Yes, film festival season has officially kicked off, which essentially means Oscar season has commenced, too. The Venice Film Festival is already in full swing, and today, the Telluride Film Festival’s full line-up was announced, and the festival starts in earnest tomorrow. As you may know by now, Telluride is a little eccentric and offbeat. They have many world premieres, but they never call them that—perhaps to avoid offending the other festivals that they end up scooping by a day or two, or in the case of TIFF, weeks.

Continue reading Telluride 2024 Film Festival Preview: 11 Movies To See at The Playlist.

Not only a beautiful destination, the Telluride Film Festival is a cinephile’s paradise; a secluded city in the Colorado mountains that’s hard to get to and then rather exclusive, which is probably partly the draw and the reason so many filmmakers and actors adore Telluride. But it’s also a cinephile’s haven in terms of community, there’s a knowing togetherness, lack of hierarchy and you can easily be in line for a film with a random science teacher from Albuquerque who is also a massive film nerd as you could be next to legendary director Werner Herzog.

Continue reading Telluride Film Festival 2023: The 12 Most Anticipated Movies To Watch at The Playlist.

Think of the most iconic rock album covers of all time from the 1970s: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You Were Here, Led Zeppelin’s Houses Of The Holy and Presence, T. Rex’s Electric Warrior, Paul McCartney & Wings’ Band On The Run, AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, all of Peter Gabriel’s early albums, etc.

Continue reading ‘Squaring The Circle’ Review: Anton Corbijn Tells The Story Of Hipgnosis, Rock Album Cover Design Legends [Telluride] at The Playlist.

Matthew Heineman’s latest documentary, “Retrograde,” opens with a pan from left to right across the mountain ranges of Afghanistan. Audio clips overlay soundbites from four generations of Presidents discussing the American invasion of the Middle East, from the purposeful threat-neutralizing of the Dubya years to Obama-era fatigue to the wavering defeatism of Trump to Biden’s resolution for withdrawal. As the situation goes quagmire and the hope in their cascading voiceover fades away, the frame changes along with it, sliding on a gradient from crisply defined peaks backlit by sunrise into the murky limited visibility and ominous unknowability of night.

Continue reading ‘Retrograde’ Review: Matthew Heineman’s Afghan War Doc Takes A Blinkered, Sanitized View Of America’s Role [Telluride] at The Playlist.

Labor Day weekend is considered the final goodbye to summer. Depending on your interests and location across the US, you may find yourself at events such as the Electric Zoo music festival in New York, at the Minnesota State Fair, or at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado– Telluride marking that the fall film festival season is in full swing.

READ MORE: Telluride 2022: Festival Line-Up Includes ‘Empire Of Light,’ ‘Women Talking’ & More

The intimate festival is unique in comparison to other festivals of its nature because the full film line-up isn’t announced until after the festival has begun.

Continue reading Telluride 2022 Preview: 12 Must-See Films To Watch at The Playlist.

Actor/director Matt Dillon started going to Cuba in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He and his fellow vinyl-hungry friends would stay up late drinking and hunt for hidden gem albums, at times driving over two hours away to rifle through a particular record store stash that magnetized them. They liked all kinds of music, but their sonic archaeological pursuits were most focused on the sound of the culture: the synthesis of Latin, jazz, folk, and all other influences that defined the Afro-Cuban genre.

Continue reading Matt Dillon Talks Directing His Doc ‘El Gran Fellove, Francis Ford Coppola Mentorship & More [Telluride Interview] at The Playlist.

Alexandre Moratto’s “7 Prisoners” opens on a happy family dinner in rural Brazil. Mateus (Christian Malheiros) is leaving home for a work opportunity in São Paulo. He’s excited and hopeful for a future where he can send money back to his mom and live comfortably. The next morning, he jumps into a van with other young men. They each have their own hopes and dreams of what this new opportunity will bring them.

Continue reading ‘7 Prisoners’: Tense Brazilian Human Trafficking Drama Asks How Far You Will Go To Survive [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

Directors mining their lives for a story is nothing new, but it’s always exciting to see that premise connect with viewers beyond its maker. Such were the audience reactions to Kenneth Branagh’s stirring revisit to the Belfast of his childhood: there were sobs, gasps, and so much laughter. Opening with a colorful travel ad-like introduction to today’s Belfast (Public art! Glorious old buildings!) Branagh moves into a black and white version of Belfast in 1969, when the life of a young 9-year-old boy named Buddy (Jude Hill) is disrupted by the Protestant violence targeting his Catholic neighbors.

Continue reading Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ Is A Stirring Coming-of-Age Portrait With Magnificent Performances [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

Having already excavated his personal experiences to tell intimate, insightful, and emotionally translucent stories about fathers and sons (“Beginners”), matriarchs raising boys (“20th Century Women”), and the way we’re all amateurs fumbling through life, sensitively attuned writer/director Mike Mills turns his tender filmmaking gaze towards children and the adult/child relationship in his latest film, the sublime “Cmon Cmon.” It’s yet another perceptive, impeccably crafted winner in an informal trilogy about family, what makes us human, and how people struggle every day to do their best amidst the many challenges and pains of life.

Continue reading ‘C’mon C’mon’: Joaquin Phoenix Shines & Empathy Flows In Mike Mills’ Sublime, Micro-Traumatic Family Drama [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

You could say that writer/director/actor Kenneth Branagh has a facility easing between high and low art. That is to say, he’s known to make delightful capers and mysteries for more mainstream audiences like “Thor,” “Murder On The Orient Express,” “Artemis Fowl,” and “Death On The Nile,” but he’s also obviously known for his stage work, his expertise with Shakespeare and more personal indies like Focus Features’ upcoming drama “Belfast” which has its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival tonight.

Continue reading ‘Belfast’ Trailer: Kenneth Branagh’s Coming Of Age Tale Features Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan & More at The Playlist.

Following her brilliant and tender breakout feature “The Rider,” Chloé Zhao’s next move has been hotly anticipated – making moves at Marvel Studios as well as working on her followup film, “Nomadland,” starring Frances McDormand. Thankfully, the wait to see it won’t be long, as today it was unveiled that Zhao’s third film has been set to world premiere on September 11 on the Lido, with a simultaneous screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, both of which will feature virtual introductions by producer, writer, editor, and director Zhao, and producer and actor McDormand.

Continue reading Chloé Zhao’s Next Film ‘Nomadland’ To Premiere Simultaneously At TIFF And Venice & Play NYFF As Centerpiece Film at The Playlist.

With the Cannes Film Festival finally admitting that staging a traditional 2020 edition of the festival was unlikely, the film world is slowly moving forward attempting to figure out “what’s next.” Many are raising doubts the traditional fall festivals can be held if large gatherings are still being discouraged by national and state governments. One festival that might find a way around that is Telluride.

READ MORE: Cannes 2020: New films from Edgar Wright, Wes Anderson and Paul Verhoeven were expected

Set in the picturesque town of Telluride, Colorado, the 47th edition of the Telluride Film Festival was originally set for Sept.

Continue reading Telluride Film Festival 2020 Gets Approval For Extra Day Of Screenings at The Playlist.

One of the finest actors of his generation, Edward Norton is also one of the best thespians we have, period. Known for his refined taste, and good choices, the three-time Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner is also recognized for his sharp filmmaking sensibilities, offering substantial, though usually uncredited, rewrites on several films he has starred in over the years, (“The Incredible Hulk,” “Frida”)— in one case, having his cut favored by the studio over the director’s for the final theatrical release (“American History X”).

Continue reading ‘Motherless Brooklyn’: Edward Norton Pulls The Thread On A Knotty ‘Chinatown’-Esque Detective Noir Mystery [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

A deep-dive exploration of maybe the most complex diplomatic issue in geopolitical history, “The Human Factor” never wants for nuance, detail, or exposition. This micro-analysis and patience is both a blessing and a curse, however, as the documentary’s blinders keep its focus honed to a razor-sharp edge while limiting it to just one component of a larger, interconnected web of international realpolitik. And while director Dror Moreh does a wonderful job contextualizing the various permutations of peace negotiations between Israel and its neighbors during the last decade of the 20th century, the limited scope of the story, as well as those telling it, hinder its reach.

Continue reading ‘The Human Factor’: Hard Truths & Tough Lessons Abound In Latest From ‘Gatekeepers’ Doc Filmmaker Dror Moreh [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

It’s that time of year. The final dog days of summer are here and that means the Telluride Film Festival is about to kick off. The 46th Telluride Film Festival announced its program this morning. While the Venice Film Festival happens simultaneously in Italy, Telluride takes place in the mountains of Colorado and despite some of the film line-up overlap, it’s a totally different festival.

READ MORE: 2019 Fall Preview: The 45 Most Anticipated Films

For better or worse, the Telluride Film Festival marches to the beat of its own quirky drum, sometimes very much in step with movie culture and sometimes not (and sometimes, probably just having to deal with whatever films are promised elsewhere and just live with it).

Continue reading 2019 Telluride Film Festival Preview: 9 Most Anticipated Movies at The Playlist.

The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival begins tomorrow, but the impact of last weekend’s Telluride Film Festival is still being felt for those playing the awards season game.  As noted numerous times over the years, there are many more voting Academy members that attend Telluride than Venice, Toronto or NYFF and it’s one of the few festivals in the world where someone screening their own movie can see other films (emphasis on more than one) while they are in town.  

Continue reading ‘Roma,’ ‘First Man,’ ‘Favourite’ & Nicole Kidman Find An Oscar Spark At Telluride at The Playlist.

It only took 42 years, but Orson Welles’ last directorial effort, “The Other Side of the Wind” is finally finished. Granted, the legendary filmmaker didn’t oversee the final edit (that responsibility was left to producers Frank Marshall and Filip Jan Rymsza and editor Bob Murawski), but it now exists. At its best it’s a stirring reminder of the director’s immense talents and following its premiere at the 2018 Venice Film Festival it will screen on Netflix, a larger potential viewing audience than Welles likely ever imagined.

Continue reading ‘The Other Side of The Wind’ Proves Orson Welles Still Had A Sublime Cinematic Eye [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

The Telluride Film Festival announced it’s official line up for 2018 and, if you’ve been paying attention or doing your due diligence there were few surprises.

The big narrative premieres are Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased,” Jason Reitman’s “The Front Runner,” David Lowery’s “The Old Man & The Gun,” Karyn Kusama’s “Destroyer,” Marielle Heller’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and Yann Demange’s “White Boy Rick.”  Ralph Fiennes also returns to the director’s chair with “The White Crow” while Ed Zwick’s “Trial By Fire” will make its only festival appearance in Colorado.

Continue reading ‘Front Runner,’ ‘The Favourite’ & ‘First Man’ Among Official 2018 Telluride Selections at The Playlist.

TELLURIDE – Joseph Cedar’s follow up to 2011’s critically acclaimed drama “Footnote” is one of those movies where you see where it’s going pretty much the entire time. Granted, putting “Tragic Fall” in your film’s title might be a dead give away that something bad is gonna happen. The hope is there are just enough subtle twists and charismatic performances to peak your interest for an entertaining ride.

Continue reading Richard Gere Is ‘Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer’ And That’s Not A Bad Thing [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

TELLURIDE – Don’t tell me. You’ve seen a headline or two similar to this story’s over the past few days? Well, everyone must be reading the same tea leaves at this altitude because it’s simply the truth. Before we get into the awards season reactions some quick thoughts on this edition of the festival itself.

The 2016 Telluride Film Festival started off with thunderstorms and rain showers. By Sunday night though there was cool breeze and an almost quiet tranquility in town.

Continue reading ‘La La Land,’ ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Sully’ And Amy Adams Are Telluride’s Oscar Breakouts at The Playlist.

It’s to the credit of the boxing picture “Bleed For This” that it goes nine, ten, or maybe even 11 rounds before it’s clear just which way the final decision is going to go. That’s not a reference to the outcome of the movie’s climactic 1990s match between Miles Teller’s real-life Vinny Paz character and Roberto Duran, but rather the movie’s own bout between its better instincts and the need to wrap up on the most simplistically crowd-pleasing note possible.

Continue reading ‘Bleed For This’ Starring Miles Teller Fights The Strong & Shallow Instincts Within Itself [Telluride Review] at The Playlist.

Telluride Review: Davis Guggenheim’s ‘He Named Me Malala’

Continue reading Telluride Review: Davis Guggenheim’s ‘He Named Me Malala’ at The Playlist.

2015 Telluride Wrap-Up: The 5 Best Films, Awards Season Notes & More

Continue reading 2015 Telluride Wrap-Up: The 5 Best Films, Awards Season Notes & More at The Playlist.

Telluride Review: Paddy Breathnach’s Queer-Positive, Father/Son Drama ‘Viva’

Continue reading Telluride Review: Paddy Breathnach’s Queer-Positive, Father/Son Drama ‘Viva’ at The Playlist.

Telluride Review: Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Steve Jobs’ Directed By Danny Boyle Starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet & Seth Rogen

Continue reading Telluride Review: Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Steve Jobs’ Directed By Danny Boyle Starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet & Seth Rogen at The Playlist.