Just because Venice Film Festival is well and truly underway, doesn't mean another equally important cinematic moment should be overlooked – Telluride Film Festival.
One of the major events on the film festival calendar, Telluride brings together a highly selective line-up of some of 2026’s best cinema. For its 53rd year, the festival’s compact four-day run is filled to the brim with films worth knowing about. And, staying true to festival tradition, Telluride keeps much of its line-up under wraps, with films often revealed just before they debut or screen. While Telluride doesn't have traditional winners like most do, they celebrate major career tributes instead. Think of it as a launchpad to highlighting some of the most anticipated films for the 2027 Academy Awards. Last year, we had Deliver Me From Nowhere, Hamnet, Jay Kelly, and Bugonia – all films that all ended up nominated in some form at the Oscar's earlier this year.
Without further ado, below find out curated list of all the films to watch coming out of Telluride Film Festival 2026.
You Can See Everything, Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim
Nathan Fielder's You Can See Everything is one of the festival's secret screenings. Rumours have been swirling for quite some time that Nathan Fielder has been visiting Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in prison to conduct interviews, and now we know that to be true. Created and directed by Fielder along with Lance Oppenheim – who has Primetime – it follows Holmes in the 34 days prior to her being sent to prison for fraud.
The Man I Love, Ira Sachs
Having premiered earlier this year at Cannes Film Festival, The Man I Love is set in 1980s New York at the height of the AIDS crisis, and follows a man navigating love and loss within a rapidly changing city. This film is more of a musical fantasy – but with a stacked cast of Rami Malek, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Luther Ford – consider us excited.
Gentle Monster, Marie Kreutzer
Gentle Monster stars Léa Seydoux as a famous pianist who relocates with her family to the countryside of France. After sometime she discovers truth that rocks her world as she knows it and forces her to confront the complexities of love, trust and deception.
Alpha Gang, David and Nathan Zellner
This is a sci-fi comedy starring Aussie Cate Blanchett as Alpha One, the leader of a humanoid alien gang alongside a stacked cast of Chris Pine, Dave Bautista, Léa Seydoux, Lily-Rose Depp, Adria Arjona, Bae Doona, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Riley Keough. Premiering at Telluride, the story follows this group of aliens that come to destroy earth but are compromised due to human emotions that lead them to staying.
Elsinore, Simon Stone
This is a biographical drama led by Andrew Scott as Scottish actor Ian Charleson in the final moments of his life as he prepares for his final role while battling AIDS. The film has already been accumulating stellar reviews for Scotts' performance – so much that Scott received a teary hug from Oprah Winfrey herself at the end of its screening.
The Debut, Jesse Eisenberg
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, The Debut is a musical comedy that stars Julianne Moore as a shy housewife Mona who gets cast in a small local theatre production, that's under the director Jerry (played by Paul Giamatti). After enrolling in the production Mona turns into a fierce method actor all in the act to protect her part in the show.
The Liberation, Guy Nattiv
Premiering at Telluride, this film is inspired by a series of actual events that occurred in 1980s. Based on the experiences of director Guy Nattiv's own grandmother being involved in a cult. The story follows a lady named Rita Cooper as she renounces her family to join a cult. Her daughters try to bring her home, but ultimately end up getting drawn to the cult themself.
