TFF #48 Spec from Someone Besides Myself / Looks at TFF Possibles: Saints, Rockets and BOOM / Your Cousin Has Another / And Finally from TFF #47

TFF #48 SPEC FROM SOMEONE BESIDES MYSELF

Jordan Ruimy's World of Reel has taken a look at the same Pete Hammond report of the recent Telluride Film Fest Annual "To-Do" in L.A. and drawn some conclusions and done some speculating.  He has some ideas that are intriguing that I thought I'd pass along.

Ruimy's analysis of Hammond's claims that there could be as many as four Netflix films at TFF #48 has him suggesting The Power of the Dog, Blonde, The Hand of God and Don't Look Back.

Other films on Ruimy's guess list include: The French Dispatch, King Richard. C'mon C'mon, Last Night in Soho, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, The Whale, The Card Counter, The Tragedy of Macbeth and possibly Nightmare Alley.

As of last Thursday's first "Ten Bets" you know that I'm agreeing with Ruimy on: The Power of the Dog, The Card Counter and Nightmare Alley.

This note though: we're still very early in the serious TFF #48 prediction game.

Here's the link to the Ruimy story.

LOOKS AT TFF POSSIBLES: SAINTS, ROCKETS AND BOOM

Michael Gandolfini as a young Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark

A slew of articles about films that are a part of the conversation for possible Telluride inclusion popped up this past week:

Indiewire looks at The Many Saints of Newark, the prequel film to HBO's classic series The Sopranos.  Here's the link to that.

Indiewire also looks at Red Rocket, Sean Baker's follow up to The Florida Project.  That is linked here.

Meanwhile, SlashFilm runs down a preview of  Lin Manuel Miranda's tick, tick...Boom.  That look is here.

YOUR COUSIN HAS ANOTHER

A scene from Mark Cousins' The Storms of Jeremy Thomas

Mark Cousins, who has already been invited to screen The Story of Looking at Cannes, revealed this past weekend that he has another film selected for Cannes Classics.  Cousins' will be screening The Storms of Jeremy Thomas as a separate selection on the Croisette.

The "twofer" raises the prospect that Cousins, whose ties with the Telluride fest are long and deep, might have both films show up on the TFF #48 list when it's announced on Wednesday, August 31st.

Deadline.com has that story as well as first look footage from the film.  That's linked here.

AND FINALLY, FROM TFF #47

Last year, when Telluride announced the list of films that would have been screened had TFF #47 taken place, TFF regular Roger Michell's The Duke was included.  The comedy starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren is now on the cusp of release in the United Kingdom and an official trailer has dropped.

Here's that is via YouTube:

The Duke opens in the U.K. on Sept. 3rd.

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Still a Little Wonky / Pete Hammond at the TFF Party / ICYMI: Barry Jenkins Will Guest Direct TFF #48

STILL A LITTLE WONKY

Fair Warning...the next three weeks will be weird and MTFB may not post quite as it normally does.  The Chief Executive is art showing over the next couple of weeks with The Festival of the Arts in Oklahoma City this week (and it does run almost the entire week) followed by a crazy three day drive to the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts to do the Independence Day weekend Berkshires Art Festival.

I'll attempt to keep to my normal Monday/Thursday posting sked and I am planning for the first "Ten Bets" for TFF #48 to hit on Thursday, June 24th.  But no promises...if the art tent collapses... 

PETE HAMMOND AT THE TFF PARTY

Every year, except, of course, last year, the Telluride Film Festival hosts a big wing-ding in L.A.  That wing-wing happened last Thursday.  Deadline's Pate Hammond was on hand and filed a report on Friday filled with hints and guesses at films that could be Telluride bound.  Amoing the juicier of the items was this line about Netflix films:

"I have reliably heard that Netflix — of course, still not going to Cannes next month — will have at least four films at T-Ride if things work out."

If you look back at my review of Netflix possibilities that I posted on May 17th you'll see that I pegged the following as Netflix's most Likely T-ride players:

The Power of the Dog

Blonde

The Hand of God

tick, tick...BOOM

Don't Look Back

If any of this make up that group of four, that's a powerhouse of a lineup!  I'm personally pulling for Dominik's Blonde, Miranda's tick, tick, BOOM, McKay's Don't Look Back and Campion's The Power of the Dog being the four.  

But note Hammond's qualifier "if things work out".

Here's the link back to my May 17th post.

Hammond also mentions Warner Bros. and Denis Villenueve's Dune:

"I am told Warner Bros, which just confirmed Denis Villeneuve’s Dune for Venice, is possibly going to have a film hit Telluride as well, likely one of its awaited fall titles like David Chase’s Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, Clint Eastwood’s Cry Macho or even November title King Richard with Will Smith."

Personally, I still think Dune is the most likely TFF #48 player from Warners and the one about which I would be most excited.

Then it's to Searchlight.  Here's what Hammond writes:

"There was a strong Searchlight contingent spotted, and they usually are good for one or two movies. Whether Cannes entry Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch is one of them is unknown (it has also been announced for NYFF), but September release The Eyes of Tammy Faye with Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield makes sense."

And while I don't discount the possibility that "Tammy Faye" could play (I actually am leaning toward it being at Toronto and skipping T-ride right now), my guess is that Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley (also from Searchlight) is probably more likely and don't totally discount Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins.  Check my Searchlight analysis from my May 24th post.

Hammond also says that Amazon Studios was out in force at the Thursday evening soiree. 

The complete Hammond account of he party is linked here.

ICYMI: BARRY JENKINS TO GUEST DIRECT TFF #48

From the TFF press release:

Los Angeles, CA – Telluride Film Festival, presented by National Film Preserve LTD., is proud to announce Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins as its 2021 Guest Director. The celebrated filmmaker is set to select a series of films to present at the 48h Telluride Film Festival running September 2 - 6, 2021. 

 Festival organizers annually select one of the world’s great film enthusiasts to join them in the creation of the Festival’s program lineup. The Guest Director serves as a key collaborator in the Festival’s programming decisions, bringing new ideas and overlooked films to Telluride. In keeping with Telluride Film Festival tradition, Jenkins’s film selections, along with the rest of the Telluride lineup, will be kept secret until Opening Day.

“Each year as we think about who a good Guest Director would be, Tom and I weigh different factors,” said executive director Julie Huntsinger. “Many are based in the intellectual realm: film knowledge, appreciation and, of course, serious talent. But our recipe always includes something more ephemeral – something that has to do with the quality of the human heart. Rare is the person who exceeds on each of these criteria. Barry Jenkins checks every box and more. We feel lucky and a little incredulous that our long-time friend and very talented colleague has agreed to join us as Guest Director this year. The whole world knows of Barry’s gifts, and we’re thrilled that he is taking the time to share the films he loves in a place with the people who love him dearly.”

Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins’ feature film debut, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY, was hailed as one of the best films of 2009 by The New York Times and received several Independent Spirit and Gotham Award nominations. In 2019, along with playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, Jenkins received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his second feature the Academy Award and Golden Globe winning Best Picture MOONLIGHT. As well as earning eight Academy Award nominations, ten Broadcast Critics Choice Awards nominations, six Golden Globe nominations and four BAFTA nominations, MOONLIGHT won Best Picture and Director at the Gotham Awards and Best International Film by the British Independent Film Awards. In addition to NYFCC and NBR awarding Jenkins Best Director and LAFCA naming him Best Director and the film Best Picture, Jenkins received a DGA Best Director nomination and won the WGA Award for Best Original Screenplay. His third feature, the adaptation of James Baldwin’s IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK went on to receive three Academy Award nominations and won Best Picture at the Independent Spirit Awards. Jenkins also received the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director. Jenkins’ next feature film projects include a follow up to THE LION KING for Walt Disney Studios as well as a biopic of famed choreographer, Alvin Ailey, for Searchlight Pictures.

For television, Jenkins directed an episode in the first season of the Netflix Original Series DEAR WHITE PEOPLE. His most recent project for television is the critically acclaimed adaptation of Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner Colson Whitehead’s THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD for Amazon. Jenkins has directed all episodes and written a number of the screenplays. Upcoming work includes a script based on the life of the first American Female Olympic boxing champ Clarissa “T-Rex” Shields as well as an adaptation of Netflix’s original documentary, VIRUNGA, about the battle to save the Congo’s mountain gorilla population.

My first Telluride was the 29th festival, in 2002. In the time since, I've done many things at the festival both high -- opening the Werner Herzog Cinema as Ringmaster and, of course, the world premiere of Moonlight -- and low (rolling up the floor of the Max at festival's end was a rite of passage). When I was approached about curating the Filmmakers of Tomorrow program many years ago, I was honored to be invited deeper into the inner workings of the festival I loved so dearly; being invited to curate a program as Guest Director is an honor my 2002 self would never imagine. We've all been tucked away in our silos longing for the day when we can safely venture out into communal spaces to once again partake in the rituals of cinema we love so dearly. I never doubted that the show would once again go on. But having a role in what is shown? Yes, that is quite the honor indeed. My thanks to Tom and Julie for bestowing this wonderful gift upon me. I'll see everyone at the SHOW. 

Past Guest Directors include Pico Iyer, Jonathan Lethem, Joshua Oppenheimer, Volker Schlöndorff, Rachel Kushner, Guy Maddin, Caetano Veloso, Michael Ondaatje, Alexander Payne, Salman Rushdie, Peter Bogdanovich, B. Ruby Rich, Phillip Lopate, Errol Morris, Bertrand Tavernier, John Boorman, John Simon, Buck Henry, Laurie Anderson, Stephen Sondheim, G. Cabrera Infante, Peter Sellars, Don DeLillo, J.P. Gorin, Edith Kramer and Slavoj Žižek.

 The Guest Director program is sponsored by Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Considered throughout the industry as one of the leading authorities on classic film, the network presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, highlighting the entire spectrum of film history. 

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TFF #48- A Big Return? / New Digs for TFF in Telluride / Trailers, Teasers, Posters and Pics of TFF Possibilities

 TFF #48- A BIG RETURN?

We already know that TFF #48 will be bigger than usual with a five day fest rather than the typical four day event.  We also know, officially this week as reported by news outlets in Telluride as well as nationally by Awards Watch and Indiewire that the fest has purchased the Nugget Theater building with plans to establish a substantial continuing presence in Telluride.

But in addition to all that, there are whispers in the ether that Telluride might be a larger than usual locus for films launching at the fall fests.

Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson writing for Indiewire yesterday had some interesting observations in that direction:

(Telluride) "which chose to cancel its VIP mountain gathering last year when it could not stage a live event, is prepping a substantial comeback. The Labor Day gathering has ambitious plans, with an extra day of programming and a slate of expected Oscar hopefuls that may include both Wes Anderson’s Cannes entry “The French Dispatch” and the animated Sundance documentary breakout “Flee.” Telluride is returning strong with its recent acquisition of frequent screening site the Nugget Building, where it intends to create a year-round “cultural center devoted to film, filmmakers, and film culture.” Meanwhile, awards consultants are eager to return to in-person campaign events with a Telluride awards launch."

The momentum about thinking that The French Dispatch could be a  TFF selection has been building a bit over the past few weeks, so Indiewire's speculation adds some fuel to that fire.  Interesting, as well, is the mention of Flee, which has been earning good buzz since its debut at Sundance.  Because Flee is a documentary, it's debut at Sundance doesn't diminish its chances at playing TFF as much as if it were a feature film.  Also, its acquisition by NEON doesn't hurt either.

The concluding sentence from this paragraph also intrigues.  

There have also been a couple of other allusions from other film journos that Telluride could well be in the "sweet spot" this year for a fall film fest and domestic film makers with Covid restrictions and uncertainties regarding European Fests and Toronto. 

Another interesting note here is the reveal that TFF has bought the Nugget Theater building.  That news had been bubbling for a bit and has now been reported by local Telluride media as well Erik Anderson's Awards Watch.  See the news release from the fest about the purchase below.

Not to brag, but I have been sitting on the news for a couple of months.

The complete Indiewire article is linked here.

Stand by!

NEW DIGS FOR TFF IN TELLURIDE

From the TFF Press Office and Shannon Mitchell:

Telluride Film Festival (September 2 – 6, 2021) and the National Film Preserve LTD, a Colorado nonprofit corporation, today announced its acquisition of the Nugget Building in the town of Telluride, Colorado. The Festival’s intent is to maintain and further create a cultural center devoted to film, filmmakers and film culture. 

The building, an iconic piece of Old West history located in the town’s center near the New Sheridan Hotel, will provide a permanent hub for the Festival focused on a fully remodeled Nugget Theater; a regional jewel that will be upgraded to the country’s highest presentation standards. In addition, the Festival intends to construct a rooftop gathering space that will be a site for major Festival events and a year-round venue for education and community programming. Plans also involve the construction of an adjacent filmmaker residency building. A capital campaign, Nugget Project: The SHOW at 50, is underway to raise the necessary funds for the purchase, construction and vital endowments towards future programming.

“The Telluride Film Festival believes that film is best experienced together, in a beautiful cinema, talking afterwards in a communal space with the artists who create these magical stories in the first place,” said Executive Director Julie Huntsinger. “We hope to make the picturesque Nugget Building a beacon for our global society of cinephiles to experience the art form at its best.”

The Nugget Building has been restored by its past owners, and Telluride Film Festival intends to build on their work. 

“The Telluride Film Festival wishes to deeply thank Katrine and Bill Formby for their twenty-year preservation efforts in bringing the Nugget Building back to its former glory, and for generously donating to the Nugget Project: The SHOW at 50 capital campaign that helped us to acquire the building,” said Huntsinger. “We are committed to preserving its history.”

“When we purchased the crumbling, partially blue-stained Nugget Building in 1999, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” said former building owners Katrine and William Formby. “Twenty years later, we are now somewhat experts on historical preservation. We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish in bringing this 129-year-old building back to its former glory. All of our decisions have been made with the following in mind: ‘What is the best for the Nugget Building and for Telluride?’ Selling the Nugget Building to the Telluride Film Festival sounds like a happy and appropriate ending to our time as stewards of the building.”

 For more information about Telluride Film Festival’s Capital Campaign or to make a donation, please visit www.telluridefilmfestival.org.

 

TRAILERS OF TFF POSSIBILITIES

With Cannes upcoming and other films getting into the game, we have had a run of teasers and trailers recently for films that could be contenders for TFF inclusion.  Beginning with yesterday's release from Searchlight for Michael Showalter's The Eyes of Tammy Faye:

Petrov's Flu

Bergman Island:

The Year of the Everlasting Storm:

Where Is Anne Frank poster:

Photo from Audiard's 13th District Paris:

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Searching Searchlight / Cannes and Venice This and That

 SEARCHING SEARCHLIGHT

My ongoing look at distributors who have been frequently represented at Telluride over the last five years continues today with Searchlight (Fox Searchlight prior to its acquisition by Disney).  Searchlight is one of four distributors that have had seven films at Telluride in the last half decade and their has been particularly noticeable:

2020: Nomadland (Oscar wins for Best Picture, Director and Actress)

2019: A Hidden Life 

2018: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (3 Oscar nominations), The Favourite (10 Oscar nominations  and 1 win for Best Actress) and The Old Man and the Gun.

2017: The Shape of Water ( 13 Oscar nominations with 4 wins including Best Picture and Director), Battle of the Sexes

Other notable appearances by (Fox) Searchlight at Telluride:  

2008: Slumdog Millionaire (won eight Oscars including Best Picture and Director)

2010: 127 Hours (six Oscar nominations), Black Swan (six Oscar nominations including a win for Best Actress)

2011: The Descendants (five Oscar nominations and a win for Best Adapted Screenplay)

2013: 12 Years a Slave (nine Oscar nominations with wins for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actress)

2014: Birdman (nine Oscar nominations with  four wins including Best Picture, Director and Original Screenplay) and Wild (nominated for two Oscars).

That's five Best Picture winners from Searchlight through Telluride in the past 13 years.

So with all that in mind, here's what Searchlight currently has in its larder:

Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley

Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch

Michael Showalter's The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Scott Cooper's Antlers

There are another one or two outside shots but these five represent the most likely choices for TFF #48.  Del Toro and Cooper have the actual connections to Telluride with Del Toro's The Shape of Water and The Devil's Backbone having played TFF.  For Cooper it's been Black Mass and Hostiles.

The other three would all be good gets for Telluride based on buzz surrounding them.  Past history suggests one or two Searchlight films will make the lineup.  Three tops.

CANNES AND VENICE THIS AND THAT

I've seen some scuttlebutt over the past few days about films that are be eagerly sought for Cannes and/or Venice.

Buzz has been substantial about both Paul Thomas Anderson's Soggy Bottom (or whatever it is ultimately called) as well as Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog in terms of both Cannes and Venice.

Meanwhile, rumors persist that Denis Villenueve's Dune will be at Venice and have been fairly consistent for some time.  However a bit of rhetoric from Cannes director Thierry Fremaux about the possibility of a "planetary blockbuster" at the French fest has created speculation that Dune might bow in France in July rather than in Italy in September.

None of these scenarios would preclude any or all three of the films from making an appearance at Telluride and wouldn't that blow your mind?

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Indiewire Looks Ahead to Oscar Contenders for 2022 / Kohn Talks Cannes / New Mainstream Teaser

 INDIEWIRE LOOKS AHEAD TO OSCAR CONTENDERS FOR 2022

The industry turn of the page from the end of Oscar #93's season continued this past week with Indiewire's look forward to potential Oscar players for what we think will be an Oscar ceremony that happens roughly 10 months from now.

As is the custom here at MTFB, I look at their list of possible films to try to sniff out some Telluride possibilities.  This soon after The Academy Awards is always iffy in terms of projecting what might be in play by the time Labor Day comes around.  Compounding the parsing, of course, is the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and what transpires because of it.  

Nevertheless, here's a list of films from the Indiewire piece that could be Telluride choices (in the order they're presented in the story):

Paul Schrader's The Card Counter

Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley

Denis Villenueve's Dune

Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch

Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth

Michael Showalter's The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The complete Indiewire article is linked here.

KOHN TALKS CANNES

Thierry Fremaux, the Cannes Film Festival director, has been very vocal and adamant about that French fest's intent to be a live event from early to mid July.  Eric Kohn, writing at Indiewire raises some concerns about what films and film distribution outlets would be willing to be on the Croisette in nine weeks.

With announcement date now less than a month away, plans will have to come together very quickly for all involved.  Some titkles are known-Leos Carax's Annette, which is set to open the fest, wes Anderson's The French Dispatch and Paul Verhoeven's Benedatta.  Several other films have serious speculation swirling about them.

That said, Kohn raises some salient points that will surely have to be dealt with by all parties prior to the May 27th announcement.

Check out Kohn's story linked here.

NEW MAINSTREAM TEASER

On Friday The Playlist tweeted a new 17 second teaser for Gia Coppola's Mainstream.  The film stars Andrew Garfield and Maya Hawke.  It's set for release on May 7th.

You can take a peek at the peek by accessing the original tweet from IFC Films linked here.

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Oscar Update: Best Supporting Actress / Deadline's Most Anticipated Films of 2021 / I'm Back In for 2020-21

 OSCAR UPDATE: BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Here are my latest Oscar nomination predictions for Best Supporting Actress updated since I last posted this category on  Nov. 30th.  A performer's past position is indicated to the right in parentheses.  TFF #47 performers are indicated in Bold.

1) Amanda Seyfried/Mank (2)

2) Olivia Colman/The Father (1)

3) Yuh-jung Youn/Minari (5)

4) Ellen Burstyn/Pieces of a Woman (3)

5) Glenn Close/Hillbilly Elegy (4)

6) Maria Bakalova/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (6)

7) Helena Zengel/News of the World (7)

8) Saoirse Ronan/Ammonite (8)

9) Jodie Foster/The Mauritanian (-)

10) Candace Bergen/Let Them Talk (-)

Other possibles: Dominique Fishback/Judas and the Black Messiah, Swankie/Nomadland

Hot: Yuh-jung Youn/Minari. Jodie Foster/The Mauritanian, Candace Berger/Let Them Talk

Not: Lily Collins/Mank, Swankie/Nomadland

Coming on Monday in the first MTFB post for 2021: Best Supporting Actor

DEADLINE'S MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2021 (with an emphasis on film festivals)

Andreas Wiseman and Tom Grater have curated a list of films thought to be likely to be released during the 2021 calendar year with particular emphasis on what might be probable/possible fare for film festivals.  With Sundance already having released their lineup, these films are those that are most likely to be named for whatever form of fest that will exist for Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto and, of course Telluride.

I have glanced through the list and come up with a Telluride possible list (some of which is also wishful thinking/hopes and dreams).  They are:

Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24)

Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Big Bug (Netflix)

Ari Folman's Where Is Anne Frank?

Asghar Farhadi's A Hero

Zhang Yimou's Impasse

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch (Searchlight)

Mike Mills' C'mon C'mon (A24)

Paul Thomas Anderson's Untitled Project (MGM)

Michael Showalter's The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Searchlight)

Tom McCarthy's Stillwater (Focus)

Leos Carax's Annette (Amazon)

Mia Hansen-Love's Bergman Island 

Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins (Searchlight)

Todd Haynes' Untitled Velvet Underground Documentary (Apple TV+)

The complete article and list of films from Deadline is linked here.

I'M BACK IN FOR 2020-21

I've been keeping it under wraps for a couple of weeks, but as the calendar is set to turn the page and mercifully bring 2020 to a close ( and because I've had a second email), I can reveal that I will be back for the third consecutive year as one of Movie City News' Gurus of Gold. 

I'm not sure when our first post will be out...soon for sure, after the first of the year.  I'm also not sure who my fellow Gurus will be this year.  I'm interested in finding that out as well.  At any rate, you can be sure that I'll let you know all that as quickly as I can.

 I want to say thanks to head Guru Wrangler Ray Pride for asking me back.

Happy New Year to all!

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Views of Cannes' Titles (That We Might See?) / The Distribs: Searchlight

VIEWS OF CANNES' TITLES (THAT WE MIGHT SEE?)

With the announcement on Wednesday of 50+ films that will carry the seal of official selection for the 73rd Cannes Film Festival going forward through the rest of 2020 and into 2021 we began to see the release of tearers, trialers and stills from a njumber of projects.  I'm passing along some of those that I came across over the past few days with an emphasis being on thise titles that feel like they could make their way to Telluride.

TRALER FOR THE FRENCH DISPATCH/WES ANDERSON (YouTube)

TRAILER FOR ANOTHER ROUND/THOMAS VINTERBERG (YouYube)

TEASER FOR ETE '85 (SUMMER '85)/FRANCOIS OZON (YouTube)

TEASER FOR TRUE MOTHERS/NAOMI KAWASE (YouTube)

STILLS FROM MANGROVE AND LOVER'S ROCK/STEVE MC QUEEN (The Film Stage)

THE DISTRIBS: SEARCHLIGHT

The annual summer look at film distribution outfits that have had a significant relationship with the Telluride Film Festival over the years begins today.

We'll begin our analysis with TFF stalwart Searchlight (used to be Fox Searchlight but underwent the name alteration after Disney bought them).

Searchlight's recent history with TFF:

2019: A Hidden Life (1)
2018: The Favourite, Can You Ever Forgive Ne?, The Old Man and the Gun (3)
2017: The Shape of Water (Best Picture Oscar), Battle of the Sexes (2)
2016: No Show
2015: He Named Me Malala (1)
2014: Birdman (Best Picture Oscar), Wild (2)
2013: 12 Years a Slave (Best Picture Oscar) (1)
2012: No Show
2011: Shame, The Descendants (2)
2010: Never Let Me Go, 127 Hours, Black Swan (3)
2009: No Show
2008: Slumdog Millionaire (Best Picture) (1)
2007: Juno, The Savages (2)
2006: The Last King of Scotland, The Namesake (2)
2005: Bee Season (1)
2004: Kinsey (1)

That means Searchlight averages just under 1 1/2 films at TFF each year over the last 16 years.  This year their cupboard is full of films that could make an appearance at TFF.  As we'll be saying all summer...so much is going to depend on the perception of film makers, talent, distributors and pass holders as to what films actually end up in The SHOW.

That said, Searchlight has four contenders.

The first to mention is Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch.  It's a film that would not have been on the Telluride radar at all if things were "normal" but the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in it being moved off its original release date to a current announced date of Oct. 16th.  That signals that the film could conceiveably play any or all of the fall fests TFF, TIFF, Venice and/or New York.  It was believed that it would be the opening night film for Cannes original May dates, you know that it must be ready to screen for audiences.

Next up is Chloe Zhao's Nomadland starring Frances McDormand.  This film was on my lookout list last year! However, I was surprised that we didn't see it show up on the Cannes list last week.  That could be a warning sign.  It could also mean that Searchlight decided not to go after a Cannes slot ofr the film...maybe Venice?

The other two Searchlight properties may have trouble being ready for a TFF date.  Michael Showalter's The Eyes of Tammy Faye went into post-production in December and Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins went into post in January.  With the shutdown of the industry in March due to the pandemic, both films are question marks at this time.

Also, a quick word about a fifth film, Guillermo Del Toro's Nightmare Alley.  Prior to the pandemic I might have thought that this film had an outside shot at making Telluride but it looked like Del Toro would have to really work quickly to get it done in time.  Now, however, with IMDb describing the film as "filming" (as of Jan. 20th) I have to think that it's going to be a 2021 release.

Chances for TFF #47:

The French Dispatch 40%
Nomadland 40%
Tammy Faye and Next Goal Wins 25%

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Whispers from Vulture / Cannes Reveries and Analysis / Coppola On the Rocks / HN Updates Oscar Predix

WHISPERS FROM VULTURE

Nate Jones posted yesterday on Vulture.com a piece entitled "How Each Major Film Festival Is Responding to the Coronavirus.  Included in his assessment is Telluride along with Cannes, Venice, Toronto and New York.

The Telluride segment doesn't really offer much new save for this sentence:


"However, organizers tell Vulture they are proceeding as if the festival will happen. Otherwise, the only news out of Telluride came in mid-April, when the fest proposed extending its schedule by an extra day"

The key words being: "they (TFF) are proceeding as if the festival will happen"

No clues as to which "organizers" are the source of the claim but it's encouraging.

The Vulture article is linked here.


CANNES REVERIES AND ANALYSIS

The 73rd Cannes Film Festival was to have been going by today.  The original schedule had envisioned an opening night film on Tuesday night and as you know that did not happen.  As the original start date has come and gone a variety of outlets have offered memories and retrospectives about past Cannes as well as a number of assessments of Cannes place in the film universe.

I'm passing along a link to a couple of those here.

The first is a look at Cannes and its past from the perspective of three Indiewire veterans who all have  wealth of experience to draw on.  Anne Thompson, Eric Kohn and David Ehrlich (all of which have been kind enough over the years to participate in my annual round-up of industry veterans at the end of TFF) offer up their reminiscences of their personal experiences in southern France as well as a look at Cannes' past and potential future influence on the film industry.

Take a look at their stories here.

Meanwhile, Deadline has published the highlights of a France TV interview with Cannes President Pierre Lescrue.  Nancy Tartaglione's post went up yesterday.

Lescrue revealed that Cannes would be naming films that would have been selected would include roughly 50 titles.  Previous reports had established that the announcement of those titles will come sometime in early June.

It's my belief that some of those titles that would have played Cannes will be among the films that also play TFF and it will be interesting to parse that announcement for clues and possibilities.

The Deadline story is linked here.


COPPOLA ON THE ROCKS

photo via Empire Online

One of the films that may well be on that list next month is Sofia Coppola's latest collaboration with Bill Murray.  Her film, On the Rocks, she says, is done.  That information leads one to believe that it certainly is a possible title for the Cannes list and then some presentation among the fall fests that are currently still planning on occurring in some fashion including, perhaps, T-ride.

Coppola's last Bill Murray film was, of course, Lost in Translation which played Telluride with Coppola in attendance back in 2003.

Coppola is featured in an article this week (along with Kirsten Dunst) in Empire Online.

You can check that here.


HN UPDATES OSCAR PREDIX

In an exercise of faith or chutzpah or wishful thinking, Hollywood News' Joey Magidson has updated his Oscar predictions for the month of May.  Consequently, in the same spirit, I have mined those predictions for Telluride possibles.

Among his top ten Best Picture picks are TFF potentials: Nomadland, Ammonite and Stillwater.  Also in his top ten are Mank and The Trail of the Chicago 7 both of which could be Telluride players if they're finished.

In his second tier of Best Picture picks are other "Maybes" for Telluride: The French Dispatch, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Annette and On the Rocks.

Magidson's complete rundown of Oscar predictions are linked here.



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