoon at The Chuck Jones Theater was Ben Affleck's "Argo".  The crowd loved it and the early critical response seems enthusiastic as well.  A number of mentions of Oscar potential.  I'm not so sure about that but I will say it is an expertly crafted film and that Mr. A seems to have absolutely mastered the art of film direction.  Further, I'd be remiss if I didn't add that the support work is very, very good.  John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Victor Garber, Scoot McNairy and Bryan Cranston all light it up.  If acting nominations come it will be here in supporting actor for one of these guys...most likely Cranston...who really is fantastic.

If you're in T-ride and reading this...see "Argo" this weekend and thank me when you see me...and Ben too!


"Argo's"IMdb entry:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024648/

"NO" IS A MAYBE

Caught Pablo Larrain's "No" at The Galaxy last night...nice performances, especially be Gael Garcia Bernal in the lead but it's a tad sluggish and overly long.

"No's" IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2059255/


SATURDAY'S PLAN

At this moment is to start the day with the Roger Corman tribute and follow that with "The Sapphires" and "Amour" at The Chuck.  May try to catch "Hyde Park" tonight...maybe "The Iceman" after.


A BIG THANK YOU

To Mitzi and Larry Mallard of The river Club for hosting The Second Annual(?) Guide to the 'Ride" and to all of you readers that were kind enough to come and join my on-going obsession with film and this festival.  I had an incredible time.


More later...

And thanks for playing...

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France 2 Cinema/New View of Django/Passion/Serge Returns?

Good Wednesday to All!


FRANCE 2 CINEMA

I continue the procession through European film production companies that have had a filic presence at Telluride festivals lately as a means to assessing what films could play there this year and today's examination focuses on France 2 Cinema.

Here's their recent track record at TFF:

2011: The Kid with a Bike
2010: The Princess of Montpensier
2009: Farewell, Inferno, Coco Before Chanel, A Prophet

Prior to that I can't find any other films prior to 2004.

As you can see, a big year for France 2 Cinema in 2009 with 4 films then just one in 2010 and 2011.  What's got Telluride potential on the F2C plate:

Olivier Assasyas' "Something in the Air", Walter Salles' "On the Road", Alain Renais' "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and Jacques Audiard's  "Rust and Bone".

All are real possibilities with "Rust" and "Something"  the more likely (I think).

Tomorrow: France 3 Cinema.


NEW VIEW OF DJANGO

Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" continues its steady drip of publicity with the release of a new TV spot that grabbed a good deal of attention the last few days.  Here it is:

Here are a few posts with details:

The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-brief-new-django-unchained-teaser-serves-up-bits-of-new-footage-20120701

Rope of Silicon:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/django-unchained-tv-spot-sam-jackson/

HitFix:

http://www.hitfix.com/news/watch-new-django-unchained-spot-gives-better-look-at-samuel-l-jackson

PASSION

There has been a little thought that Brian DePalma's new film "Passion" might be available for fall festivals including Telluride (though I'm dubious that it will be either ready or Telluride bound).  The Playlist posted a new image from the film with comment here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/another-menacing-image-from-brian-de-palmas-passion-starring-rachel-mcadams-noomi-rapace-20120702


SERGE RETURNS?

Serge Bromberg is a frequent guest at Telluride with various and sundry restoration projects.  Last year he presented the restored "A Trip to the Moon" and 2009 saw "Inferno".

Now, a little twitterverse trivia seems to indicate that he'll be back in Telluride this year and likely with Cahrlie Chaplin material in tow.  Sounds intriguing...


More later...


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