The Idiot(s) to world premiere at Telluride Film Festival

Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert’s new film begins its international festival journey in Colorado. Gold Rush Pictures’ The Idiot(s) will have its world premiere at the 53rd Telluride Film Festival, taking place in the Colorado Rockies from 4–7 September 2026.

Directed by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, the film stars Aimee Lou Wood and Johnny Flynn as newlyweds Anna and Fyodor Dostoevsky, alongside Vicky Krieps and Christian Friedel.

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Inspired by Andrew D. Kaufman’s The Gambler Wife, The Idiot(s) is both an unconventional love story and an acerbic examination of the mythology surrounding male genius - placing the intelligent, determined woman behind one of literature’s most celebrated figures at the centre of the story.

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The Idiot(s) joins a distinguished Telluride programme featuring new work from filmmakers including Danny Boyle, Werner Herzog, Mike Leigh, Paweł Pawlikowski, Cristian Mungiu and Martin McDonagh. Announcing the selection, ScreenDaily highlighted the film among the festival’s principal 2026 titles.

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Following its world premiere at Telluride, The Idiot(s) will make its Canadian premiere in Special Presentations at the Toronto International Film Festival. It will then open Filmfest Hamburg with its European premiere before screening in Official Competition at the BFI London Film Festival.

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Read the ScreenDaily announcement‍

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View the Telluride Film Festival programme

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