With the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival solidifying their lineups this week and the Venice Film Festival kicking off later this month, you might think that there are no more surprises left to come in the fall festival season. You would be wrong.
Today, the BFI London Film Festival announced that David Ayer‘s "Fury" starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal will makes its european premiere as its closing film. The movie’s wide release date was recently moved up from a November 14th to October 17th, raising questions about the WWII flim’s Oscar viability. It appears that Sony believes the film has a shot at making an impression as such. The big question right now is: Which festival will get the world premiere for ‘Fury’?
TIFF and Venice both seem unlikely at this point, with both of the slates pretty much set. So what’s left? There’s Telluride, and while that fest doesn’t reveal their lineup until opening day, it’s famously picky about which movies will be screened, and we’re not sure Ayer’s testosterone spiked movie will necessarily go down well with organizers. NYFF is certainly a possibility. The fest is known for "secret" screenings, one of the more famous in recent memory being the premiere of Martin Scorsese‘s "Hugo" (which was presented in a "unfinished" form, but was pretty much the version everyone saw in theaters). And one more long shot possibility would be Fantastic Fest, with this shoot-’em-up WWII flick a potentially good match.
Thoughts? Theories? Leave ’em below.
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Though I agree it isn't a film that feels like Telluride, there would be no press junkets or red carpets for Shia to contend with. Perhaps the studio wants to stay away from any speak of his night at "Cabaret"…
If BFI closes on October 19, and the movie is released in the US on October 17, who's to say it's even going to play at a North American festival?