Best of the Week/Master Shows/New at SPC/Pictures...Many

Good Saturday from L.A.

BEST OF THE WEEK





INVITATION

Another reminder to join me at The River Club on Friday, Aug. 31 at 5:00PM for the Second Annual "Guide to the Ride; Flow of the SHOW".  Last year was a lot of fun and we're going to try our level best to have a great time again this year.  So, come, enjoy.  We may have a special guest or two...we're trying anyway.


TEN BETS


This week's "Ten Bets" on Monday were:



1) Amour
2) Rust and Bone
3) Midnight's Children
4) On the Road
5) Beyond the Hills
6) The Central Park Five
7) Bromberg's Chaplin
8) Hyde Park on Hudson
9) The Reluctant Fundamentalist
10) Hannah Arendt

Still solidly in the mix: "No", Something in the Air", "Song for Marion".  This past week saw the eruption of rumor that "Cloud Atlas" and "The Master" are still possibilities for Telluride.

GUESSING TELLURIDE

I do this "guessing" Telluride thing for about 6 months of the year and then do awards season in the context of those films that do play Telluride the other 6 months of the year.  But now, with only a month left to some of the serious peeps in the business of film blogging are casting their   Kris Tapley of HitFix/InContention is among the very best and he has his Telluride prognostication post (along with Oscar spec).  You can find it here:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/fall-fests-set-to-fire-the-oscar-starting-gun

Highlights of his prognostications include his feel that "Rust and Bone" "No" and "Amour" all have a good shot..as have I.

He also have a vibe for "The Silver Linings Playbook"...I agree and Tapley suggests Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut "Quartet" which would thrill me...I'd love nothing more than to see Hoffman on Colorado Ave.  But I have reservations that it's likely to occur.

Tapley also goes with "Midnight's Children" and Matteo Garrone's "Reality" as likely to show in addition to "Hyde Park on Hudson".  I'm pretty high on MC and "Hyde Park" being there, less so about "Reality".

And finally, Tapley has one big surprise guess, and he admits it really is just a hunch...that Robert Lorenz's "Trouble with the Curve" appears along with Mr. Eastwood.  That would be incredible!

MASTER DISASTER

It was a roller coaster day yesterday.  I'm on the road...literally driving from Flagstaff, AZ. to San Diego, CA. yesterday...while catching the occasional tweet at gas stops and at lunch...

And so as the day evolved, I got the news that "The Master" WILL play Venice after all...despite not being announced last week and even reported denials that it would...

The Playlist: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-will-play-the-venice-film-festival-after-all-20120730

As you know, I have often pointed out that Venice and Telluride have little overlap...so  this probably means the death knell for its Telluride chances...which had begun to look somewhat promising in light of the lack of the film on Venice's list nor Toronto's.

Then late yesterday the word that IT WILL PLAY TORONTO TOO!

The Wrap: http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/master-added-toronto-film-festival-lineup-49936

Now virtually every pundit that plays this game has agreed that Telluride is a non-starter...and they're very likely right...but...the addition of Toronto dates actually gives me a bit of hope...what few films that do make the Venice to Telluride run generally play Toronto as well...so maybe...

And then there has been a good deal of discussion that part of the Venice/Toronto sluggishness in announcing has been the result of Anderson's desire to present it in the 70mm format he shot it in.  Some commenters think that, too, could complicate it's possibility of Telluride.  But The Playlist points out (and an MTFB reader confirms) that Telluride can actually and has shown 70mm in the past...so...

Finally, there's also a lot of talk about the impossibility of dates and doubt about simultaneous play dates and locations of Anderson, Phoenix, Hoffman etc.  I'm not all that sure that is really much of an impediment.  If everyone wants it to happen in all three locales, I'm pretty sure that all involved could find a way to make it happen.  And I really do think Harvey Weinstein likes to have his big pony in the San Juans...

I'm saying, yes, "The Master" is probably not going to play T-ride...but all hope is NOT lost.

NO?

Gael Garcia Bernal in Pablo Larrain's "No"

I still have a strong feeling that Pablo Larrain's "No" which played to very good review out of competition in Cannes last May will turn up in Telluride.  This despite the fact that it was once a "Ten Bets" film but has slipped to somewhere in the 11-20 spots.

That being said, I have included a post that popped up in the last 48 hours concerning the film which stars Gael Garcia Bernal.  Here it is...

From The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/actor-gael-garcia-bernal-says-no-film-taught-him-about-chiles-pain-during-dictatorship/2012/07/30/gJQATEKkLX_story.html


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

VIEW TO A "KILLING"

We got a trailer yesterday for Andrew Dominik's "Killing Them Softly" starring Brad Pitt.  "KTS" has some Telluride potential as it has checked off a couple of Telluride "boxes" in that it played Cannes and it is distributed by The Weinstein Company.  Those two factors are pro-Telluride appearance, however the complete uncertainty about how TWC  and Telluride are playing together this year (TWC has so many possible players for awards season: "The Master", "Django", ""Silver Linings", "Quartet"...there are others) means that I put KTS's chances of a T-ride appearance at 20%.

Nevertheless, here's the trailer:

For more KTS information check out these posts:

The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-andrew-dominiks-killing-them-softly-starring-brad-pitt-20120801

FirstShowing.net:

http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/brad-pitt-james-gandolfini-in-dominiks-killing-them-softly-trailer/

Rope of Silicon:

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-killing-them-softly-trailer/

"Killing Them Softly's" IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764234/

SING FOR MARION LATER

Meanwhile, a film I thought was almost dead certain to play Telluride now may be doubtful for 2012 altogether.  I thought Paul Andrew Williams' "Song for Marion" seemed almost too certain to play T-ride.  Again, it's a TWC distributed film and features Terrence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave.  I had even thought that a Stamp or Redgrave Tribute was a very real possibility.  "Song" has even appeared on the "Ten Bets" list this summer, albeit not lately because maybe I have begun to get a bit suspicious too about the lack of "noise" concerning the film..  Much like KTS above, this doesn't absolutely preclude its inclusion but...

The Playlist is raining all over that notion and any notion that we'll see the film this year at all.

Check their post:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/gemma-arterton-conducts-in-new-image-from-song-for-marion-20120801

"Song's" IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1047011/

From a "Ten Bets" film to what I now think is only a 30% chance it's going to appear at Telluride.



SOMETHING IN THE AIR

"Something in the Air"

Olivier Assassyas's film finally has some new images via The Playlist.  The film has been announced for Venice but is not on Toronto's list of film as yet.

I still have had it listed high on my "Ten Bets" list though it has moved off the "Bets" in the last two weeks as it has been relatively quiet in terms of buzz about it.  Bottom line is that I still think it's a likely choice to make it to Telluride...in the 65% range.

Nevertheless, here's the link to the new pics and story from The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-at-olivier-assayas-70s-coming-of-age-drama-something-in-the-air-20120802#

"Something's" IMDb entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846472/


CENTRAL PARK FIVE

Ken Burns and Company/"The Central Park Five"

Ken Burns and family are credited with this new documentary (Ken and his daughter and son-in-law) and I'd be shocked if it's not in T-ride.  It currently sits at #6 on this week's "Ten Bets".  The film has also been announced as a part of Toronto's doc section...so expect the Burns clan in Colorado in 4 weeks and the Toronto the week after. Check out this Ioncinema rundown of the TIFF Doc selections...and also add into your perusal of that story that 2-4 of those choices will probably join "The Central Park Five" in Telluride:

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/film-festivals/2012-tiff-docs-ken-burns-julien-temple-marina-zenovich-and-alex-gibney-load-up-doc-section

CP5's IMDb entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380247/


MASTER SHOWS

Late last night Paul Thomas Anderson screened "The Master" in Santa Monica, CA. just down the hill from where I am...seriously!

Could have been there?  The film was shown as a "secret screening" after a presentation of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining".  HitFix/InContention's Kris Tapley with the late night details:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/first-public-screening-of-paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-happening-right-now-in-santa-monica

Also, a smattering of ecstatic reactions have been tweeted and such and Kris Tapley and Jeffrey Wells both had contacts on the inside that have commented on the film.  You an find those reactions collected by the Paul Thomas Anderson fan site Cigarettes and Red Vines here: http://cigsandredvines.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-master-premieres-secretly-in-la.html

PS...Tapley per this post still believes that Telluride is a possibility...


NEW AT SPC


Sony Pictures Classics has added new films to their slate this week...a documentary and a hot new prospect making both of them possible Telluride contenders.  The Wrap has both stories.

The "hot" prospect is Raman Bahrani's "At Any Price" starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron.

http://www.thewrap.com/deal-central/column-post/sony-pictures-classics-acquires-zac-efron-dennis-quaid-film-any-price-50751


"At Any Price's" IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1937449/

The other is the Israeli documentary "The Gatekeepers":
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/sony-pictures-classics-nabs-israeli-secret-service-documentary-gatekeepers-49851

That IMDb entry is here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2309788/


MANY PICTURES

If you're looking for stills for fall releases you might want to look at this post from Rope of Silicon.  Over 150 stills from a wide variety of films including:

"Cloud Atlas"
"The Silver Linings Playlist"
"The Master"
"Great Expectations"
"Seven Psychopaths"
"Argo"
:The Company You Keep"
"Quartet"
"The Impossible"
"End of Watch"
"Frances Ha"
"The Reluctant Fundamentalist"


There are many:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/over-150-new-pictures-from-great-expectations-the-master-total-recall-looper-and-more/


Have a great weekend everyone!

More later (Monday from San Francisco!)...


Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

"Like" Michael's Telluride Film Blog on Facebook

Something in the Air/Central Park Five/Pixar/Coming Attractions

Good Friday from the City of Angels!

We arrived late last night after having spent the day in Laguna Beach at the Festival of the Arts topped off by a viewing of The Pageant of the Masters...Incredible!

SOMETHING IN THE AIR

"Something in the Air"

Olivier Assassyas's film finally has some new images via The Playlist.  The film has been announced for Venice but is not on Toronto's list of film as yet.

I still have had it listed high on my "Ten Bets" list though it has moved off the "Bets" in the last two weeks as it has been relatively quiet in terms of buzz about it.  Bottom line is that I still think it's a likely choice to make it to Telluride...in the 65% range.

Nevertheless, here's the link to the new pics and story from The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/first-look-at-olivier-assayas-70s-coming-of-age-drama-something-in-the-air-20120802#

"Something's" IMDb entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846472/


CENTRAL PARK FIVE

Ken Burns and Company/"The Central Park Five"

Ken Burns and family are credited with this new documentary (Ken and his daughter and son-in-law) and I'd be shocked if it's not in T-ride.  It currently sits at #6 on this week's "Ten Bets".  The film has also been announced as a part of Toronto's doc section...so expect the Burns clan in Colorado in 4 weeks and the Toronto the week after. Check out this Ioncinema rundown of the TIFF Doc selections...and also add into your perusal of that story that 2-4 of those choices will probably join "The Central Park Five" in Telluride:

http://www.ioncinema.com/news/film-festivals/2012-tiff-docs-ken-burns-julien-temple-marina-zenovich-and-alex-gibney-load-up-doc-section

CP5's IMDb entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380247/


PIXAR

Pixar has been a frequent player in the animated shorts segment that makes up a delightful  part of the Telluride Film Festival and I expect that this year will be no different. SlashFilm suggests that their new short "Rainy City Tails" "may" play both Toronto and Telluride.  I say count on it!  It may even appear on next Monday's "Ten Bets"...

Here's the Ioncinema story: http://www.slashfilm.com/pixars-short-film-rainy-city-tales-premiere-toronto-telluride/


COMING ATTRACTIONS

An update on a film I featured earlier this summer in this portion of the blog.  There has been a good deal of casting news and other material that we have learned since I last posted about Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years a Slave" so I am adding in the new material from the more recent posts around the web

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/mcqueens-12-years-a-slave-raging-bull-2-legal-drama-arnold-last-stand/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/young-beasts-of-the-southern-wild-star-quvenzhane-wallis-joins-steve-mcqueens-twelve-years-a-slave-20120801

http://www.blackfilm.com/read/2012/08/beast-of-the-southern-wild-quvenzhane-wallis-added-to-12-years-a-slave/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/twelve-years-a-slave-becomes-more-awesome-by-adding-michael-k-williams-20120623

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alfre-woodard-twelve-years-slave-brad-pitt-michael-fassbender-335870


"Twelve Year's" IMDb entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544

More later...


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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...


Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Ten Bets #2/IFC/Central Park Five/Oscar Changes

Good Monday Everyone!

TEN BETS #2

Last week's "Ten Bets" and this week's don't show much change.  Here's last week's:

1) Amour
2) Rust and Bone
3) Beyond the Hills
4) Hyde Park on Hudson
5) Song for Marion
6) No
7) Midnight's Children
8) The East
9) Something in the Air
10) On the Road


Now this week's:


1) Amour
2) Rust and Bone
3) Beyond the Hills

4) Hyde Park on Hudson
5) Song for Marion
6) No
7) Something in the Air
8) The East
9) Midnight's Children
10) The Central Park Five (see below)

Floating just below: "Like Someone in Love", "Reality", "On the Road and "The Hunt".

I'm a little more bullish on Olivier Assasyas' "Something in the Air" this week and a little less on Walter Salles' "On the Road".


IFC

Continuing what I started last week with a view toward distribution/production companies that have some connection to Telluride in the past and what that could portend for 2012.  Today it's IFC.

Past IFC films that have played TFF:

2011: Into the Abyss, Pina
2010: Carlos, The Princess of Montpensier
2009: Life During Wartime, Vincere, Fish Tank, Red Riding Trilogy
2008: The Good, The Bad and The Weird, Gomorrah, Hunger, Flame and Citron
2007: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
2006: Jar City

So IFC has evolved into a consistent presence with films at Telluride over the past 5 years.  Based on the recent past, one might expect 2-3 IFC distributed films in the San Juans over Labor Day weekend.  What's in their quiver that has some Telluride-y essence?

Olivier Assasyas' "Something in the Air".  Assasyas has been repped at T-ride in the past with "Irma Vep" in 1996 and with "Carlos" in 2010. IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846472/

Walter Salles' "On the Road".  Salles' T-ride resume: "Central Station" in 1998 and "The Motorcycle Diaries" in 2004.  IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337692/

Abbas Kiorstami's "Like Someone in Love".  Kiorstami at Telluride: 1997 with "Taste of Cherry".
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843287/

There are other films in the IFC stable but these appear to be the 3 with the best chance of being in Telluride.


CENTRAL PARK FIVE

Don't be surprised if Ken Burns' "The Central Park Five" Doc shows up at Telluride.  His "Dust Bowl" was shown as a part of Mountainfilm so that takes it off the table in all likelihood.  But CPF looks primed to be on the TFF slate.  CPF was co-written, co-produced and co-directed by Burns, David McMahon (his son-in -law) and Sarah Burns (his daughter).

CPF looks at a case of criminal system malfeasance in NYC in 1989.

CPF's IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380247/

OSCAR CHANGES

The word came late last week that Oscar has some changes in rules.  None of them appear to be big changes in major categories...but some for Original Song, Makeup, Visual Effects and Foreign Language Films.

I have linked two stories here...

From Kris Tapley at HitFix/InContention:
http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/academy-announces-changes-to-makeup-original-song-visual-effects-and-foreign-language-film-categories

Also from The Wrap:
http://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/oscar-rule-changes-include-more-songwriters-bigger-vfx-shortlists-46021


More later...

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Cannes Spec Heats Up/The Master/Carey on the Coens' Set

Good Morning!

Bought the new Bruce Springsteen album this weekend...recommended!  also new Lyle Lovett...also worth the money.

CANNES SPEC HEATS UP

A lot of shuffling and potential Cannes 65 news this past week.  Not the least of which was the announcement that Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" will open the fest.  It's not a TFF #39 possible because of its summer release date.

Also this week...Cannes' #65's poster featuring Marilyn Monroe:

Also, some serious speculation that jut announced French release dates indicate the increased possibility that two films will be bowing in the Cannes lineup somewhere: David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis" and Jacques Audiard's "Rust and Bone".

That post is from The Playlist here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/are-they-headed-to-cannes-cosmopolis-rust-and-bone-get-may-release-dates-in-france

I'm pretty high on the Audiard's films chances of being in Telluride in September...less convinced that Cronenberg's follow up to "A Dangerous Method" will be there.

Also...a big P.R. push this weekend for Walter Salles' "On the Road" which has certainly received some Cannes/Telluride speculation.  Stills and a trailer.  I have linked to Rope of Silicon's post with the trailer link:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/on-the-road-trailer-featuring-kristen-stewart-garrett-hedlund-sam-riley/

 

And finally, a really interesting spec piece about possible Cannes selections and their chances of winning this year's Palme D'Or at Neil Young's Film Lounge. Posted at Jigsawlounge.co.uk. Take a look here:
http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/reviews/cannes12odds/

Hot TFF #39 possible titles included on the list include: "Rust and Bone" "Beyond the Hills" "Something in the Air" "Love" and "Big House".


THE MASTER


Big news floating from the Paul Thomas Anderson fan site Cigarettes and Red Vines that it seems pretty likely that his new film which may or may not be entitled "The Master" looks to be released in October...which would keep it in play for a possible Telluride bow.  Here's the link to that story:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-thomas-andersons-the-master-eyeing-an-october-release-date

CAREY ON THE COENS' SET

It's no secret that I'm always intensely interested on whatever the Coen Brothers are working on and endlessly dreaming of the year that they are represented by a new film at Telluride.  This year it's "Inside Llewyn Davis" which, among others, features TFF mainstay from the past three years Carey Mulligan.    I found this till of her from the Llewyn Davis set this week...

Come on Carey back to the San Juans and bring Ethan and Joel with you!

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Later...

And Now for Telluride #39 (2012)

First, apologies for not having posted the Academy member/industry insider Oscar response yet.  Been a little busy.  I'll get that together in the next few days...I promise.

Today, though, the first look in an organized, semi-researched fashion speculating on what seem the most likely prospects for films that we could see in Colorado on Labor Day weekend.

This first post-Oscar stab at what might play in Telluride is always a fun exercise.  Last year, at this time, I correctly speculated about: "The Descendants", "Albert Nobbs", "A Dangerous Method" and "Shame".  I also added "We Need to Talk About Kevin" to the possibles list three weeks later.  Of course, I missed a lot too.

In my 2010 post-Oscar first stabs I had: "127 Hours'" "Another Year," Biutiful," "Black Swan," and "Never Let Me Go".

So the bottom line is that you'd be able to reasonably expect that five or so of the following films will make their way into the San Juans in early September.  (Actually, I am hoping I'm getting better at this and that this year's first attempt is better than the last two).  Here we go:

"Rust and Bone"  Co-written and directed by Jacques Audiard.  Stars Marion Cotillard.  Why in T-ride?  Audiard was in TFF with "A Prophet" in 2009 and it's being fronted by Sony Pictures Classics.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2053425/

"Amour"  written and directed by Michael Haneke.  Stars Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Tintignant.  Why Telluride?  Haneke has been a Telluride favorite with "Cache" and"The White Ribbon".  I expect he'll be back.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602620/

"Something in the Air" written and directed by Olivier Assayas.  Another Telluride favorite with past appearances including"Carlos" and "Irma Vep".  The fest even had "Goodbye First Love" as an entrant last year written and directed by Mia Hansen-Love, Assayas" significant other, that drew Assayas to Telluride for her presentation.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846472/

"Beyond the Hills" written and directed by Christian Mungiu. Expect the creator of "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" is back with this film and one would expect that it would be a likely consideration for TFF inclusion.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2258281/

"Song for Marion" written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams.  Terrence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave in a film from The Weinstein Company.  One of three Weinstein films that you figure have a reasonable shot at Telluride.  TWC probably won't park more than one or two at T-ride.  Of the three, my guess is that this is the most likely.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1047011/

"Hyde Park on Hudson"  Bill Murray as FDR.  Why should it be in Telluride?  Directed by Roger Michell, another frequent Telluride invitee ("Venus" and "Enduring Love") and a starring role for part-time Telluride resident Laura Linney.  I'm betting that Ms. Linney will return after missing last year's fest.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1477855/

"Big House" Co-written and directed by Matteo Garrone.  Garrone, after having been a part of the fest with "Gomorrah" and "First Love" could well return with this film.
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846487/

"The Master"  Paul Thomas Anderson's follow up to "There Will Be Blood" is the second of the Weinstein's projects that could be in Telluride.  It will certainly be TWC's biggest awards horse (at least as it appears now) and PTA was in Telluride as a part of the Daniel Day-Lewis tribute that included 20 min. of "Blood" in 2007.  Those factors make it possible.  BUT...see the note about TWC only parking one or two films at TFF ("The King's Speech" in 2010 and "The Artist" and "Butter" in 2011).  This won't need any TFF boost to be a big part of the 2012 awards conversation...and I have to admit, it's real wishful thinking in my part.  Oh, and one last thing that might suggest it will be in Telluride is that star Philip Seymour Hoffman might return to the place that started him to his Best Actor  Oscar for "Capote".
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/

Other possibles: Ang Lee's "Life of Pi", TWC's Bradley Cooper starrer "The Silver Linings Playbook", David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis" and Walter Salles "On the Road".

Key developments that we can look for over the next few months:  Cannes' selections and what magic that SPC, Fox Searchlight and The Weinsteins work over the next few months.

Here are some links to posts/articles that try to shed some light on the likely awards contenders and/or Cannes selections for 2012:

From The Playlist:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/Could-The-Dark-Knight-Rises-The-Master-Be-Contenders-We-Prematurely-Predict-The-2013-Best-Picture-Oscar-Nominees#l

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/2012/03/02/could-bill-murray-and-keira-knightley-soon-be-oscar-winners-we-prematurely-predict-best-actor-and-actress-at-the-2013-academy-awards

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/are-leonardo-dicaprio-and-vanessa-redgrave-heading-for-the-oscars-predicting-best-supporting-actor-actress-2013#

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/022012/will-the-master-terrence-malicks-new-film-james-grays-latest-and-more-actually-premiere


From Rope of Silicon:
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/top-40-anticipated-films-2012-1-10/

Follow me on Twitter @Gort2

Later...

Cannes in 2012???

Paul Thomas Anderson and Philip Seymour Hoffman collaborating on "The Master"  Cannes and Telluride bound next year?

Ioncinema had a Cannes guess list up earlier this week for NEXT YEAR'S Cannes possibles.  So, if they're crazy enough, I'm thinking, "Why not me?"  You can find their complete list for the possible 65th Cannes field here:
http://www.ioncinema.com/news/id/6409/30-predictions-for-cannes-2012

Of those listed and hinted at here are the films from that list that I think would stand the best chance of being booked at the 39th Tellurdie Film Festival...

"Amour" from director Michael Haneke (Cache, The White Ribbon).  Ioncinema's description:
"Currently in post-production, it's been reported that Michael Haneke is planning on taking his time with this one, so the 2009 Palme d'Or winner has a huge 12-month work window. This has Isabelle Huppert, William Shimell, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva in a film about two retired classical music teachers whose relationship is tested by the wife’s stroke."

"Big House" from director Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah).  Again from Ioncinema:
"Winner of the 2008 Cannes Grand Prix for Gomorrah, it was reported during this year's Cannes market activity that the Italian filmmaker has already begun filming on his next project, Big House. Filming in Rome, this stars Aniello Arena and Loredana Simioli (who was in Antonio Capuano's L'amore buio), and will focus on “the TV industry, reality shows and the illusions of notoriety.”

"Lay the Favorite" from director Stephen Frears (Tamara Drewe).  The Ioncinema description:
"In his lengthy career, Frears has been to Cannes will only a handful of films (last year's Out of Comp entry Tamara Drewe) was his last. Based on the Beth Raymer gambling memoir, by appearances Lay The Favorite isn't what you'd call your typical Cannes item, glossy and more mainstream than art-house, this stars Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Joshua Jackson, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Vince Vaughn in a tale that follows the rise of Internet gambling and off-shore sports betting through the story of a woman who becomes involved with a group of fifty-something math geeks in Queens who have worked out a way to rig the sports books in Vegas."

"The Master" from director Paul Thomas Anderson. (There Will Be Blood).  From Ioncinema:
"Can we already put bets on this for the Best Actor prize? If so, Philip Seymour Hoffman would make a return appearance since his Synecdoche, New York, while PTA would be returning for the first time since. It all depends on what kind of strategy The Weinstein Company has in store for the film --- so Croisette, going under a new title would be a strong possibility as production is due to begin next month. This sees Hoffman play a man who creates a religion in 1952, and Joaquin Phoenix stars as his second in command."

"Something in the Air" from director Olivier Assayas (Carlos).  Ioncinema says:
"After the acclaim and presentation that his Carlos received in 2010, Assayas made a festival long stint as a jury member for the main comp this year, which logically means that Something in the Air is next in line. IFC Films didn't wait much time to pick up the film which is set in the 1970s and follows a young high school student in Paris, torn between his artistic ambitions and the politics of the times."

There are also hints at Terrence Malick's post-"The Tree of Life" project (that was shot largely in Oklahoma), Ari Folman's "The Congress" and Mike Leigh's next project.  Any or all of which might capture the attention of Luddy, Meyer, Huntsinger and crew.

So put these at the back of your mind and maybe in a year or so we'll be talking more intensely about them as Telluride film possibles.

On another note...back to speculation for TFF #38.  Alexander Payne is apparently on record that "The Descendants" will be submitted to Telluride.  You can find that at the UCLA FIlm School site.  Here's that web address:
http://www.tft.ucla.edu/news/event/758-2010-telluride-film-fest/
Here's a link to the youtube posting from The Film Informant for the trailer to Alexander Payne's "The Descendants."  Looks good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vu6qUglcGo