Unmissable! Telluride Film Festival Returns with Explosive Political Drama Amid Global Chaos

Hidden within a secluded Colorado box canyon, the Telluride Film Festival has long embraced its reputation as a paradise for film enthusiasts. However, in recent times, even the majestic mountains surrounding the scenic town have been unable to shield the festival from Hollywood’s troubles, ranging from a worldwide pandemic that crippled cinema houses to last year’s debilitating dual strikes of actors and writers.

With the 51st installment of the festival scheduled to commence this Friday and extend throughout the Labor Day weekend, Telluride Film Festival’s executive director, Julie Huntsinger, is anxious to restore some semblance of normalcy.

“I probably shouldn’t mention this as I might jinx it, but there’s no impending disaster looming over this year’s festival,” says Huntsinger. “Within our cinema community, there’s no immediate existential crisis, unlike the COVID situation and the strikes. For those who might be a tad less religious, this festival is our sanctuary. This is where we rejuvenate and remind ourselves of humanity’s goodness and flaws that we can hopefully rectify.”

Nonetheless, with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza persisting and a polarizing U.S. presidential election entering its final phase, a cursory look at current news indicates there’s much that needs attention. Unsurprisingly, this year’s Telluride lineup, which boasts nearly 40 feature films and shorts, is heavily focused on political themes, reflecting a world in a state of perpetual tension.

World premieres include the suspense film “Conclave” from director Edward Berger (“All Quiet on the Western Front”), which delves into the clandestine process of electing a new pope; RaMell Ross’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s racial-injustice novel “Nickel Boys,” set in a notorious 1960s reform school infamous for its abusive treatment of students; and Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night,” which recounts the launch of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. Tim Fehlbaum‘s historical drama “September 5,” about the abduction and murder of Israeli athletes by Palestinian militants at the 1972 Munich Olympics, will have its North American debut at Telluride, following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Over time, Telluride has emerged as a critical stop on the awards-season journey, having hosted recent Best Picture Oscar winners like “Moonlight,” “The Shape of Water,” and “Parasite.” However, with numerous features and documentaries addressing the most pressing issues of our time — and attracting several notable non-Hollywood celebrities — political discourse is expected to be as fervent as awards speculation at this year’s festival.

This year’s festival will have political luminaries to match the typical Hollywood glitz. Renowned Democratic strategist James Carville will feature in Matt Tyrnauer’s biographical documentary “Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid!”, while Hillary and Chelsea Clinton will be present to support the documentary “Zurawski v Texas,” which focuses on the continuing struggle over reproductive rights.

“Involvement of personalities with such high recognition can draw more attention to a film,” says Huntsinger. “‘Zurawski v Texas’ is a film that everyone should see.”

Among other politically charged documentaries, Brazilian director Petra Costa follows up her Oscar-nominated “The Edge of Democracy” with “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” about the rise of Jair Bolsonaro, while Errol Morris examines the controversial family-separation border policy of the Trump administration with his new film, “Separated.” (In a category that could be termed “politics-adjacent,” the festival’s Backlot program will feature a screening of “The Easy Kind,” a narrative film about a Nashville singer-songwriter from documentary filmmaker Katy Chevigny, whose husband is special prosecutor Jack Smith.)

As she assembled the program for this summer, amid the whirlwind of the presidential campaign, Huntsinger says the political theme naturally arose without any dogmatic intent. “For us, the first and foremost criterion is quality,” she says. “Does a film capture your heart and soul? Is it captivating? Is it excellently crafted?”

That’s not to suggest that the Telluride lineup will be solely focused on the world’s troubles. The healing power of music is a recurring theme: Documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville’s “Piece by Piece” uses Lego animation to trace the career trajectory of hitmaker Pharrell Williams, while British pop icon Robbie Williams portrays himself in the biographical drama “Better Man.”

Chilean director Pablo Larraín, who previously brought the artistic horror film “El Conde” to Telluride, will return with “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie as opera legend Maria Callas. And in what could be one of the festival’s most unexpected surprises, documentary filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer (“The Act of Killing”) will debut his first narrative film, “The End,” a post-apocalyptic musical (yes, you read that correctly) about a wealthy family residing in an underground bunker long after the world has ended.

“There are many musicals and movies where music plays a vital role, which I believe stems from our incessant desire to be uplifted,” says Huntsinger. “We don’t want to dwell in darkness. To me, film always sheds light. Even in those really challenging ones that make us cry, there’s a cathartic release that emerges from it.”

Despite being steadfastly committed to cinema, Telluride will also accommodate some longer-form works destined for television this year. Director Alfonso Cuarón’s highly anticipated upcoming Apple TV+ series “Disclaimer,” starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, and Sacha Baron Cohen, will be screened in its seven-hour entirety over two sessions, with Apple providing pizza and breakfast burritos to stave off hunger. Lauren Greenfield’s five-part FX docuseries “Social Studies,” a disturbing examination of how social media influences teenagers’ lives, will also be screened in full.

“Even though we strongly advocate for the theatrical experience, for decades the festival has recognized remarkable achievements in works that are shown on television as well as the big screen,” says Huntsinger.

This year’s Telluride will feature special tributes to French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, whose Cannes Jury Prize-winning musical crime comedy “Emilia Pérez” will be screened, along with Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker and actor Saoirse Ronan, whose new drama “The Outrun” will be showcased at the festival.

As in previous editions, Huntsinger says there will be one or two surprise screenings at this year’s festival, with rumors already swirling that anticipated films like the Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” which has yet to formally announce a U.S. distributor or release date, and Robert Eggers’ upcoming horror film “Nosferatu” could make unexpected appearances.

After 18 years of curating the Telluride Film Festival alongside its co-founder Tom Luddy, who passed away last year, Huntsinger says she remains optimistic about the future of cinema, despite the industry’s numerous obstacles.

“Across the spectrum, there are so many films that are both entertaining and insightful that I feel highly encouraged,” she says. “True, there’s significant turmoil right now, and things are highly fragmented, and consensus is elusive. But all of us who attend Telluride have a responsibility as ambassadors to encourage people to visit a cinema.”