35th Telluride Film Festival Presented By Dell
Announces 2008 Festival Lineup
Program includes tributes to David Fincher, Jean Simmons and Jan Troell
Over twenty-five new features, unique programming from Guest Director Slavoj Zizek and an exciting new animation section will be presented as part of the 2008 exhibition.
Telluride, CO (August 28, 2008) - Telluride Film Festival (August 29-September 1, 2008), presented by the National Film Preserve and DELL, announces its program for the 35th annual Festival. Featuring diverse programming from around the globe, including a surge of international films, TFF once again sets the stage for some of the most highly anticipated films of the year.
TFF opens its 35th year with over twenty-five new feature films plus special artist tributes and salutes, guest director programs by Slavoj Zizek, a new animation section, classics and restorations, shorts, student prints, seminars and conversations. Telluride Film Festival opens August 29 and runs through September 1.
The Festival pays tribute to three film luminaries with its annual Silver Medallion presentations. This year’s recipients are David Fincher, the celebrated, critically-acclaimed director of SE7EN and FIGHT CLUB and the highly anticipated THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON; Jean Simmons, who has captivated audiences from her roles in GREAT EXPECTATIONS to HAMLET and GUYS AND DOLLS; and Jan Troell, the Swedish filmmaker best known for his Oscar-nominated companion pieces THE EMIGRANTS and THE NEW LAND. The three Tributees will be presented the Silver Medallion award preceded by a selection of film clips. Screenings
of their works also play as part of the Festival program including a director’s cut of Fincher’s ZODIAC; Simmons’s SO LONG AT THE FAIR and ELMER GANTRY; and Troell’s A FROZEN DREAM, HERE IS YOUR LIFE, THE EMIGRANTS, THE NEW LAND and his latest work, MARIA LARSSON’S EVERLASTING MOMENT, also listed in the new features section.
Telluride Film Festival is proud to present the following new features to play in the official program: ADAM RESURRECTED (d. Paul Schrader, Germany-Israel l, 2008); AMERICAN VIOLET (d. Tim Disney, U.S., 2008); EVERLASTING MOMENTS (d. Jan Troell, Sweden, 2008); FIRAAQ (d. Nandita Das, India, 2008); FLAME & CITRON (d. Ole Christian Madsen, Denmark, 2008); GOMORRAH (d. Matteo Garrone, Italy, 2008); HAPPY-GO-LUKY (d. Mike Leigh, U.K., 2008); HELEN (d. Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, U.K., 2008); HUNGER (d. Steve McQueen, U.K., 2008); I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (d. Philippe Claudel, France, 2008); KISSES (d.
Lance Daly, Ireland, 2008); LEARNING GRAVITY (d. Cathal Black, Ireland, 2007); O’HORTEN (d. Bent Hamer, Norway, 2008); PIRATE FOR THE SEA (d. Ron Colby, U.K., 2007); PRIVATE CENTURY (d. Jan Sikl, Czech Republic, 2007); REVANCHE (d. Gotz Spielman, Austria, 2008); THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD (d.
Kim Ji-Woon, South Korea, 2008); THE REST IS SILENCE (d. Nae Caranfil, Romania, 2007); TULPAN (d. Sergei Dvortsevoy, Kazakhstan, 2008); WALTZ WITH BASHIR (d.(Ari Folman, Israel, 2008)); WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MYSELF (d. Francois Duperon, France, 2008) and YOUSSOU N’DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE (d. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Senegal-France, 2008), with special post-screening performances by Senegalese musician and composer, Youssou N’Dour and his band, including a free showing and concert at the Abel Gance Outdoor Cinema.
In keeping with the Festival’s tradition, additional “sneak previews” are expected to surprise attendees over the weekend.
“Despite concerns that this year couldn’t meet the high expectations of world cinema in 2007, it became clear in Berlin and Cannes that filmmakers are determined to keep reaching new heights,” commented Co-Director Gary Meyer. “The new films submitted to us this summer, unseen anywhere, also continued the trend of quality and unique stories.”
Guest Director Slavoj Zizek, world renowned philosopher and theorist, presents six programs including: NIGHTMARE ALLEY (d. Edmund Golding, U.S., 1947); ON DANGEROUS GROUND (d. Nicholas Ray, U.S., 1952); SECONDS (d. John Frankenheimer, U.S., 1966); THE GREAT SACRIFICE (d. Veit Harlan, Germany, 1944); THE FALL OF BERLIN (d. Mikhail Chiaureli, Soviet Union, 1949); and INNOCENCE UNPROTECTED (d. Dusan Makavejev, Yugoslavia, 1968).
Telluride Film Festival focuses a special spotlight on the rising Romanian writer, director and composer, Nae Caranfil, who will be on hand to introduce his 2001 film, PHILANTHROPY (Romania), as well as his new film, THE REST IS SILENCE (Romania, 2007),which will be this year’s Romanian submission for the Best Foreign
Film Academy Award.
“This year’s program brings together a wonderful list of both new and established talent,” said co-director Tom Luddy. “One of the things that makes TFF so special is that the directors for all the new films will be in attendance to present their films, often with performers and writers of their works. Friendships and new professional relationships are likely to blossom.”
Along with featuring some of today’s best contemporary filmmakers, TFF pays tribute to the classic films and filmmakers of yesterday including: newly restored prints of LOLA MONTÈS (d. Max Ophüls, France, 1955) and PIROSMANI (d. Giorgi Shengelaya, Georgia, 1972); one of Josef von Sternberg’s first masterworks, THE LAST COMMAND (U.S., 1928), featuring the world premiere of a new score written and performed by the Alloy Orchestra; THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT (d. René Clair, France, 1928) presented by Pordenone and enhanced with Maud Nelissen’s newly composed score; and a second presentation by Pordenone, Laughing ‘Til It Hurts,
featuring four slapstick comedy shorts including THE COOK (d. Roscoe Arbuckle, U.S., 1918), SHOULD MEN WALK HOME? (d. Leo McCarey, U.S., 1927), THERE IT IS (U.S., 1928) and PASS THE GRAVY (d. Fred L. Guiol, U.S., 1928).
TFF’s Special Medallion award, which honors the passionate heroes of cinema including writers, historians and film lovers, goes to Richard Schickel. Film critic, author and documentary filmmaker, Schickel has written for Time from 1972 to the present, has published more than two dozen books and has directed more than 30 films. The first part of Schickel’s five-hour YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS (U.S., 2008), his latest film,
shows as part of the Medallion presentation.
Backlot, an intimate screening room introduced in 2007, shows seven programs providing back stories on films and filmmakers, including several featured in this year’s program. These programs include: the second and third segments from Richard Schickel’s YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS (U.S., 2008); Dvortsevoy’s Nomadic
Journeys, featuring four documentaries by Sergei Dvortsevoy (director of TULPAN) including PARADISE (Kazakhstan, 1996), HIGHWAY (Kazakhstan, 1999), BREAD DAY (Russia, 1998), and IN THE DARK (Russia, 2004); the full series of eight 52-minute films in Jan Sikl’s PRIVATE CENTURY; A PERVERT’S GUIDE TO
CINEMA (d. Sophie Fiennes, U.K., 2006) featuring Guest Director Slavoj Zizek; MARY PICKFORD (d. Nicholas Eliopoulos, U.S., 2008); PRODIGAL SONS (d. Kimberly Reed, U.S., 2008); and 12 CANOES (d. Rolf de Heer, Australia, 2008).
Celebrating one of the world’s most explosive art forms, 21st-Century animation, Telluride Film Festival has added a new section to the program: Adventures in Animation. Nine animated shorts have been selected to play in the program.
Peggy Stern’s new film, CHUCK JONES: MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD, features new animation by Oscar-winner John Canemaker. It will play with a selection of Jones’s favorite cartoons and feature a discussion with Stern, Jones’s daughter, Linda Jones, and animation historian Leonard Maltin. The special event will, appropriately, be held at theChuck Jones Cinema.
Rounding out the Festival’s program is the largest selection of new shorts in the Festival’s history. SHOWcase for Shorts features nine short films chosen to precede selected feature films. Filmmakers of Tomorrow includes three shorts programs by 20 emerging filmmakers.
The Student Symposium provides 50 graduate and undergraduate college students a weekend-long immersion in cinema; The City Lights Project brings15 high school students and five teachers from three divergent schools the opportunity to participate in a concentrated program of screenings and discussions.
The Talking Heads section features six conversations between Festival guests and three outdoors seminars. These programs are free and open to the public.
The 35th Festival poster was designed by writer, director, visual artist and vocalist Laurie Anderson. Anderson was TFF’s Guest Director in 1991 and in 2005 presented her film, HIDDEN INSIDE MOUNTAINS.
New to Telluride Film Festival is Dell Lounge, located at the Brigadoon Hospitality Tent. Festival attendees will be able to watch a selection of Festival short films and enjoy freeInternet access, including access to the Dell Lounge Festival Widget, www.delllounge.com/telluridefilmfestival. This online tool helps connect fans with timely and useful Festival information, including schedules, lodging, dining, shopping and outdoor activities. Calendar/Schedule section on-line will be in real-time, with customizable schedules and up-to-the-minute queue information. It also will provide access to film trailers and video highlights from previous years. Kiosks located in key sites throughout the Festival will provide live ticket queue information.
Dell is the Presenting Sponsor of 35thTelluride Film Festival. Collaborating with Dell online and on-site provides fans around the world -that are passionate and utilize technology in creating and enjoying film - a meaningful connection to this festival experience.
“We are very proud to welcome Dell as part of the Telluride Film Festival family,” said Managing Director Julie Huntsinger. “Dell is adding a dimension to the Festival this year that will extend the magic of Telluride out in to the film community, while uplifting the festival experience for our audiences. They are in sync with our goals and recognize that reverence for film and fun can go together.”
“Dell continues to play a key role in enabling individuals as they create, access and share their experiences and passions in meaningful ways,” said Michael Tatelman, Vice President Consumer Sales & Marketing. “Our connection to the Telluride Film Festival is another expression of the company’s commitment to creating opportunities for selfexpression.
Telluride Film Festival is supported by Presenting Sponsor DELL and Lead Sponsor Starz. Major supporters include Telluride Mountain Village, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Heineken, Microsoft, Subaru, Shady Acres Entertainment, Belvedere Vodka, Turner Classic Movies, Omaha Steaks, Resort Quest, NBC Universal, Panasonic Projector Systems Company, Daily Variety, Pine Ridge Winery, National Endowment for the Arts, Kodak, Telluride Foundation, Larabar, Dolby, Sony, Boston Light and Sound, Wright Group, FIJI Water, Veuve Clicquot, The Auteurs, among others.
About Telluride Film Festival
The prestigious Telluride Film Festival, presented by DELL, ranks among the world’s best film festivals and is an annual gathering for film industry insiders and a major launching ground for the fall season’s most talked-about films. Co-founded in 1974 by Tom Luddy, James Card and Bill and Stella Pence, Telluride Film Festival, nestled in the beautiful mountain town of Telluride, Colorado, is a four-day, international educational event celebrating the art of film. The Festival’s long-standing commitment is to join filmmakers and film connoisseurs together to experience great cinema. The exciting schedule, kept secret until Opening Day, consists of film debuts, special Guest Director programs, three major Tributes to guest artists and remarkable treasures from the past. Festival headquarters are in Berkeley, California. For more information visit www.telluridefilmfestival.org.
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