6 Best Films from the Telluride Film Festival

The 51st Telluride Film Festival featured nearly sixty feature films, shorts, and revival programs representing twenty-six countries (…and an excited redhead enjoying as much as she could). 

Here are some of the cinematic highlights from my trip to the Colorado mining town:

The Turnaround

As a first timer to Telluride, I was surprised that there were only three short films at the festival. While A Swim Lesson and Alok offered compelling stories, The Turnaround by Kyle Thrash and Ben Proudfoot is my choice for best short at Telluride. The doc tells the story of Philadelphia Phillies’ superfan Jon McCann, who helped inspire an unlikely 2023 standing ovation for Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, which helped the team make a major turnaround after hitting a major roadblock. If you love a great underdog story, this short film will make you cheer.

Nickel Boys

This revelatory adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book about two boys incarcerated in a Florida reform school offers a gut-wrenching examination of the Black American experience. Director RaMell Ross unveils the story through concise bursts of imagery pieced together in a staccato rhythm as the film moves between past and present. I look forward to seeing it again when it has its theatrical release in October. 

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight

Actress Embeth Davidtz makes her directorial debut with this wonderful adaptation of Alexandra Fuller’s 2001 memoir, which depicts a child’s-eye view of the civil war that created the country of Zimbabwe. Bobo, the daughter of white colonial parents, is portrayed through a nuanced and naturalistic performance by actress Lexi Venter. 

Zurawski v Texas 

This disquieting documentary by Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault about the first patient-plaintiffs seeking abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was a stirring watch. The crowd was particularly vocal making the viewing experience even more memorable. 

Apocalypse in the Tropics

Brazilian documentarian Petra Costa chronicles the dire state of democracy with this eye-opening film that delves into the troubling ties linking Christian evangelism and politics. Getting up close and personal with some powerful people amid a wave of social and political unrest, the documentary offers an intimate exploration of geopolitical currents that extend beyond Brazil.

Conclave

Edward Berger’s drama offers a peek behind the curtains of power as Catholic leaders gather in the Vatican to choose the next pope. Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci deliver two incredible performances, with  John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini delivering support in this geopolitical thriller.