8/30/25

I am at Telluride Film Festival for the third time in the last five years, and it’s been an odd 36 hours. While here I’m introducing a few documentaries, mostly of the smaller, lowkey variety that stand apart from the mega awards contender that launch through the thin Colorado air from here. Because of my role I’m not on any press list for any studio or publicist, and a situation that’s been incredibly revealing.

For one, I’ve had to hunt down publicists to get tickets for movies. And since there isn’t a publicity list, it’s required me asking quite a few colleagues to find out who’s representing what. Most of the time, it’s been easy. Sometimes, it’s been difficult. It’s fascinating the extra hoops one must jump through when they don’t have an outlet attached to their name. It’s a reminder that access is rarely granted to the writer; it’s always being given to the publication.

Still, I can’t lie—I kinda like the chase. It reminds me of when I first started and I was bouncing around, by hook or by crook to get into whatever I could find. Last night I attended Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (which I reviewed for RogerEbert.com), a surprisingly introspective look at the Boss. I also went to The Ballad of a Lonely Player, the Netflix produced, Edward Berger directed Colin Farrell vehicle that I’m still mulling over. Today I’m hoping to catch Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest collaboration with Emma Stone).

I wonder if NYFF will be like this. It has more press & industry screenings, but my outlet is this Substack. So will I find the same doors open or closed?

Funnily enough, I’m also not being invited to any of the usual festival parties even after I’ve made my presence known, which is humbling to say the least.

These are all minor inconveniences. In the end, I’m happy I’m here surrounded verdant picture perfect mountains while bumping into friends. As I say to colleagues all the time at Cannes: We’re on a beach sipping cocktails in southern France; we’re not allowed to complain.

So mostly, I’m enjoying having to grind again.