The 10 Best Movies at the Telluride and Venice Film Festivals. Plus: Nathan Fielder’s Stunning Elizabeth Holmes Doc.

The Big Picture's fall festival report covers Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins' firsthand experiences at the 2026 Telluride and Venice film festivals. The episode opens with discussion of an 'Artificial' trailer before diving into the standout moment: Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes documentary, which had a secret screening at Telluride that apparently made a significant impact on the hosts. The pair then shift to broader "festival vibes"—the general atmosphere, energy, and what the festival selections signal about the upcoming awards season. The bulk of the episode is dedicated to breaking down the best movies from both festivals, with the hosts presumably discussing individual films, performances, direction, and what these selections might mean for the Oscar races ahead. The episode structure suggests a mix of immediate reactions to festival discoveries, industry analysis about what festival selections portend for awards momentum, and detailed film criticism. The hosts appear to be leveraging their access to these prestigious festivals to provide listeners with insider perspective on emerging contenders and critical consensus before wider release. The episode is positioned as a fan favorite—"one of our favorite episodes of the year"—suggesting it combines entertainment value with substantive film discussion. At nearly two hours, it's a substantial deep dive into the festival circuit, which typically serves as a crucial bellwether for awards season and critical conversation. The episode promises to deliver what serious film listeners want: early access to festival discoveries, expert analysis of what those discoveries mean, and guidance on which films are likely to matter in the coming months.

Verdict: A substantive, well-structured festival report that leverages genuine insider access and delivers on its title promise, offering real value for film enthusiasts tracking awards season, though the notes don't confirm exceptional critical depth or entertainment flair.

TV & Film rubric

• Critical insight 3/5 20%

  Show notes indicate analysis of festival selections and Oscar implications, but no specific critical arguments or interpretations are detailed—likely present in the full episode but not evidenced here.

• Behind-the-scenes knowledge 4/5 20%

  Hosts attended both major festivals firsthand and had access to a secret screening of Fielder's documentary, providing genuine insider access and festival-floor perspective.

• Entertainment 3/5 15%

  Positioned as a fan-favorite episode with varied segments (festival vibes, specific films, awards analysis), suggesting engaging conversation, though the notes don't confirm comedic moments or lively banter.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Nearly two hours covering multiple films, festival atmosphere, industry implications, and a major documentary discovery; structured with distinct segments suggesting substantive content throughout with minimal filler.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title promises 10 best movies plus Fielder's Holmes doc; show notes confirm both elements are covered with dedicated segments for festival vibes and Oscar implications.

• Value for time 4/5 15%

  Nearly two hours with multiple distinct segments (trailer, documentary, vibes, top films) suggests good pacing for the length; some listeners may find festival discussion tangential but core audience will find it justified.

How we score TV & Film

Worth it if you care about film festivals, emerging Oscar contenders, or want expert early takes on the year's most acclaimed movies.

Content flags

• Ad-heavy State Farm sponsor read appears in show notes; typical for Vox Media podcasts but notable for a 113-minute episode.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.