Telluride's Festival Cannes Do it Too

Have you ever craved the glamor of a world premiere or wished you could talk to acclaimed actors and internationally renowned filmmakers? While these might seem like idle dreams for many Princeton students, the Colorado-based Telluride Film Festival gives these wild aspirations a chance to become reality with its annual student symposium. The program is designed to bring college film enthusiasts from around the country to the small Colorado town for a weekend of back-to-back film screenings and passionate discussions with industry luminaries.

Though a participant in the program, I was initially wary, fearing that Telluride would be nothing more than a backwater Sundance. Soon, however, I realized why it has drawn critical acclaim.

For those hoping for world premieres, Telluride didn't disappoint. In one highlight, Todd Haynes' ambitious Bob Dylan biopic, "I'm Not There," a myriad of actors depict various eras in the rebel musician's life. Cate Blanchett, embarking on a daring task by playing Dylan himself, wears a frazzled wig and dark shades. She portrays the character with a sly sense of humor that masks an ever-growing disgust at his stifling image. Only the film's chaotic editing might keep the chameleon-like Aussie from a well-deserved best actress Oscar (or would it be best actor?).

Other world premieres did not fare as well, including "Juno," Jason Reitman's follow-up to the biting comedy "Thank You for Smoking." Unlike his previous flick, the new movie, about a young pregnant high-schooler (Ellen Page), quickly grows tired because of its artificial and self-aware dialogue. Though flawed, this wide-release comedy shows the sheer breadth of the films at the symposium.

Werner Herzog's new feature "Encounters at the End of the World" is a beautifully shot documentary depicting the director's adventures in the barren landscape of Antarctica. The film focuses on the area's quirky inhabitants, including a deranged penguin that leaves the herd to run toward distant mountains and what the narrator describes as "his certain death." The image of the animal manically plowing through the snow is comically tragic and perfectly captures the bizarre tone of Herzog's enlightening video diary.

The roster of guest speakers was similarly eclectic. Tom Shadyac, director of "Ace Ventura," Marjane Satrapi, director of the animated feature "Persepolis" and Romanian director Cristian Mungiu of "4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days" each offered different perspectives on filmmaking, ranging from personal to technical.

In just four short days, the Telluride Film Festival's symposium offered college students an incredible cinematic smorgasbord of obscure films from all corners of the globe. We rubbed elbows and chatted intimately with film giants ranging from a demure Laura Linney to an apparently angry Werner Herzog. Simply put, the festival's symposium offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Princetonians to experience a world-class film festival and meet famed directors and filmmakers firsthand. It is most definitely worth your time and money, especially if you dream of mingling with the stars.