We’re officially four weeks out from the Telluride Film Festival lineup announcement — and you know what that means. The day after the titles are unveiled, the screenings begin. A Telluride tradition. The secrecy, the buzz, the overnight descent on the Rockies. It’s the kind of ritualistic cinephilia that defines “The Show,” now entering its 51st edition.
Per usual, Telluride co-director Julie Huntsinger has pulled together a high-wire act of world premieres, carefully curated North American debuts, and a few strategic Venice holdovers. The one that’s already raising buzz? Scott Cooper’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” a moody, brooding portrayal of Bruce Springsteen during his Nebraska period, with Jeremy Allen White stepping into The Boss’s boots. Gloomy Americana, partly shot in black-and-white, apparently.
Also expected to world premiere in the mountains: Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” a long-gestating Shakespeare-adjacent adaptation that’s skipping Venice; Edward Berger’s “Ballad of a Small Player,” starring Colin Farrell and shot in Macau; and Daniel Roher’s “Tuner,” a crime thriller centered around a piano tuner, starring Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman.
On the North American side, Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly” will be stopping in after premiering at Venice just a few days prior. As always, a few titles pull double duty between Lido and the Rockies, but Baumbach is one of the few confirmed to make that trek.
We’re also convinced the usual suspects from Cannes are in the mix. Expect to see Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident,” Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” Oliver Hermanus’ “The History of Sound,” and a few other Palais holdovers making their domestic debuts in the Rockies.
Of course, not every high-profile Venice title is headed to Colorado this year. Among the not coming list: Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite,” which I’m told wasn’t even submitted by Netflix for Telluride consideration.
The other absentees include Benny Safdie’s “The Smashing Machine,” Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” and Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother.” All skipping Telluride, for various reasons — some strategic, some still unclear.
As for Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia,” it’s been officially slotted into Venice competition, but beyond that? Radio silence. There’s still a real possibility of a Telluride-Venice double dip — Focus Features is involved, after all.
And, in case you’re wondering: Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme” will not be playing any of the big three — no Venice, no Telluride, no TIFF. Word is the New York Film Festival could be the next best shot for that one, if it’s ready in time, or even opts to go there.
That’s what I’ve heard so far. More to come as we inch closer to the lineup drop. Stay tuned.
As expected, Snyder's latest is being torn apart by TIFF attendees. No mercy given. The film, which had its world premiere this evening, is being called by some one of the worst movies to ever premiere at the festival.