Distribution: The Weinstein Company/Fassbender Takes on The Dude/First International Trailer for "The Club"

It's Wednesday people...getting marginally closer to Labor Day weekend.


We continue our look at film distributors with Telluride track records...



DISTRIBUTION: FREQUENT DISTRIBS AT TELLURIDE: THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

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


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

15 films in nine years.  That's an average of 1.7 films per year with at least one film every year of the nine.  Also, they had a great back-to-back Telluride run in 2010 and 2011 with ultimate Oscar Best Picture winners "The King's Speech" and "The Artist" playing in Telluride.  Last year's "The Imitation Game" was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won for Graham Moore's adapted screenplay.

So, what might we see from TWC in eight weeks time?

They have Todd Haynes "Carol" which wowed at Cannes as well as Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" which also played in competition at Cannes and received excellent notices for stars Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender.  Additionally, Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight", "John Wells' "Adam Jones".

Radius-TWC doesn't currently list any project on IMDb that would be Telluride ready.

So where does that leave us?

I think "Carol" is a pretty solid guess for Telluride.  "Macbeth" is also a real possibility.  Everything is else is less so.  "Hateful" is not likely to be ready.  "Adam Jones" doesn't seem, to me anyway, to have the gravitas for T-ride.

Chances with current "Ten Bets" status listed in parenthesis where applicable:

"Carol" 75% (#3)
"Macbeth" 55%
"The Hateful Eight" 25%
"Adam Jones" 25%

Tomorrow a look at Sundance Selects/IFC FIlms.


FASSBENDER TAKES ON THE DUDE

For a while now, Telluride favorite Jason Reitman has staged live reads of various films.  He's mostly done it in L.A. but has occasionally ventured to other places.  In the past few days we have learned that he will stage a live read of the Coen Brothers' "The Big Lebowski" in Montreal for a comedy festival there on July 24th.

And we know now who will be reading "the Dude", none other than Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender.  Patton Oswalt has also been announced as Walter Sobchak, the John Goodman role with other roles/actors to be announced.

Also, we learned via The Playlist (story below) that Fassbender was up for and auditioned for the title role in the Coen's 2013 Telluride-selected "Inside Llewyn Davis".  That would have been interesting, though, as bog a fan as I am of Fassbender's work, and I am a huge fan, I can't imagine the role in any other hands but those of Oscar Isaac.


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/michael-fassbender-will-play-the-dude-in-jason-reitmans-live-read-of-the-big-lebowski-20150707

FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRAILER FOR "THE CLUB"

Pablo Larrain's "The Club" won the Silver Bear at Berlin in February and that combined with Larrain's play at Telluride in 2012 with "No" (he was also a producer for 2013's "Gloria") makes me think we should consider it as a potential lineup choice for TFF #42.

Additionally, U.S. distribution is in the hands of Music Box Films which has a small but notable Telluride resume including Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film "Ida" and "Fifi Howls from Happiness" in 2013 and "The Story of Film" in 2011.

"The Club" deals with secrets in the Catholic Church in South America.

The Playlist covered the release of the film's international trailer yesterday and the story and the trailer are here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-pablo-larrains-berlin-film-festival-award-winning-the-club-20150707


That's all for today...more on Thursday...

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Distribution: Fox Searchlight/New P.R. Gambit for "Sicario"/Spooky Looks from "Crimson Peak"

Welcome to a Tuesday in July...

We continue our look at film distributors with Telluride track records...

DISTRIBUTION: FREQUENT DISTRIBS AT TELLURIDE: FOX SEARCHLIGHT

Here's what we have seen from them art Telluride over the past 11 years:

2004: Kinsey
2005: Bee Season
2006: The Last King of Scotland, The Namesake
2007: Juno, The Savages
2008: Slumdog Millionaire
2009: ZIP
2010: Never Let Me Go, 127 Hours, Black Swan, Millions
2011: Shame, The Descendants
2012: ZIP
2013: 12 Years a Slave
2014: Birdman, Wild

16 films over that time span, which averages to 1.55 films/year.  2009 and 2013 were outliers with no Fox Searchlight films at T-ride.  2010 was extraordinary with the company having four films make the program.  Most importantly, probably to Fox Searchlight, is that they have three Best Picture Oscar winners since 2008, all of which played Telluride: "Slumdog Millionaire" (08), "12 Years a Slave" (13) and "Birdman" (14).  So, you kind have to be believe that if they have a film that they feel has a Best Picture shot, that it will likely play Telluride (and the buzz is that they do).

What's in the Fox Searchlight cupboard for this year?  They have a number of goodies including much ballyhooed Cannes Palme competition piece, Paolo Sorrentino's "Youth" with both Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel considered serious Oscar acting awards candidates.

Then there's Jean-Marc Vallee's "Demolition" starring the red hot Jake Gyllenhaal.  Vallee was in Telluride last year as the director of "Wild" which earned Oscar nominations for Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern.

Also in the FS house, the much anticipated documentary "He Named Me Malala" about Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai who was the victim pf a Taliban assassination attempt because she dared to be a young girl who wanted an education.  "Malala" is directed by Davis Guggenheim who directed "Waiting for Superman" and "An Inconvenient Truth".

These three films all have some serious Telluride potential.  The other Fox Searchlight picture that could be in the mix is Luca Guadagnino's "A Bigger Splash" starring Ralph Fiennes and Dakota Johnson but I think it's Telluride profile is much smaller...

Other Fox Searchlight films that could make a splash as we move through the end of the year have already premiered/opened: "True Story", "Mistress America", "Brooklyn", "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl", "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", and "Far from the Madding Crowd" have either played Sundance, opened theatrically or both.

Ultimately at least one Fox Searchlight film will play and probably two.  There could be three altogether.


Chances:

"Youth" 80%
"Demolition" 60%
"He Named Me Malala" 50%
"A Bigger Splash" 25%

Of course, I have "Youth" on the current "Ten Bets" list at #5.

Tomorrow's distribution outlet:  The Weinstein Company.


NEW P.R. GAMBIT FOR "SICARIO"

Lionsgate, which is distributing Denis Villenueve's "Sicario", which played Cannes in competition, has debuted a different P.R. move releasing "Loteria" cards for the film. You see one above.   Loteria is a bingo-like game that comes from Latin America.

"Sicario" will open in the U.S. on Sept. 18 and remains a film with some possibility of playing Telluride largely due to Villeneuve's past participation at Telluride with "Incendies" (TFF 2010) and "Prisoners" (TFF 2013).

Here's the Rope of Silicon article that includes all five of the Loteria cards for the film released yesterday:



http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/five-loteria-card-posters-for-sicario-released/


SPOOKY LOOKS FROM "CRIMSON PEAK"

I talked last week about the unlikely, but nevertheless, possible appearance of Guillermo Del Toro's "Crimson Peak".  Yesterday we were treated to new character posters for the Gothic horror film that features Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston.

Check out the links to HitFix and The Playlist for all of the posters and a couple of new stills from the film:


http://www.hitfix.com/harpy/exclusive-jessica-chastain-is-a-gothic-queen-in-blood-red-crimson-peak-poster

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/new-images-and-posters-for-guillermo-del-toros-gothic-horror-crimson-peak-20150706


That'll do for Tuesday...more tomorrow...


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Distribution: Frequent Distribs at Telluride: Sony Pictures Classics/Trailer for "The Assassins"/"Hateful Eight" News

Good Monday Everyone...I hope you had an excellent Independence Day weekend.

We start our series today that looks at Film distribution companies that have a history with Telluride and what their current lineup might tell us about this year's possible lineup.

DISTRIBUTION: FREQUENT DISTRIBS AT TELLURIDE: SONY PICTURES CLASSIC (SPC)

SPC is the "Big Dog" of Indie distributors at Telluride.  No other company has as long and consistent track record of having film's selected for The SHOW program as Sony Pictures Classics.

Here's what SPC has shown in Telluride in the last 12 years :

2014: Foxcatcher, Leviathan, Red Army, Mr. Turner, Wild Tales, Salt of the Earth and Merchants of Doubt (7)
2013: The Invisible Woman, The Lunchbox, The Past, Tim's Vermeer and Jodorowsky's Dune (5)
2012: The Gatekeepers, At Any Price, Rust and Bone, No, Wadjda, Amour (6)
2011: A Dangerous Method, In Darkness, Footnote, A Separation (4)
2010: Incendies, Of Gods and Men, Tamara Drewe, Another Year, The Illusionist, Inside Job (6)
2009: The Last Station, The White Ribbon, Coco Before Chanel, A Prophet, An Education (5)
2008: Waltz with Bashir, I've Loved You So Long, O'Horten (3)
2007: Brick Lane, When Did You Last See Your Father, Persepolis, The Band's Visit, The Counterfeiters (5)
2006: Jindabyne, The Lives of Others, Volver, The Italian (4)
2005: Breakfast on Pluto, Capote, Cache, The Child (4)
2004: Being Julia, House of Flying Daggers, Bad Education, Merchant of Venice, Up and Down, Yes (6)
2003: The Fog of War, My Life Without Me, The Triplets of Belleville, Young Adam (4)

SPC averages 5.3 films per year at Telluride with seven last year, the most they've had at any TFF in the last dozen years.

This year's possible crop from Sony Pictures Classics (according to today's IMDb listing) includes:

"I Saw the Light"
"Son of Saul"
"Our Little Sister"
"13 Minutes" ("Elser")
"Truth"


Other SPC films that would seem to be disqualified: "Grandma", "Dark Horse" and "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" as they played at Sundance.

Of the six left as SPC possibles, we 'd be wise to remember that SPC usually doesn't get every film available into the fest.  Last year's "Coming Home" is a good example.  So, it's unlikely that all six of these films play.

Four of the five have already appeared on at least one of my two "Ten Bets" lists this last couple of weeks.  A really good case can be made for five of them.

"Truth" looks like a fairly substantial play for Awards recognition as does "I Saw the Light" which also has Marc Abraham directing who previously brought "Flash of Genius" to Telluride in 2008.

"13 Minutes"made some noise at Berlin.

"Our Little Sister" and "Son of Saul" both played at Cannes and "Son if Saul" particularly well winning the Grand Prix prize.

Chances (with current "Ten Bets" postions in parenthesis where applicable) :

"Son of Saul" 90%  (#2)
"I Saw the Light" 80% (#6)
"13 Minutes" 75% (#7)
"Truth" 65%
"Our Little Sister" 50%
"Testament of Youth" 10%


Tomorrow's distributor to look at: Fox Searchlight.

TRAILER FOR "THE ASSASSIN"

"The Assassin" teaser/trailer via YouTube

We saw our first trailer released this weekend for Cannes Best Director winner Hou Hsaio-Hsein's "The Assassin".  Its reception at Cannes makes the film one that we need to keep in mind as a possible choice for Telluride programming.  One note, however, the film's U.S. distribution is with Well Go Entertainment, for which I can find only the barest of connections to T-ride...they distributed the video for TFF 2010 selection "Oka! Amerikee".

Both The Playlist and FirstShowing posted coverage of the trailer release this weekend:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-hou-hsiao-hsiens-cannes-award-winning-the-assassin-20150704

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/watch-teaser-trailer-for-hou-hsiao-hsiens-cannes-hit-the-assassin/



"HATEFUL EIGHT" NEWS

First, we found out  that Tarantino will be bringing a presentation about the film to Comic Con which starts in San Diego next week.  "The Hateful Eight" panel is scheduled for July 11th.  Here's coverage from Variety, The Wrap and Thompson on Hollywood:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/quentin-tarantinos-hateful-eight-headed-to-comic-con-1201529411/

http://www.thewrap.com/quentin-tarantinos-the-hateful-eight-to-attend-san-diego-comic-con/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/tarantino-takes-hateful-eight-footage-to-comic-con-20150626


Additionally, we tumbled across an Entertainment Weekly story in which Tarantino calls the film the "funniest snow western ever made" which seems to me to be a pretty limited category.  Here's The Entertainment Weekly story:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/02/hateful-eight-exclusive-image-kurt-russell

The bottom line here is that the Comic Con presentation of footage means that QT is making progress on the edit of the film and with just under two months still left before Telluride, you have to wonder if he might just make it under the wire for Labor Day despite the fact that the film isn't getting a release until Dec. 25.

We'll see.


That's all for Monday...tune in again tomorrow...


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Domestic Trailer for the "Queen/Wozniak on "Jobs"/"Ten Bets" #2

Good Morning Star Shine...the Earth says, "It's Friday!"


DOMESTIC TRAILER FOR THE "QUEEN"

Werner Herzog's long gestating "Queen of the Desert" dropped a trailer for U.S. audiences yesterday. The film stars Nicole Kidman as real life British pioneer Gertrude Bell.  The film also stars James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damian Lewis.  "queen" premiered last February at the Berlin Film Festival.  I had it last week as the #10 film on the first 2015 Telluride "Ten Bets' list.  Does it continue on the list this week?  Find out below.

"Queen of the Desert" trailer via YouTube

Here's coverage of the U.s. trailer release from yesterday:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-epic-new-trailer-for-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman-robert-pattinson-more-20150702

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/full-us-trailer-for-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman/


http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/new-3-minute-queen-of-the-desert-trailer-starring-nicole-kidman-and-robert-pattinson/


WOZNIAK TALKS "JOBS"

Yesterday's release of a full scale trailer for "Steve Jobs" looks to have prodded a couple of outlets to publish reaction stories from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (who is played in the film by Seth Rogen).  Business Insider and Variety posted stories based on Wozniak's response to Bloomberg Business which sought him out to get his reaction to the scenes in the trailer,

Here are those stories from Variety and Business Insider:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/steve-wozniak-steve-jobs-trailer-1201533382/

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-wozniak-steve-jobs-movie-trailer-exaggerated-2015-7


TEN BETS #2

As we toil toward the first wave of films that will be announced at the Toronto Film Festival (less than three weeks away) and its possible use as a tool to derive clues for the Telluride lineup, it's time to re-evaluate my list of ten films that seem, to me anyway, to be the most likely to play come Labor Day.

Last week's "Ten Bets" were:

10) "Queen of the Desert"
9) "Suffragette"
8) "Truth"
7) "45 Years"
6) "13 Minutes"
5) "I Saw the Light"
4) "Youth"
3) "Carol"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"

This week's updated "Ten Bets" list:

10) "Queen of the Desert"
9) "Mountains May Depart"
8) "Suffragette"
7)  "13 Minutes"
6) "I Saw the Light"
5) "Youth"
4) "45 Years"
3) "Carol"
2) "Son of Saul"
1) "Dheepan"

Minor movement with "Truth" dropping out of the list, but still hovering just below, and "Mountains May Depart" moving onto the list.  The top three remain the same with minor shuffling in the 4-7 spots.


That's all for this week.  Come back Monday for the start of my look at film distributors and their relationship to Telluride and what that could tell us about which films could make The SHOW.


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Oscar Hopeful Trailers/"Steve Jobs" Full Trailer/The Guardian Ups Its Game and Sponsors Too/Reminders

It's Thursday and this must be Michael's Telluride Film Blog...



OSCAR HOPEFUL TRAILERS

David Poland and Movie City News have posted a series of 17 trailers for films that he/they have deemed as Oscar possibles.  The trailers include a number of possible Telluride films: "Carol", "Black Mass", "In the Heart of the Sea", "The Program", "Sicario", "Youth" and "Suffragette".

Take a look at the post, which is expected to be updated as we move through the summer and into awards season with trailers from other films:

http://moviecitynews.com/2015/06/30-weeks-to-oscar-trailer-parade-17-currently-available/


"STEVE JOBS" FULL TRAILER

The full trailer for Danny Boyle's "Steve Jobs" dropped yesterday to a good deal of fanfare in the media.  The film stars Michael Fassbender as Jobs along with Seth Rogen, Kate Winslet and Jeff Daniels.  We had already seen a teaser for the film but this is a full two and a half minute trailer.

"Steve Jobs" trailer via YouTube

Additionally, I have linked a bunch of the coverage that accompanied the trailer's release yesterday:


http://variety.com/2015/film/news/michael-fassbender-steve-jobs-1201532460/

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/07/oscarwatch-michael-fassbender-and-kate-winslet-in-danny-boyles-steve-jobs/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-fassbender-steve-jobs-trailer-806209

http://www.hitfix.com/awards-campaign/new-steve-jobs-trailer-apple-co-founder-was-more-of-a-jerk-than-you-thought

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/must-watch-full-length-trailer-for-danny-boyles-steve-jobs-movie/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-steve-jobs-trailer-stars-michael-fassbender-as-apples-enigmatic-genius-20150701

http://www.indiewire.com/watch-michael-fassbender-and-danny-boyle-resurrect-steve-jobs-in-pulsating-trailer

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/steve-jobs-trailer-show-of-hands-whos-seeing-this-one/


Does "Steve Jobs" play Telluride?  That's a maybe.  It likely depends on how much sway Danny Boyle has and if he wishes to return.  I'd expect that Boyle would prefer to come back to Telluride as he has had so much success with "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008 and "127 Hours" in 2010.



THE GUARDIAN UPS its GAME AND SPONSORS TOO

British publication The Guardian has a new reporter and anew emphasis on American film with their hiring of Nigel Smith.  The story from The Guardian yesterday also revealed that it would be involved in the Telluride Film Festival in a "premiere partnership" capacity.

In concrete terms, The Guardian will be sponsoring Telluride's Noon Sessions and the Labor Day picnic.  The complete story is here:

http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-us-press-office/2015/jun/30/nigel-m-smith-joins-the-guardian-as-entertainment-writer-increasing-film-coverage-in-the-us




REMINDERS:  The second edition of 2015's Telluride "Ten Bets" from MTFB is coming tomorrow. Also, don't forget, MTFB begins its annual July look at distributors, producers and "usual suspects" for clues as to what may play at TFF #42 ON MONDAY!

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


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"Secret in Their Eyes" Trailer and a Question/Almodovar Set to Produce Farhadi/Spying on "Snowden" with a Trailer

Hello everyone, it's Wednesday...



"SECRET IN THEIR EYES" TRAILER AND A QUESTION

"Secret in Their Eyes" trailer via YouTube

We saw the release of a trailer yesterday for "Secret in Their Eyes" starring Julia Roberts, Chiwetel Ejifor and Nicole Kidman.  The film is directed and scripted by Billy Ray ("Shattered Glass"/Telluride 2003).  Ray was Oscar nominated in 2014 for his screenplay for "Captain Phillips".

 The film is based on the 2009 Best Foreign Language Oscar winner from Argentina.

Ray's participation and his past presence at Telluride make the film worth a thought or two concerning its possible inclusion in the T-ride 2015 lineup and also raises a question about the new wave of films being developed and planned for distribution by unusual sources.  "Eyes" is from Showtime and will be distributed by STX Entertainment.  It joins films such as Cart Fukunaga's "Beasts with No Nation" (Netflix) and Liza Johnson's "Elvis and Nixon" (Amazon w/ distribution through Bleecker Street Media-which also has Jay Roach's "Trumbo") that are difficult to evaluate in terms of possible festival status.

Just a couple of years ago the above films would have been stylistically and topically films that I would have thought were strong contenders to play at Telluride but their provenance creates uncertainty.  I'll be very interested to see what happens with these and other films in the same boat with regard to festival and release strategies as we move through the fall.

Nevertheless, I have linked a number of stories that accompanied the trailer release of "Secret in Their Eyes":



http://variety.com/2015/film/news/secret-in-their-eyes-trailer-1201531472/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-secret-in-their-eyes-trailer-pictures-starring-chiwetel-ejiofor-julia-roberts-nicole-kidman/

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/ejiofor-roberts-kidman-in-billy-rays-secret-in-their-eyes-trailer/



"Eyes" is scheduled for its theatrical release on October 23rd, whatever that might mean.



ALMODOVAR SET TO PRODUCE...FARHADI.

Pedro Almodovar used to be a frequent filmic invitee to the Telluride Film Festival but hasn't had a film selected to play there since 2006's "Volver"  He was represented last year as a producer of one of the festival's biggest hits, Damian Szifron's "Wild Tales".

Recently we learned that Almodovar was going to work on his next film "Silencio" but more newsworthy in terms of T-ride and recent Telluride history was the word yesterday that Almodovar will produce a new film from recent T-ride favorite and Foreign Language Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi ("A Separation"/Telluride 2011 and "The Past"/Telluride 2013).

The film is not expected to begin filming until late 2016.

I have included stories about the new collaboration and Almodover's latest film:



http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/pedro-almodovar-to-produce-spanish-language-film-from-a-separation-director-asghar-farhadi-20150629

http://www.indiewire.com/article/pedro-almodovars-silencio-picked-up-by-sony-pictures-classics-20150609




SPYING ON "SNOWDEN" WITH A TRAILER


Oliver Stone and a Christmas Day release mean that "Snowden" is really not an incredibly likely choice for a Telluride spot doesn't mean that it's impossible.  "Snowden" stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the NSA contractor that spilled U.S. intelligence gathering secrets and is currently in hiding in Russia.

We got a trailer yesterday which you can see here:

"Snowden" trailer via YouTube

The film is being distributed by Open Road ("Rosewater"/TFF 2014) which does offer a glimmer of hope that it could make a festival play.  Linked below are a number of stories that came with the trailer release:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/06/trailer-snowden/

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-oliver-stone-warns-america-in-menacing-snowden-teaser-20150630

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-dramatic-trailer-for-oliver-stones-snowden-is-cloaked-in-mystery-20150630

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/watch-snowden-teaser-trailer-oliver-stone-edward-snowden/

http://www.thewrap.com/joseph-gordon-levitt-is-m-i-a-in-first-trailer-for-edward-snowden-biopic-video/

http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/teaser-trailer-for-oliver-stones-snowden-is-missing-the-footage/

QUICK NOTICE:

I'll start the annual summer review of distributors, production companies and "usual suspects" as various prisms through which to view potential Telluride choices next Monday.

That's all for Wednesday...more tomorrow...


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We'll " See the Light" in November/Kurzel Talks the "Scottish" Film/Malick Moves to 2016

Good Morning World...Welcome to Tuesday...


WE'LL "SEE THE LIGHT" IN NOVEMBER

Sony Pictures Classics has announced that its Hank Williams biopic starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen will be released on Nov. 27th smack in the middle of awards season.  The conventional wisdom is that SPC will push for Hiddleston for Best Actor at a minimum.  The film could also make a play in a number of other categories.

"I Saw the Light" was at #5 on last week's first "Ten Bets" list.  The selection of a late November release date doesn't harm its Telluride chances in the least and actually stokes the T-rode flames just a little bit.

Here's coverage of the SPC announcement:

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/i-saw-the-light-release-date-tom-hiddleston-1201530904/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/sony-pictures-classics-adds-hank-williams-biopic-i-saw-the-light-starring-tom-hiddleston-to-awards-slate-20150629

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/sony-slates-i-saw-the-light-for-awards-slot-tom-hiddleston-looking-for-first-nom/


"I Saw the Light" was directed by Marc Abraham ("Flash of Genius" TFF 2008).  Here's the film's IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3789828/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1


KURZEL TALKS THE "SCOTTISH" FILM

"Macbeth" teaser via YouTube

Writer/director Justin Kurzel spoke recently to the British version of Yahoo Television about his upcoming "Macbeth" starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.  The film is being distributed by The Weinstein Company and played the Cannes Film Festival.  It is not yet scheduled for a U.S. release but is set for an October 2nd  release in the U.K.

"Macbeth" was listed on last week's "Ten Best" as being "on the outside" but close.

Here's the interview:

https://uk.tv.yahoo.com/foul-fair-macbeth-director-194415755.html



MALICK MOVES TO 2016

"Knight of Cup's" trailer via YouTube

Speaking of release dates and their effect on their Telluride potential...

The already tenuous possibility that we could see Terrence Malick's latest "Knight of Cups" took a hit with the announcement over the weekend that the film will not be released until 2016.

The Playlist and Thompson on Hollywood provide the details:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/terrence-malicks-knight-of-cups-wont-arrive-until-2016-austin-music-scene-drama-not-titled-weightless-20150627


http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/meet-the-hammonds-indie-films-new-kids-on-the-block-20150619

That'll do for a Tuesday...check back tomorrow...


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New Trailer for the "Queen"/"Mountains May Depart" Interview/"45 Years" Wins at Edinburgh

Good day on a Monday...hope you had a great weekend...


NEW TRAILER FOR THE "QUEEN"

I had Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" listed as one of the first "Ten Bets" for Telluride last Friday...but I still have some questions about how absolute its position.  Dicey reviews from the Berlin Film Fest and U.S. distribution from the "Atlas Shrugged" distrib the Atlas Distribution Co. made me put it at #10...

Nevertheless, a new trailer without subtitles dropped over the weekend.  Here it is:

"Queen of the Desert" trailer via YouTube

And a story from The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-international-trailer-for-werner-herzogs-queen-of-the-desert-with-nicole-kidman-robert-pattinson-and-more-20150613



"MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART" DIRECTOR JIA ZHANGKE INTERVIEW

Mubi's Amir Ganjavie talks to the director of the Cannes competition film that was widely regarded critically as one of the three of four best films at the competition.  "Mountains May Depart" is on the Telluride radar as a result of its reception at Cannes. Kino Lorber has the U.S. distribution for the film.  Kino was represented last year at Telluride with "The Decent One".

Here's the link to the interview:

https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/the-status-of-love-in-the-age-of-consumerism-an-interview-with-jia-zhangke/



"45 YEARS" WINS AT EDINBURGH

Andrew Haigh's "45 Years" which scored acting wins at Berlin for Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling continued to gain honors this time at the Edinburgh Film Festival.  Rampling won Best Actress again and the film was named Best British Film.  Here's coverage from Variety and Thompson on Hollywood:


http://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/andrew-haighs-45-years-wins-british-film-award-at-edinburgh-1201529078/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/45-years-leads-edinburgh-film-fest-winners-20150626

"45 Years" was on my first "Ten Bets" last week at #7.


That's all for a Monday...check back tomorrow...


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Future Telluride: "Wilson" Begins Filming/Coppola and Insdorf Talk Film/2015's First "Ten Bets"

Welcome to Friday...


FUTURE TELLURIDE: "WILSON" BEGINS FILMING

Once director now producer of "Wilson", Alexander Payne

Principal photography has begun on "Wilson" a film that, at one point was to be directed by Alexander Payne but is now under the direction of Craig Johnson ("The Skeleton Twins").  Payne is still listed as a producer which makes me think that it is still a film that we probably should have on our T-ride 2016 watch lists.


"Wilson" will star Woody Harrelson, Judy Greer and Laura Dern.

I have linked reporting from Thompson on Hollywood and The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/wilson-starring-harrelson-and-dern-starts-filming-for-fox-searchlight-20150625

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/production-begins-on-adaptation-of-dan-clowes-wilson-starring-woody-harrelson-full-cast-revealed-20150625



COPPOLA AND INSDORF TALK FILM

It seems like it should have, has happened at Telluride.  Long time Telluride interviewer Annette Insdorf sat down with legend Francis Ford Coppola for 92Y's Reel Pieces series.  The 30 minute interview and brief story can be found here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-francis-ford-coppola-on-the-future-of-cinema-marlon-brando-and-regrets-20150625



2015'S FIRST "TEN BETS"

It's the last Friday in June and that means it's ponce again time for me to put my figurative money where my mouth is and take a stab at naming ten films that I think have a real shot at making the Telluride lineup for this year.

If the past is any guide, anywhere from five to seven of the following films will actually end up being a part of the TFF #42 lineup.

I'll continue through the rest of the summer posting revised "Ten Bets" lists each Friday right up to the final "Ten Bets" a day or two before the official lineup is announced.

So...here goes nothin':

#10) "Queen of the Desert" Despite it's sub par critical reception at Cannes I expect Werner Herzog's film to make The SHOW.

#9) "Suffragette"  Makes the list, barely, on the thinnest of clues...it's "European" premiere designation for the London Film Fest.

#8) "Truth" The Dan Rather story starring Robert Redford from SPC

#7) "45 Years"  Double acting wins at Berlin and from the Sundance Selects/IFC Films stable.

#6) "13 Minutes" Also a Berlin standout from SPC

#5) "I Saw the Light"  Other than it's from SPC, I have no other really great reason that I think it'll play T-ride...but I have a feeling...

#4) "Youth" Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel earned high praise at Cannes and it may be Fox Searchlight's strongest shot at awards season.

#3) "Carol" from Todd Haynes, who I'm predicting returns to Telluride with this awards season shot from The Weinstein Company.

#2) "Son of Saul"  SPC's Cannes sensation.

#1) "Dheepan"  I really do anticipate that Jacques Audiard returns to Telluride with this year's Palme d"Or winner.

On the outside...but close: "Macbeth", "Our Little Sister", "He Named Me Malala", "Demolition", Freeheld", and something from Warners: "Our Brand is Crisis", "Black Mass" or "In the Heart of the Sea"


That's your first "Ten Bets" and that's all for this week...more on Monday...

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First "Ten Bets" Happens Tomorrow/Oscar Stays the Same/Trailer Park: "Macbeth" and "Valley of Love"

Welcome to Thursday...

REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST "TEN BETS" LIST FOR TELLURIDE 2015 IS COMING TOMORROW!

Now onto to day's post:

OSCAR STAYS THE SAME

The Board of Governor's of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that they had decided to stay with the recent, three year old practice of having anywhere between five and ten nominees for Best Picture.  In the three year experiment, AMPAS has nominated nine, nine and then last year, eight films for Best Picture.


I have included details from stories from Variety, Awards Daily and Gold Derby.  They also cover a couple of minor tweaks that The Academy changed in a few other categories.


http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2015/06/rules-for-88th-oscars-no-changes-to-best-picture/

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/oscar-tweaks-best-picture-visual-effects-rules-1201527228/

http://www.goldderby.com/news/9620/oscars-best-picture-academy-awards-news-entertainment-13579086-story.html


TRAILER PARK: "Macbeth" and "Valley of Love"

A new international trailer for a film that I have written about quite a bit and another that I really haven't mentioned are included here.

Justin Kurzel's Macbeth starring Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender has the new international trailer.  The film is being domestically distributed by The Weinstein Company and has had a good deal of buzz in terms of awards consideration especially for Cotillard's performance as Lady Macbeth.   Here's the new trailer:

"Macbeth" International Trailer via YouTube

Check the accompanying story from flickeringmyth.com:

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/06/international-trailer-for-macbeth-starring-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard.html


Additionally, another Cannes competition film (as "Macbeth" was) that has just dropped a french language trailer with English subtitles.  "Valley of Love" stars Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert and is directed by Guillaume Nicloux.

The film centers on the story of a estranged couple brought back together by the suicide of their son.

  It currently is without U.S. distribution but certainly Depardieu and Huppert are no strangers to being in films that play at Telluride.

Here is the trailer for "Valley of Love":

"Valley of Love" Trailer via YouTube

And the accompanying story from The Playlist:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/cannes-first-trailer-for-competition-film-valley-of-love-with-isabelle-huppert-and-gerard-depardieu-20150511

And "Valley of Love's " IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4120210/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1



Come back for more tomorrow...

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The Other Universals: "Everest", "Steve Jobs" and "By the Sea"/"A Perfect Day" Perfect for Telluride?

Good Wednesday to All...


THE OTHER UNIVERSALS

I mentioned in yesterday's post the outside possibility of Universal's Guillermo Del Toro's"Crimson Peak" making  an appearance at The SHOW.  Which led to me to think very seriously the past 24 hours about other Universal films that might have the T-ride chops if Universal makes an attempt to get them in

Honestly, the most likely Universal film to break their now-bordering-on seven-year Universal drought is Danny Boyle's "Steve Jobs" biopic starring Michael Fassbender as the Apple co-founder.

"Steve Jobs" First Look via YouTube

Other Universal properties that have some T-ride feel are the Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt film "By the Sea" which could get a hand from The Universal Clooney Theory (addressed in a later blog post this summer) and "Everest".

"Everest" is directed by Baltasar Kormakur who previously made the trip to Telluride in 2007 with his "Jar City".  "Everest" is the true story of the disaster that occurred on the world's tallest mountain in 1996.  Jon Krakauer wrote about it in his outstanding "Into Thin Air" which was made into a a television film in 1997.

"Everest" trailer via YouTube

"Everest" does not claim to be based on the Krakauer book but is based on the same incident.  Recently a trailer for the film was released which is included here as a part of a story from The Playlist:


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-jake-gyllenhaal-josh-brolin-keira-knightley-more-take-on-everest-in-first-trailer-for-mountain-climbing-thriller-20150604


"A PERFECT DAY" PERFECT FOR TELLURIDE?

"A Perfect Day" Trailer via YouTube

It's a film that sounds like a Telluride choice.  International cast, played at Cannes, distributed by IFC Films and it's described as a drama by IMDb and a comedy by The Playlist.  Benicio Del Toro stars in a film about NGO aid workers in a war zone trying to provide clean water.

Stories accompanying the release of the trailer for the film can be found at Variety or The Playlist:

http://variety.com/2015/film/global/first-look-trailer-for-a-perfect-day-starring-benicio-del-toro-tim-robbins-exclusive-1201517142/

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-new-trailer-for-a-perfect-day-starring-benicio-del-toro-tim-robbins-olga-kurylenko-and-melanie-thierry-20150611



That's all for now.  More to come on Thursday...

DON'T FORGET...THE FIRST "TEN BETS" LIST FOR TFF #42 IS COMING ON FRIDAY!!!


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RIP James Horner/"Our Brand" Could Be Our Brand/Not Really Thinking This Could Happen...But.../First "Ten Bets" Coming Friday

Welcome to Tuesday...


RIP JAMES HORNER

Bad news yesterday as we learned that Oscar winning composer James Horner ("Titanic", "Apollo 13") was killed in an airplane crash in California.  Horner's latest score is for the Jake Gyllenhaal film "Southpaw".  Horner won two Oscars for score and song for "Titanic" in 1998.  He was also nominated for an additional eight Oscars.  His talent will be sorely missed.


Horner's IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000035/?ref_=nv_sr_1#composer



OUR BRAND MIGHT BE "OUR BRAND"

Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere reported yesterday that David Gordon Green's "Our Brand is Crisis" is in screen testing mode in L.A.  Wells concludes that this means that an awards season release date is likely.  He says October/November.

My feeling for a number of months is that its distributor, Warner Brothers, is likely to at least make the attempt to screen one or two of four films at Telluride.  In addition to "Our Brand" (which I think might be a realistic choice), WB has Ron Howard's  "In the Heart of the Sea", Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special" and Scott Cooper's "Black Mass".

Also, playing into my "Our Brand" could be a T-ride pick, is the fact that it's produced by Grant Heslov and George Clooney (check out my "Unified Clooney Theory" post later this summer).

Here's the link to the Wells' post from yesterday:

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/06/simmer-softly-hurry/


NOT REALLY THINKING THIS COULD HAPPEN...BUT...

They've been called the Three Amigos...Mexican film makers and friends Alejandro Inarritu, Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo Del Toro.  Innaritu has become a veritable fixture at Telluride and Cuaron made the journey (and very successfully) in 2013 with the multiple Oscar winning "Gravity" but their amigo Del Toro hasn't made the trip to the San Juans.

We know that Cuaron won't this year as he is presiding over the Venice jury.  Inarritu may or more likely may not be ready to screen his latest "The Revenant" but Del Toro's Gothic horror "Crimson Peak" should be ready as it has an October 16 release date.

Could this be the year that the third amigo makes a trek to Telluride?  Admittedly the chances are small.  Universal is distributing and to the best of my research ability, they haven't had a film at Telluride since 2008's "Flash of Genius".

But... don't completely rule it out as I imagine Alejandro and Alfonso have both talked up the T-ride experience.

Add to this blurb the release of character posters over the weekend for the film covered here by The Playlist:


Also "Crimson Peak's" IMDb page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2554274/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


And ultimately add that I want Jessica Chastain in Telluride...


DON'T FORGET, 2015'S FIRST "TEN BETS" FOR TFF #42 IS COMING ON FRIDAY!!!


More on Wednesday...



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Trailers: "He Named Me Malala and "45 Years"/InContention in Limbo

Welcome back from the weekend folks!


TRAILERS: "HE NAMED ME MALALA" AND "45 YEARS"

These are two films that I have a pretty good vibe for showing up at the SHOW for differing reasons.  "Malala" is a much hyped documentary from Fox Searchlight".  "45 Years" was well reviewed and award winning at Berlin with U.S. distribution by Sundance Selects.  Both could show up Friday on the season's first MTFB Ten Bets List.  Check to see on Friday.

Anywho...since Friday, both films have released trailers.  "Malala's" can be viewed here:

"He Named Me Malala" trailer via YouTube

Additionally, you can look at a number of stories that accompanied the trailer release here:



https://www.facebook.com/MalalaFund/videos/1098538976826620/

http://time.com/3927769/malala-documentary-education-activist/

http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2015/06/18/he-named-me-malala-yousafzai/

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-malala-yousafzai-triggers-change-in-trailer-for-davis-guggenheim-doc-he-named-me-malala-20150619


Meanwhile, you can catch the "45 Years" trailer here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/the-trailer-for-45-years-starring-charlotte-rampling-will-break-you-20150619

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-moving-first-trailer-for-andrew-haighs-acclaimed-45-years-starring-charlotte-rampling-and-tom-courtenay-20150619


INCONTENTION IN LIMBO

It popped over the weekend...the four year mix of HitFix being the home for Kristopher Tapley's InContention Oscar awards coverage will come to an end.  The two joined in 2011, but have come to a parting of ways.

It matters to me because Kris has been a generous soul to me over the last few years that I've been plunking along at this blog.  Always kind. Always quick to introduce me to real players in the biz that he knows.  A class act all the time.  So, naturally the shift caught my eye.

This story is the announcement from Tapley:

http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/in-contention-signing-off-at-hitfix

Also coverage from Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood and Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/in-contention-is-on-the-move-20150619

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/06/tapley-left-hitfix/


More on Tuesday...

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Telluride's Annual Party/"Sicario" Trailer/Looks at "Carol", "Youth", "Macbeth", "The Lobster"

It's Friday!

TELLURIDE'S ANNUAL PARTY

Each summer, the Telluride Film Festival hosts a swank party at The London Hotel in Los Angeles and celebrates the festival with friends.  The 2015 version of that happened Wednesday evening.  I've tried to use it to read the tea leaves with limited success the last couple of years.  Fortunately, I can rely on Pete Hammond's/Deadline.com report of the story to provide a little bit of film choice speculation for TFF #42.

Hammond mentions that a number of the "usual suspects" were at the wing ding: Werner Herzog, bigwigs from Sony Pictures Classics, Fox Searchlight and Roadside Attractions.

Hammond specifically mentions SPC projects "Son of Saul" and "Truth", The Weinstein Company's "Carol" (see below), Fox Searchlight's :"Youth" (also see below).

The presence of the folks from Roadside Attractions is interesting.  RA has a couple of films that could well be in the mix come Telluride time: "The Sea of Trees" and "A Hologram for the King", for example.  They could also dip into the films that their partners Lionsgate ("Freeheld" and "Sicario"...see below) have available.

Read Hammond's entire report here:


http://deadline.com/2015/06/telluride-film-festival-hits-hollywood-but-which-oscar-bait-movies-will-they-take-back-to-colorado-1201448864/



'SICARIO" TRAILER

Speaking of Denis Villeneuve's "Sicario", which I did above as well as in yesterday's post, we have a trailer!

"Sicario" trailer via YouTube

I've linked a few stories that dropped the trailer as well:

http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-sicario-trailer-emily-blunt-crosses-the-border-in-violent-first-look-20150618

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/sicario-trailer-emily-blunt-josh-brolin-1201523189/

http://thedissolve.com/news/6007-emily-blunt-gets-caught-in-the-crossfire-in-the-si/



LOOKS AT "CAROL", "YOUTH", "MAC BETH" AND "THE LOBSTER"

Anne Thompson/Thompson on Hollywood shared a compilation of footage put together by the European production house (and in on all four of these films) Film4.  The compilation is about 10 minutes from the four films.  You can look at it on Anne's post here:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/watch-blanchett-mara-embrace-in-new-carol-footage-plus-scenes-from-macbeth-the-lobster-youth-20150618

Of the four, all could play T-ride.  I'd list them in order of likelihood as 1) "Youth", 2) "Carol", 3) "Macbeth" and 4) "The Lobster"


Speaking of lists, the first Ten Bets for 2015 is a week away.  Look for it in next Friday's post.

And with that...have a great weekend everyone...

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Animation in France/Future Telluride: Villeneuve's Next Project/There is Another

Welcome to Thursday...

ANIMATION IN FRANCE

The annual Annecy Animation Film Festival is on the run in Annecy, France as I write.  The fest runs through June 20th.  As most of you know, Annecy films have often made a splash at Telluride so having a look at what's going on there can sometimes give insight into some of the shorts and occasional feature animated films that make up a portion of the Telluride program.

Both "Paperman" and "Get a Horse" made an appearance at Annecy before showing up at the SHOW.

Variety is keeping track of the goings on in France and you can take a look at their reporting here:

http://link.variety.com/public/4578832


Annecy's official website is here:

http://www.annecy.org/home

FUTURE TELLURIDE: VILLENEUVE'S NEXT PROJECT

Denis Villeneuve, who has made a couple of stops at Telluride over the years ("Incendies" in 2010 and "Prisoners" in 2013) and who could be back again this year ("Sicario") has a number of irons in the proverbial fire.  Villeneuve is famously on board to direct the long gestating sequel to Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" but before that happens, he will finish work on "Story of Your Life".

"Story" is scheduled to be release in 2016 and is set to be distributed through Paramount and FilmNation Entertainment.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed yesterday that character actor Michael Stuhlbarg has been added to the cast of the film that already has Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner in key roles.

Whether we see the film in 2016 at Telluride may depend on how Villeneuve and Lionsgate play the roll out of his upcoming "Sicario" which played at Cannes and is set for U.S. release on Sept. 18. The disposition of the "Sicario" vis-a-vis Toronto (Villeneuve is Canadian) could give us some clues.

Here's the THR story on the Stuhlbarg casting:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-stuhlbarg-star-opposite-amy-803112



THERE IS ANOTHER

I've spent a lot of time and energy over the last year and a half on the chances that Werner Herzog's "Queen of the Desert" might or might not make a play at Telluride.  Despite middling reviews from its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, I still feel like it's a reasonably good shot at playing The SHOW.

It seems, however, that Werner may also have another poker in the fire.  Following on yesterday's "Venice" speculation piece, which casually suggested that Herzog's "Salt and Fire" might be ready for that fest which would also mean that it'd be ready for T-ride.

"Salt and fire" is listed by IMDb as being in post-production.  The film's cast is reported to include Michael Shannon and Telluride favorite Gael Garcia Bernal.

IMDb calls it a thriller and lists the ambiguous "2015" as a release date.

So, maybe Herzog brings one or both films to the San Jauns over Labor Day.

"Salt and Fire's" IMDb page is here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4441150/companycredits?ref_=tt_ql_7



More on Friday...

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