A Week of Triumph and Tension in Storytelling
Plus: YouTube Dethrones Hollywood; Telly Awards Deadline; and Streaming Milestones
Happy Thursday, friends.
It’s been a week of extremes. YouTube creators pulled more Gen Z eyeballs than broadcast TV, and the Telly Awards deadline is knocking like a producer with notes. All that while an Oscar-winning filmmaker was detained for doing what many of us do every day: telling a story that matters.
The highs were high, the lows were gutting, and through it all, you kept making. This week’s lineup is packed with the kind of bold, messy, perspective-shifting work that reminds us why we’re here.
Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hi to featured Portrait members on the Portrait app.
What to Watch This Weekend
Minds, Masks, and Messy Truths
The Friend. ”A compassionate portrait of mourning and the bonds that keep us united” (The Daily Beast). Eric Tumolo, Set Decorator; Robert Lugo, Hair Department Head; Jay Wadley, Music; Diane Hounsell, Script Supervisor; Avy Kaufman, Casting Director. In Theaters Friday.
Queer. “Both visually lush, sexually explosive, and emotionally infuriating. It is not a journey that leaves our hearts full, but open and aching” (Mashable). Franco Galiano, Special Effects Supervisor; Marco Alzari, Costume Supervisor; Simone D’Arcangelo, 2nd Unit DP; Robin Urdang, Music Supervisor; Camilo Lara, Music Producer; Yannis Drakoulidis, Still Photographer. Max, Saturday.
Thank You Very Much. “The film largely focuses on Kaufman’s professional achievements... But the film’s most noteworthy moments come on the rare occasions when it probes his psyche” (IndieWire). Alex Braverman, Director; Daniel Hollis, Nelson Hume, David Bolen, Additional DPs; Mark Harrison, Additional Editor; Rochelle Brown, Account Executive; Rudy Pesci, Color Assist; Damien Vandercruyssen, Supervising Colorist; Shuling Yong, Sound Recordist; Christopher Bear, Composer. In Theaters Friday.
Journeys Big, Bold, and Personal
A Complete Unknown. “It’s a remarkable performance. Star of the moment Timothée Chalamet inhabits the loose-limbed, live-wire physicality of the young Bob Dylan” (The Guardian). Nicole Payson, Second Unit Or Assistant Director; Caitlin Doukas, Assistant Costume Designer; Ruth Carsch, Hair Stylist; Lenny Grossman, Actor; Regina Graves, Set Decorator; Macall Polay, Still Photographer; Douglas Luka, Visual Effect Supervisor: On Set; Michael Jortner, Property Master; Kaela Dobson, Additional Makeup Artist; Elijah Wald, Writer; Ilana Rozin, Second Assistant Editor. Hulu.
Grand Tour. “An enchanting, enlivening, era-spanning, continent-crossing travelogue that runs the very serious risk of infecting you with the antidote: a potent dose of wanderlust-for-life” (Variety). Filipa Reis, Producer; Rui Poças, Cinematographer. In Theaters Friday.
First to the Finish. “Captures the grit, passion, and drama of Mazda’s MX-5 Cup through the eyes of three game-changing women in motorsports” (autoblog). Annetta Marion, Director. Amazon Prime.
Fresh from SXSW
The Studio. “Seth Rogen’s blistering new comedy The Studio is laugh-out-loud funny” (The Independent). James Aguilar, Visual Effects; Lorena Perez Batista, Music Editor. Apple TV+.
Holland. “A Kitschy Dutch-Themed Midwestern Town Plays Backdrop to a Twisty Mystery” (Variety). Jaclyn Martinez, Still Photographer; Romain Gateau, Property Master; Monica Spendlove, Hair Stylist; Erin Naifeh, A Cam 1st AC / Director of Photography: Second Unit; Roland N. Thai, Sound Effects Editor; Julio Molina, Production Designer. In Theaters and streaming on Amazon Prime, Friday.
The Ballad of Wallis Island. “Tim Key, Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan are a disarmingly delightful trio in a quirky and music-filled comedy set on picturesque Welsh shores” (Variety). Stephen Kelliher, Executive Producer; Gabriela Yiaxis, Costume Designer; Steve Burgess, Steadicam Operator / B Camera Operator; Max R. Lincoln, Art Director; Adem Ilhan, Composer; Juan Pablo Saldarriaga Alaguna, Sound Editor. In Theaters Friday.
Death of a Unicorn. “A movie that recalls monster flicks from the ‘70s and ‘80s with brutal quality kills placed in a tapestry of social commentary and funny characters” (rogerebert.com). Amy Williams, Production Designer; Melissa Chapman, Music Supervisor; Annie Pearlman, Music Supervisor; Avy Kaufman, Casting Director; Csaba Lódi, Supervising Art Director; John Zarcone, Orchestrator; Andrea Flesch, Costume Designer. In Theaters Friday.
What We’re Reading
Who wants Sundance? Salt Lake, Boulder, and Cincinnati make their pitch
Trump’s DEI attacks create real-time destruction for filmmakers of color
Social platforms are becoming a dominant force in media and entertainment
Oscar-winning Palestinian director released from Israeli detention
On the Festival & Awards Circuit
CPH: Dox is still going on. See who else is on the ground in the app.
BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival is still happening. Check out the 148 members with films at the festival in the app.
The GLAAD Awards are tonight. See the 391 members with films nominated in the app.
Hot Docs announce full lineup. Click “I’m Attending” in the app.
Congrats to Portrait member Monica Villamizar on being invited to join Snarky Elephant Productions’ 2025 Incubator Program cohort.
The Acquisitions Beat
Kiss Of The Spider Woman deal with Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate & LD Entertainment. Susan J Chen, Assistant Editor, VFX Editor, Photographer; Scott Chambliss, Production Designer; Jessica Caldrello, Casting Director; Christy Falco, Makeup Artist.
Unicorns gets North American deal. Rajal Pitroda, Production Consultant;
Iain Kitching, Editor; Silvia Bellitto, Script Supervisor; Jenny Halper, Co-Producer.
Stelios lands theatrical release via Firestorm Entertainment. Nefeli Rapti, Script Supervisor.
The Surrender lands at Shudder, gets May release date. Cailin Yatsko, DP; Bryan Gosline, Camera Operator.
French-Belgian body horror Else sells to North America. Ariane Boukerche, Editor; Paul Corley, Music Department.
Window of Opportunity 🔎
See more funding, deadlines, and jobs in the Portrait app
Join Firelight Media and Distribution Advocates for a hybrid Beyond Resilience conversation, "Owning Distribution", in person at Sandbox Films NYC, or live-streamed on Firelight Media’s YouTube channel. TODAY 4-5pm ET. Featuring Portrait members Mars Verrone and Set Hernandez. Learn firsthand how the teams behind Union and Unseen are breaking new ground—and how you can apply their insights to your own film’s journey.
Last Chance to enter! Our partner at The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens, and the deadline is TOMORROW. New and expanded categories include Narrative, Documentary, and Social Impact, plus judges from Roku, MediaPro, PlutoTV, and more. Apply now with your independent films, original shorts, commercials, social content, or animation.
Closing Soon: March & April Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
Telly Awards (3/28 deadline)
Inevitable Foundation Accelerate Fellowship (3/31 deadline)
Roy W Dean Spring Grant (3/31 deadline + waivers)
Humanitas New Voices Fellowship (3/31 deadline)
First Flights Short Film Fund (3/31 deadline)
PBS Ignite Filmmakers (4/6 deadline)
The Bay List (4/8 deadline)
The Writers Lab (4/8 deadline)
American Film Institute Opens Applications for Cinematography Intensive Workshop (4/10 deadline)
Anonymous Was A Woman Grant (4/15 deadline)
Paramount Directing Initiative (4/25 deadline)
Chicken & Egg (celerator) Lab (4/29 deadline)
Select Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Director, Comedy Development - Temp, Fox Corporation.
Photo Editor, National Geographic, Disney.
Senior Marketing Manager, Film Marketing, Amazon MGM Studios Original Movies, Amazon.
Sr. Video Editor, Jazz Basketball.
Senior Media Manager, Prime Video, Amazon.
Social Media Manager, Sports On Prime, Prime Video Sports, Amazon.
Adjunct: Film, Camden County College.
Episodic Director - CG Series, Sony Pictures Animation.
Assistant Video Editor, Avōq.
Global VFX Supervisor, Paramount.
VFX Producer, Apple.
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on the Portrait app.
Portrait is an invite-only network and professional platform for creative careers. Apply to join or nominate a friend.