Telluride Ushers in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast As An Oscar Contender

After seeing the premiere of Kenneth Branagh’s new feature at the Telluride Film Festival, Variety wrote the headline, “Belfast Is the First Movie at Telluride That Feels Like It Could Be a Best Picture Winner.” The sumptuous black-and-white tale, which received a standing ovation at the festival, recounts the story of young Buddy (Jude Hill) growing up in late 1960s Belfast alongside his family, played by Jamie Doran, Caitríona Balfe, Ciarán Hinds, and Judi Dench. The film is being hailed as timely and luminous, with celebrated performances from the cast. For Deadline, Buddy is “played with spirit, heart and spunk by irresistible newcomer Jude Hill” and his mother is “played with style and substance by Caitriona Balfe.”

See the enthusiastic responses coming out of Telluride below.