From Classics to Premieres, Telluride is About Discovery

Michael Haneke chats with Telluride Film Festival attendees. Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE

In fact, of the new films that screened in Telluride this weekend, Reitman’s “Up In The Air” seemed like the big hit. Some come to Telluride hoping to get a first look at a film like “Slumdog Millionaire” last year or “Juno” the year before. This year John Hillcoat’s “The Road” (with star Viggo Mortensen on hand to receive a fest award), Werner Herzog’s version of “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” (and a sneak of his other new film, “My Son, My Son”), Todd Solondz’ “Life During Wartime,” Anne Fontaine’s “Coco Before Chanel,” Michael Hoffman’s “The Last Station,” festival honoree Margarethe von Trotta’s latest, “Vision,” and the new British “Red Riding” trilogy were the new films on offer.

Cannes films and classics seemed to be the most popular movies of the weekend. Audiences seemed quite taken with Jacques Audiard’s “A Prophet” and Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” drew positive buzz, particularly for its lead performance by newcomer Katie Jarvis, who made her first trip to the U.S. for the festival. On Satuday morning, she joined young up-and-coming British actress Carey Mulligan for a conversation at the fest.

Also from Cannes, Michael Haneke’s exceptional “The White Ribbon,” winner of the Palme d’Or and Jane Campion’s “Bright Star” appreared to garner more mixed buzz based on informal conversations with various festival-goers.

Overall, the festival felt a bit quieter this year, making it even more enjoyable. Many screenings seemed to have scattered empty seats, making it easier for passholders to get in. Organizers spoke last week about the challenges of putting on a fest this year amidst the economic downturn and a drop in corporate support. But, attendees didn’t notice a difference in terms of the wide array of offerings and high quality tech specs of the event. Organizers staged a trio of top notch social events for filmmakers, attendees and special guests, embracing a move to embrace locally sourced foods and ingredients.

Alice Waters at the Telluride Film Festival. Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE

In fact, eating was a big topic this weekend. A highlight for foodies was Ermanno Olmi’s Italian documentary, “Terra Madre,” about the slow food movement. And who better to present the film than Alice Waters, the American food activist and chef known for her Berkely restaurant Chez Panisse and her recent success lobbying First Lady Michelle Obama to plant a garden at the White House. Begun in Italy more than a decade ago by Carlo Petrini, the movement is the antidote to fast food, marked by a focus on locally sourced ingredients and farming.

“Consuming less can be living more beautifully,” advocated Waters, talking about the movement. She stumped for her goal of radically remaking American school lunch programs and said that she came to support slow food simply by looking to eat. Along the way she learned about more sustainable and healthy approaches to cooking. “We are taking [eating] out of a place of fueling up and putting it in a place of beauty,” she smiled. Praising recent films like “Food, Inc,” Waters said she hopes that more filmmakers are inspired to make food themed movies.

Alice Waters was among the many who gathered early Saturday morning in Telluride for a screening and discussion saluting the late film critic Manny Farber. The crowd at the Sheridan Opera House watched Jean Renoir’s rarely seen 1935 film “Toni,” a favorite film of Farber’s that he frequently taught when he was an instructor at UCSD. Hailed as a forerunner of neo-realism, the film was yet another classic highlight of the festival in a year at Telluride where old films rivaled new.

Patricia Patterson (left)  with Robert Polito, Robert Marcus, Kent Jones and Griel Marcus. Photo by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE

Farber, the accomplished writer and painter, who died earlier this year, was first saluted on stage by his wife and collaborator Patricia Patterson who recalled Telluide co-founder Tom Luddy sharing film prints with the couple, eventually becoming a close friend. Farber is a beloved and influential writer among many film critics for his direct approach to criticism. Writer Robert Polito lead a discussion about Farber that was pegged to the publication of his new anthology, “Farber On Film: The Complete Film Writings of Manny Faber.”

Listening to writers and festival attendees rave about Manny Farber offered new perspectives on both movie watching and film criticism, enriching the Telluride experience this year.

“Manny was for other writers and other critics both intimidating and inspiring,” praised writer Greil Marcus. A guy named Jack, a former student of Farber’s, stood up near they end of the salute to praise his former professor. He told me that being taught by Farber was “mind expanding.” He would give his students new ways to look at films.

“Do not analyze (a film immediately),” Jack stood to tell the audience, echoing what he said Farber advocated about the first viewing of a movie. “Step back, get seduced by it, let it affect you.”