The highly anticipated 50th Telluride Film Festival, which is set to run from August 31 to September 04 this year, has unveiled its official lineup, presenting an array of world premieres. The lineup includes much-anticipated films like Emerald Fennell’s "Saltburn," George C. Wolfe’s "Rustin," Jeff Nichols’ "The Bikeriders," and Alexander Payne’s "The Holdovers."
Emerald Fennell, best known for her Oscar-winning work in "Promising Young Woman," brings "Saltburn" to the festival, while George C. Wolfe presents "Rustin," a biopic that's already generating awards buzz. Jeff Nichols offers "The Bikeriders," and Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers" is set to captivate audiences.
In addition to the world premieres, Telluride will pay tribute to influential figures in the film industry. Yorgos Lanthimos, an Oscar-nominated director, will present "Poor Things," which debuted at the Venice Film Festival. The festival also honors three-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Wim Wenders, who brings both a documentary, "Anselm," and a narrative feature, "Perfect Days," to the event. Alice Rohrwacher, last year's Oscar nominee for best live-action short, is also celebrated for her Italian film "La Chimera."
Major premieres this year include Apple's "Fingernails," starring Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley, and Netflix's "Nyad," featuring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster.
The festival also is set to showcase a diverse range of international titles, including Pablo Larraín’s "El Conde," Nikolaj Arcel’s "The Promised Land," and Saverio Costanzo’s "Finally Dawn." "Anatomy of a Fall," the Palme d’Or winner, and Sony Pictures Classics' German contender "The Teacher’s Lounge" further enrich the international lineup. Adding cherry on the top is "Cassandro," which premiered at Sundance, featuring Gael García Bernal.
Despite the ongoing Hollywood strikes affecting star attendance, Julie Huntsinger, the executive director of Telluride, remains optimistic about the festival's lineup, describing it as one of the strongest yet. She believes that the selection contains hidden gems that will surely captivate the audiences.
The executive director of the film festival also predicts that Colman Domingo's portrayal of gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin in "Rustin" will be a frontrunner in this year's best actor race.
While the festival will not disclose the attendance of specific guests due to ongoing changes related to the strikes, it anticipates the presence of directors and actors such as Casey Affleck, Barry Jenkins, Jason Reitman, and Chloé Zhao.
The 50th Telluride Film Festival, dedicated to its founders and industry figures Tom Luddy, Bill Pence, Stella Pence, and James Card, is set to screen over 80 feature films, short films, and revival programs representing 29 countries. The festival, which has played a pivotal role in the awards season, yet again promises a celebration of cinematic excellence and innovation.