Telluride Film Festival recently hosted the North American premiere of “The Apprentice,” a highly anticipated film that delves into the early years of Donald Trump. This film, which has been the subject of much discussion and speculation within the film community, originally premiered at the Cannes Film Festival three months ago. Just days before its Telluride screening, Briarcliff Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights, planning an October 11 release, strategically timed less than a month before the presidential election.

The buzz surrounding “The Apprentice” was palpable, especially for those who missed it at Cannes. Telluride’s impromptu 10 p.m. Saturday screening attracted a full house of 500 attendees, with many more turned away. The film elicited divided reactions post-screening, but it undeniably left a significant impression. The film could potentially be a strong contender in the awards race, particularly for its lead actor, Sebastian Stan, who portrays a young Donald Trump, and Jeremy Strong, who plays his mentor and lawyer Roy Cohn.

“The Apprentice” was penned by Gabriel Sherman, Vanity Fair’s long-time chronicler of Trump, and directed by Ali Abbasi, known for “Border” and “Holy Spider.” This film marks Abbasi’s debut in English-language cinema. It spans from 1973, when a 27-year-old Trump first encountered power lawyer Cohn, to 1986, shortly after Cohn’s death and just before the release of “The Art of the Deal,” the book that catapulted Trump to celebrity status.

Expectations ran high among Trump supporters, who anticipated a Hollywood takedown. Much of this anticipation centered on a scene depicting Trump forcing himself on his first wife, Ivanka (played by Borat Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova), based on an accusation Ivanka later recanted. However, “The Apprentice” is neither a blatant hit piece nor an overly sympathetic portrayal. The film opens with a disclaimer that some aspects are imagined but asserts that most of the story is documented. As Abbasi explained in his introduction, the film aims to serve as a “mirror” to American society, compelling viewers to re-examine familiar narratives.

The film paints a complex portrait of Trump as a young, attractive, and promising businessman who was emotionally scarred by his father and influenced by Cohn, leading him down a path marked by vanity, selfishness, and occasional cruelty. Sebastian Stan masterfully captures Trump’s distinctive look, mannerisms, and speech patterns—a challenging task given the plethora of Trump impersonations out there. Jeremy Strong delivers an equally compelling performance as Cohn, embodying his dead-eyed stare and coiled-snake physicality reminiscent of his time as Joseph McCarthy’s aide.

The Academy has shown in recent years that it appreciates strong portrayals of polarizing figures in controversial films. Characters like Megyn Kelly, Richard Nixon, Tammy Faye Bakker, George W. Bush, Lynne Cheney, Dick Cheney, and J.D. Vance’s grandmother have all earned nominations despite their divisive nature.

Briarcliff Entertainment may be relatively new to the industry, but its chief Tom Ortenberg is an awards season veteran. Ortenberg previously led successful Oscar campaigns for “Crash” at Lionsgate and “Spotlight” at Open Road. For “The Apprentice,” he has already enlisted experienced awards consultants to bolster its chances. The film’s talent is actively promoting it at Telluride, further enhancing its visibility.

In conclusion, much like it would be imprudent to dismiss Trump’s political prospects in 2024, it would be equally unwise to overlook “The Apprentice” in the upcoming awards season. The film’s compelling narrative, strong performances, and strategic positioning make it a formidable contender.