The Telluride Film Festival, now 36 years young, has always had a flare for the dramatic, choosing as they do to unveil their lineup at the last possible minute. That turns tomorrow into something of a Christmas Morning for its cineaste attendees, knee-deep in goodies like the superb, Palme d'Or-winning The White Ribbon (which will feature one of Michael Haneke's only North American appearances in support of the film), Jacques Audiard's Grand Prix-winning A Prophet, fashion icon origin myth Coco Before Chanel, and sweet Sundance surprise An Education. Among the other curios in contention, Jane Campion's Keats romance Bright Star, post-apocalyptic travelogue The Road, and, last but not least, Werner Herzog's head-f**king Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. (The first review is in and it's a rave! As in, ravingly weird.) Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime also makes its debut, just squeezing out Toronto International Film Festival for the honors; but they can salve their wounds knowing they still have dibs on Jason Reitman's Up in the Air.
The full announcement is after the jump.
THE 'SHOW'
36th Telluride Film Festival is pleased to present the following new feature films to play in the 'SHOW':
• A PROPHET (d. Jacques Audiard, Germany/Austria/France, 2009)
• AN EDUCATION (d. Lone Sherfig, U.K., 2009)
• BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS (d. Werner Herzog, U.S., 2009)
• BRIGHT STAR (d. Jane Campion, U.K./Australia/France, 2009)
• COCO BEFORE CHANEL (d. Anne Fontaine, France, 2009)
• FAREWELL (d. Christian Carion, France, 2009)
• FISH TANK (d. Andrea Arnold, U.K., 2009)
• GIGANTE (d. Adrián Biniez, Uruguay, 2009)
• HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOUT'S INFERNO (d. Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea, France, 2009)
• LIFE DURING WARTIME (d. Todd Solondz, U.S., 2009)
• LONDON RIVER (d. Rachid Bouchareb, U.K./France/Algeria, 2009)
• RED RIDING - three-part series: 1974 (d. Julian Jarrold, U.K., 2009); 1980 (d. James Marsh, U.K., 2009); 1983 (d. Anand Tucker, U.K., 2009)
• ROOM AND A HALF (d. Andrey Khrzhanovsky, Russia, 2009)
• SAMSON & DELILAH (d. Warwick Thornton, Australia, 2009)
• SLEEP FURIOUSLY (d. Gideon Koppel, U.K., 2007)
• TERRA MADRE (d. Ermanno Olmi, Italy, 2009)
• THE JAZZ BARONESS (d. Hannah Rothschild, U.K. 2009)
• THE LAST STATION (d. Michael Hoffman, U.K., 2009)
• THE MISCREANTS OF TALIWOOD (d. George Gittoes, Australia/Pakistan, 2009)
• THE ROAD (d. John Hillcoat, U.S., 2009)
• THE WHITE RIBBON (d. Michael Haneke, Germany/Australia/France, 2009)
• VINCERE (d. Marco Bellocchio, Italy, 2009)
• VISION (d. Margarethe von Trotta, Germany, 2009)
• WINDOW (d. Buddhadeb Dasgupta, India, 2009)
In keeping with Festival tradition, additional "Sneak Previews" are expected to surprise attendees over the weekend. Sneaks will be announced here. Stay tuned!
MEDALLION AWARDS
The 2009 Silver Medallion awards, given to recognize an artist's significant contribution to the world of cinema, go to:
• ANOUK AIMÉE - French film star Anouk Aimée will receive the Silver Medallion followed by an onstage interview conducted by Scott Foundas (Friday) and Davia Nelson (Saturday). The program will include a screening of Jacques Demy's 1961 film, LOLA, starring Aimée in her iconic role as the lovelorn burlesque dancer.
• VIGGO MORTENSEN - Telluride audiences will be the first to see American actor Viggo Mortensen's performance in John Hillcoat's THE ROAD. The film will be preceded by the presentation of the Silver Medallion and an onstage interview with Ken Burns (Sunday) and Davia Nelson (Monday).
• MARGARETHE VON TROTTA - Historical filmmaker, actress and a key member of New German Cinema, von Trotta will be presented with the Silver Medallion by Barbara Sukowa, followed by an onstage interview conducted by Annette Insdorf (Friday) and Gary Giddens (Saturday). A screening of Von Trotta's latest film, VISION, will follow the program.
Lobster Films' Serge Bromberg will receive this year's Special Medallion award, which honors a "hero" of cinema, at the program "Retour de Flamme," Bromberg's famed live cinema show. Bromberg's new film, HENRI-GEORGES CLOUZOUT'S INFERNO plays in main program. Bromberg will also sign Flicker Alley DVD sets featuring works discovered and restored by Lobster Films.
GUEST DIRECTOR PROGRAMS
Guest Director Alexander Payne presents six forgotten film treasures from the past:
• EL VERDUGO (d. Luís García Berlanga, Spain, 1963)
• DAISAN NO KAGEMUSHA: THE THIRD SHADOW WARRIOR (d. Inoue Umetsugu, Japan, 1963)
• LE RAGAZZE DI PIAZZA DI SPAGNA (d. Luciano Emmer, Italy 1952)
• DAY OF THE OUTLAW (d. André De Tothe, U.S., 1959)
• THE BREAKING POINT (d. Michael Curtiz, U.S., 1950)
• MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (d. Orson Welles, U.S., 1937)
FILM REVIVALS
• LES NOUVEAUX MESSIEUR (d. Jacques Feyder, France, 1929) - With live music by Stephen Horne, performing his original score
• L'ARGENT (d. Marcel L'Herier, France, 1928) - Featuring the world premiere of a new score written and performed by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
• LOLA (d. Jacques Demy, France, 1961)
• MIRACLE OF MALACHIAS (d. Bernhard Wicki, Germany, 1961)
• TONI (d. Jean Renoir, France, 1934)