Edward Berger's ‘Conclave' to Premiere at Telluride

Last November, Focus Features announced that they’d acquired U.S. distribution rights to Edward Berger’s “Conclave”. The film has been dated for a November 1, 2024, theatrical launch. That’s during the thick of awards season.

Now, I’m hearing that “Conclave” is going to premiere at the Telluride Film Festival during the first week of September. No word yet on whether it’s a world premiere given that Venice could still be an option. It should be noted that both Venice and Telluride passed on Berger’s 2022 Oscar nominee “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

“Conclave,” which wrapped production in March 2023, stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Berger directs from a script written by Peter Straughan as an adaptation of Robert Harris’ bestselling novel of the same name.

The film will tackle the papal conclave that elects Popes for the Catholic Church and is being dubbed a “thriller”. Here’s the official synopsis:

“Conclave” follows the secretive process of promoting a new Pope, led by Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) in the Vatican. However, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy as the other cardinals forge factions and rivalries to serve their own ambitions. As ambitions, divisions, and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes that the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope is chosen.”

Berger’s WWI epic “All Quiet on the Western Front” was well-liked by the Academy, it garnered nine Oscar nominations and won four statuettes, including Best International Film. It also became a big hit on Netflix, audiences loved the film.

In June, the filmmaker started production on his next film, “The Ballad of a Small Player,” starring Colin Farrell, for Netflix. He is also the latest rumored filmmaker to helm the next James Bond instalment.