Telluride 2026: Illusion of an Everlasting Summer, Burgundy, Rehearsals for a Revolution

By: Cortlyn Kelly

In its 53rd edition, the Telluride Film Festival remains an industry leader in showcasing strong, technically excellent stories. While its documentary slate drew significant attention for the world premiere of the secret A24 documentary, “You Can See Everything,” several other titles are worth watching. Compared to previous years, the 2026 festival’s documentary curation is quite diverse in both subject matter and style.

“Where pleasure is treated like a religion” was the motto that drew directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw to beautifully document one of the most illustrious wine regions in France. The duo, known for visually rich representations of niche industries (“The Truffle Hunters”), bring their aesthetic excellence to their new film, “Burgundy.” Introducing each subject as if they were a character in a narrative feature, the film maintains cinematic energy that matches the region’s rich culture and history.

Enzo, monikered “The Boy,” is an aspirational 20-year-old with an old soul. The main plot of “Burgundy” centers on his professional and personal growth, including a budding relationship with Celeste, “The Girl.” There are several other storylines, like a wine critic (Guillaume) and a sommelier (Eric), that weave together to reveal the connectivity of Burgundy’s wine-and-dine ecosystem, but none of them are spotlighted like Enzo. His dedication to the land and vineyard translates into a natural presence in front of the camera. Rather than traditional sit-down interviews with its subjects, the documentary positions itself as a fly on the wall, watching each person work from afar. In keeping the frame stationary for most shots, we’re fixated and able to catch every detail of the subjects’ craft. 

Most of the dialogue comes from conversations between people. This choice also shapes the movie’s narrative, as if some moments are scripted or staged. Although we hear each person’s thoughts and feelings as they express them to another, each moment still feels intimate. To truly achieve the dreamlike state that they sought to create, Dweck and Kershaw pepper the film with Super 8 footage. A childlike segment of Enzo and Celeste reenacting “Bonnie and Clyde” adds levity, but feels like an extra effort that detracts from the authenticity of its key characters. 

“Burgundy” ties up every thread it pulls with a pretty bow. Most resonant is the way the characters come together to expose how age, for the people and the wine, is a complex concept for the region.