Even the greats get turned down by festivals sometimes—case in point right here.
During a “Hard Eight” 30th anniversary discussion, Paul Thomas Anderson confirmed what I’ve always shrugged off as heresy: the New York Film Festival rejected “There Will Be Blood,” which would have actually been the world premiere of the film. Shocking, I know.
He mentions that after he finished the film in September 2007, he was excited to show “There Will Be Blood” to the festival, but they “rejected the film.” He theorizes that it might have been one person who prevented the rest of the committee from accepting it. He described the rejection as “devastating.”
I couldn’t wait to show it to somebody, and they (NYFF) came back and rejected the film. I called "How'd you like the film", and this guy goes "Is this finished? Is this it?"...I was so confused and heartbroken
Following the New York Film Festival snub, PTA and his team chose to show the film at Fantastic Fest in Austin, which he described as a “great time” and a “warm” and “welcoming” environment that was ultimately more exciting for the film’s debut than a potential screening in New York.
Who in their right mind would reject “There Will Be Blood”? It boggles the mind. Was New York turned off by Paul Dano’s performance?
The 2007 film, a vital contender for the great American epic of the 21st century, is arguably PTA’s greatest achievement—a film that demands and rewards multiple viewings.
What makes “There Will Be Blood” so monumental is its sheer ambition and execution. It’s an operatic tale of greed, power, and isolation that confronts the origins of capitalism. Daniel Day-Lewis’s towering performance as Daniel Plainview is a force of nature, while Robert Elswit’s stark imagery and Jonny Greenwood’s unsettling score elevate the film into something primal and unforgettable.
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