The cool breezes blowing through Telluride on Friday were not winds that surged from Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. A sigh of Hollywood’s collective relief is that the most unpleasant film festival of the year was finally underway.
Unlike the sweaty tuxedos and snow-covered boots of Cannes and Venice, Telluride’s annual film festival is loved and protected for its hardcore, laid back atmosphere. Movie stars wander the streets without fear of paparazzi. A shoebox-sized Sunshine Pharmacy customer bumps into the middle of town will weigh the pros and cons of filming in Hungary. The A-listers wait in line. Seriously.
Every year Telluride begins with a patron’s branch – the industry and ordinary people pay nearly $5,000 for badges that have access to the annual selection of films (it’s been pretty big this year, with estimates of Bruce Springsteen’s biopic “Delivery Me From Nowhere” and “Hamnet” from Chloe Zhao’s estimated Awards Giant
He was a prettish cottage with a height above Telluride, with an artificial pond, with dozens of stars and behind the scenes talent. I ordered the mimosa and omelette. Whispers and anxiety were exchanged (based on the numerous conversations we’ve heard, many notable creatives comforted each other about AI).
Paul Mezcal and Jesse Buckley (“Hamnett”) first arrived alongside Claire Foy (“H is for Hawk”) wearing jeans, Carhartt’s pants, sneakers and sunglasses.
Alexander Skarsgaard (“Pirion”) snacked on a fruit plate, while Richard Linklater introduced the heavy hitter crowd to Guillaume Marbeck, the first film actor to star in Linklater’s “Nouvel Verge” as Jean-Luc Godard. Elle Fanning, Renate Reindve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Balue”) parked in the bale of hay, laughing and people watching. Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong, Springsteen’s film call sheet tops were effectively grown for programmers of other festivals and fellow actors.
Director Oliver Hermanus (“History of History”) stole Mezcal from the “Hamnet” group for a one-on-one chat on the edge of the mountain. Ali Astor circulated enthusiastically between Disney’s live-action chief David Greenbaum, former Ampas leaders Sid Gunnis and Liz Ahmed, and “Free Solo” documentarian Elizabeth Chaivasalheli (who brought the dog).
The quiet scenes are the must-see film weekend setting and, perhaps most importantly, the award gold positioning. Telluride takes place at the Venice Film Festival, with many sleepy stars traveling around the world to create a premiere in Colorado, including the cast of “Bagonia” and “Jakery” (including George Clooney, who has been infected with sinuses).
E. Jean Carroll premiered the documentary “Ask E. Jean” in this year’s selection, and later appeared at brunch in a bright orange jumpsuit. The panoramic views, especially with unseasonably raining rain, were breathtaking. But the best part is that she told Variety that “spewing rumors about climbing the hill and then coming back all the way down.”
After all, it’s still a film festival.
