The Telluride Film Festival debuted the Elizabeth Holmes documentary 'You Can See Everything,' receiving positive reactions despite initial apprehension.
At this year’s Telluride Film Festival, a surprise hit emerged with the debut of the Elizabeth Holmes documentary, You Can See Everything. Festival chief Julie Huntsinger confirmed this significant choice during the festival's sneak premiere, which occurred on September 8, 2026. Onlookers had mixed expectations, with one audience member even shouting out for a different feature, indicating the tension surrounding the decision to showcase a documentary over more mainstream genres.
This documentary, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, reportedly garnered enthusiastic reactions from those in attendance, establishing a buzz throughout the festival. As noted by Deadline, festival-goers were still abuzz with discussions about the film more than 24 hours post-screening.
The context of Holmes's story continues to resonate; the documentary dives into her controversial role as founder of Theranos, a Silicon Valley startup that promised revolutionary blood-testing technology, only to face catastrophic failure. As anticipation built before the reveal, Huntsinger’s gamble on a nonfiction film at an event often dominated by narratives seems to have paid off, according to audience reactions.
The film follows Holmes alongside her partner, Billy Evans, during the weeks leading to her prison term, a period ripe for scrutiny and public intrigue. Audience engagement over the documentary has sparked lively debates about Holmes’s character—ranging from perceptions of her as a manipulator to a misunderstood innovator.
Running almost three hours, You Can See Everything captures Holmes's efforts to reshape her image in light of her conviction for fraud related to Theranos. This documentary, featuring candid moments and tension-heavy interactions, exhibits Holmes attempting to navigate her fallout while under the watch of Fielder, who serves as both a director and a documentarian within the narrative. Continuous laughter from audiences, often triggered by Fielder's comedic responses, has further fueled conversations about the layers of meaning underpinning the documentary.
Filmmakers noted that their discussions following shooting sessions often culminated in a lack of consensus regarding Holmes and Evans's motivations, emphasizing the film's ambiguous portrayal of its subjects. This ambiguity could keep discussions going as audiences grapple with its content.
The premiere drew notable figures, including two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone, who moderated the Q&A session following the screening. The event highlighted the film's potential impact on public perception not just of Holmes, but also of documentary storytelling at major festivals. The lively afterparty saw exchanges between the filmmakers and guests over cocktails, underscoring the film's warm reception.
With distribution still unannounced, there’s strong anticipation regarding the documentary’s next steps. A24, the company behind it, has not confirmed future festival presentations or theatrical releases, leaving audiences eager for more details.
The public's response to You Can See Everything at the Telluride Film Festival indicates a bright spotlight on documentaries, particularly those exploring contentious figures like Elizabeth Holmes. As the landscape of documentary filmmaking continues to evolve, this screening could pave the way for similar storytelling approaches within the genre. With the conversation sparked at Telluride, it remains to be seen how the film's distribution will unfold and what implications it may have for both Holmes's legacy and the documentary format itself.
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