“The Royal Hotel”
Telling the story of two young backpackers, Hanna and Liv, as they take jobs in an Australian pub for extra cash. While working, they are confronted with unruly locals and situations that quickly spiral out of control. The film is directed by Kitty Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Oscar Redding. Julia Garner stars as Hanna and Jessica Henwick stars as Liv, alongside Hugo Weaving, Toby Wallace, and Bree Bain.
“Tuesday”
An upcoming A24, the BFI and BBC drama-fantasy film written and directed by Daina O. Pusic, in her feature directorial debut, “Tuesday” stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Lola Petticrew as a mother-and-daughter. Arinzé Kene and Leah Harvey co-star. This one’s flown under the radar a little bit and isn’t at any of the other film festivals, which adds another level of intrigue; it’s gotta be great.
“Daddio”
Sean Penn plays a man who drives a cab in New York City and considers himself an armchair philosopher. When a woman, played by Dakota Johnson, gets in his cab at the airport, she just wants to get home, but as the cab driver engages her in conversation, the small talk turns deeper and riskier along the ride. The film is directed by Christy Hall and also sees MarcosGonzalez make an appearance.
“Nyad”
After years of making nerve-wracking feats-of-athleticism documentaries, Oscar-winners and “Free Solo” filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin dive into their first foray into the non-documentary and drama space with “Nyad.” Starring Jodie Foster and Annette Bening, plus Rhys Ifans, the drama tells the remarkable true story of a 60-year-old athlete who, with the help of her best friend and coach, commits to a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.
“Janet Planet”
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker‘s directorial debut, “Janet Planet” stars Julianne Nicholson and newcomer Zoe Ziegler, in a mother-and-daughter drama. An A24 release, the film is set in 1991 rural Western Massachusetts. Also debuting later this year at the New York Film Festival, NYFF describes it as a work of “surreal tranquility that moves at a different, lost pace of life, and which perceives heartbreak just as Lacy is beginning to grasp the world and her place in it.” The supporting cast includes Elias Koteas, Sophie Okonedo, and Will Patton.
That’s not all. Telluride boasts Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” with Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo; Pablo Larrain’s “El Conde,” Errol Morris’ John Le Carré portrait “The Pigeon Tunnel,” Matthew Heineman’s “American Symphony,” Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City,” which debuted at Cannes in May. and many more. Check out the full line-up here.
Follow along with all our coverage of the 2023 Telluride Film Festival.