35 Years of Telluride Film Festival
August 31, 2008
Podcast, 06:42
ACME Passes are sold out - Cinephile, Festival, and Patron Passes still available!
That's all folks - for Acme Passes! We encourage you to act now for Cinephile, Festival and Patron Passes - we have limited numbers and do not want you to miss out! The 36th Telluride Film Festival will be here before you know it - September 4-7, 2009. Order your passes online, or if you prefer to send via post you may download a form through the link at the bottom of our Passes Page. See you at the SHOW!
The Celebration of Manny Farber
Telluride Film Festival and The Library of America are pleased to present a special program in honor of artist and film critic Manny Farber. "The Celebration of Manny Farber" will include an intimate bookstore signing of The Library of America's September 2009 release Farber on Film: The Complete Film Writings of Manny Farber with editor Robert Polito and Farber's wife and collaborator, Patricia Patterson. They will also be part of an interactive panel with guests Jean-Pierre Gorin, Kent Jones, Greil Marcus, David Thomson, and Robert Walsh. More special guests will be in attendance for a screening of one of Farber's favorite films to be announced on Opening Day, September 4, 2009.
Alexander Payne as 36th Guest Director
We are proud to announce Alexander Payne as our 2009 Guest Director. The acclaimed director and screenwriter has been invited to enhance the already prestigious program and select a series of films to show at the 36th Telluride Film Festival.
Each year the Festival’s directors select one of the world’s great film lovers to join them in the creation of the Festival. The Guest Director serves as a key collaborator in the Festival’s programming decisions, bringing new ideas and overlooked films to Telluride.
“Alexander has succeeded in programming a group of films with both rarity and variety,” said co-director Gary Meyer. “We have a sophisticated audience at Telluride and he has met the challenge and exceeded our highest expectations.”
Payne won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe in 2005 for Best Screenplay for the film SIDEWAYS. Another of Payne’s acclaimed works, ABOUT SCHMIDT, earned Jack Nicholson an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Payne’s film credits also include ELECTION and CITIZEN RUTH. Upcoming projects include the HBO series HUNG.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Alexander for many years – from the time he was a Stanford student who came to see rare films at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley and throughout his career,” said co-director Tom Luddy. “I have long admired his work and his obvious love of the art of film. Our partnership with him on this year’s Festival has been seamless.”
Julie Huntsinger, the Festival’s Managing Director adds, “In addition to his inspired film selections, Alexander's wit and enthusiasm will captivate our audience. We are thrilled he'll join us this year.”
In keeping with Telluride Film Festival tradition, Payne's film selections, along with the rest of the Telluride program will be kept secret and unveiled on Opening Day, September 4, 2009.

The Telluride Film Festival features more than 40 programs screened over nine venues. The most popular films are repeated throughout the weekend according to passholder demand. The Festival is best experienced by purchasing one of our five weekend passes. When they sell out, and they do, there are other options to enjoy many of the offerings.

As flights into the Telluride area are limited, attendees are strongly encouraged to contact the Festival's travel partner SpecialEventTravel.com as early as possible to arrange transportation. They have access to flights unavailable elsewhere, including charter flights from Los Angeles and Denver. Scenic drives to Telluride are a treat. A wide range of accommodations is available in the town of Telluride and nearby Mountain Village.

As a non-profit arts organization, you could say the Telluride Film Festival has always relied on the kindness of friends. Whether it is big corporate friends or kind individuals, we simply wouldn’t exist without help. From direct financial support to providing goods and services, there are many ways to make a tax-deductible contribution.