Telluride, a Cinephile’s Summer Escape

Started in 1974, Telluride is the premier festival for American cinema lovers, held over Labor Day weekend in Colorado shortly after Cannes and just before the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.

© Tellluride Film Festival | Ingrid Lundahl

Telluride’s positioning on the festival circuit has made it one of the best places to go for premiers. Most of the program is new films, and there is an informal rule new films must make their North American premier at the festival, a rule that has gotten Telluride many first glimpses at future classics.

Juno, Blue Velvet, Brokeback Mountain and many others timeless films garnered their first fans here, often competing with Toronto for the honor of premiering Best Picture winners from the Oscars. Six of the past seven belong to Telluride: Birdman, 12 Years a Slave, Argo, The Artist, Slumdog Millionaire and The King’s Speech. Telluride is regularly cited as an event that focuses on artistry rather than commerce compared to many of the other branding-heavy film festivals.

© Tellluride Film Festival | Ralph Barnie

They do not give our prizes or awards, just three Silver Medallions for important contributors to the film community. One is given to a figure in contemporary Hollywood, one to a historic figure and one to someone unknown to the American audience or misunderstood, a sentiment probably best exemplified by its inaugural tribute to Leni Reifenstahl, the pioneering filmmaker of Nazi Germany.

This year’s festival will be held September 4–7.