Getting Real About The Future of Film
Participant Shuts Down; Tribeca and Seattle Line Ups; A24 Retrospective; Most Anticipated Docs of 2024.
Happy Thursday, friends — and safe travels to those heading home from Getting Real ‘24. Thank you to IDA for bringing Portrait in as the official networking app.
On the ground at the conference:
The Archival Producers Alliance presented a first draft of best practices for use of generative AI.
The Documentary Producers Alliance presented “Negotiating Contracts for Independent Documentary Producers” with minimum pay rates.
Our doc and narrative communities have lots of news to share this week. Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the app.
What to Watch
Ambitious Adaptations (Literal and Metaphorical)
Novel Adaptation: The Sympathizer. The HBO adaptation of Viet Thahn Nguyen’s novel is a “graceful, darkly funny narrativization of Postcolonialism 101” (Vulture). Fernando Meirelles, Director; Kim Ngo, Asst. Costume Designer; Erik Louis Robert, Art Director. Hulu.
Pandemic Adaptation: Stress Positions. “Where so many have failed, this team delivers a hilarious pandemic comedy” (Variety). Allie Jane Compton, Producer; Annie Pearlman, Music Supervisor; Olivia Mastrangelo, UPM. In Theaters Friday.
Bigfoot Adaptation: Sasquatch Sunset. “Four unrecognizably hairy actors, including Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keogh, play mythical creatures in this endearingly bonkers movie” (NYT). Nathan Zellner, Director, Editor, Cast; Tyler Pearson, Jennifer Lee, EPs; Judy Craig, Evan Halleck, Visual Effects; George Rush, Producer. In Theaters Friday.
Murder She Wrote: Crime and Horror Projects That Rise Above The Rest
Drama Series: Under the Bridge. Watch Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough before they both vie for the Supporting Actress Emmy for their work in the new crime drama (Variety). Jennifer Morden, Production Designer; Patricia J. Henderson, Costume Designer; Rosa Terracciano, Hair Dept. Head; Darko Sikman, Still Photographer. Hulu.
Docu-Series: Ctrl+Alt+Desire. “Veteran docu D.P. Colin Archdeacon, who is making his directorial debut, exposes a tale of a digital addiction, loneliness and a distorted reality” (Variety). Colin Archdeacon, Director, Producer; Nicholas Kraus, DP. Paramount+.
Film: Immaculate. “If your spirit has been broken by the typical onslaught of mediocre horror, Immaculate will cruci-fix ya” (Decider). Andrea Chlebak, Colorist; Michael Mohan, Director; Sarah Colvin, Evan O'Brien, NEON; Carissa Clark, Account Exec; Gabriela Leibowitz, Co-Producer; Rudy Pesci, Color Assist; Alessio Ciattini, Technical Manager. Prime.
On the Festival Circuit
Tribeca and Seattle Film Festivals announced their lineups. Check out our early roundups of Tribeca and Seattle film teams (rolling, with more added in days to come). Don’t see your team? Share on Portrait and we will add you!
Sarasota Film Festival announced its award winners. Check out the rundown of Thelma, Sugarcane, Luther, and Alok film teams on the app, all of whom took home top prizes.
What We’re Reading
Participant Shutting Down Operations After 20 Years. As Chris Temple wrote on Portrait: “A terrible dat for impact documentaries. Now it’s on the rest of us to keep carrying the torch!”
Box Office: Civil War Sets A24 Record With $25 Million Debut.
They Made The Lists, We Checked Them Twice
We spotted lots of Portrait member films on big lists making the rounds this week. Click through to see and save the film team members on the app.
A24’s Best 35 Movies Ranked, From Moonlight to Uncut Gems (Variety).
The Best (and Most Anticipated) Documentaries of 2024 (Vogue).
Window of Opportunity
aka The Discover Tab 🔍
Check out the Discover Tab on Portrait for grants, programs, festivals, and jobs.
Coming Soon: Grants, Markets, Screenings
Stowe Story Labs $50,000 Short Film Production Grant. We’re excited to partner with Stowe as they launch their new grant. Mentorship is available throughout the process, including support on building a festival campaign and post-festival distribution program. Learn more here.
Double Screening: Power and Strong Island. Q&A to follow with two time Oscar- and Emmy-nominated director, screenwriter, editor Kirby Dick. April 18, 7:00 PM, Aero Theater in LA. Email netflixdocrsvp@netflixevents.com to RSVP.
Applications are open for the 2024 Gotham Week Project Market. Apply to the Spotlight on Documentaries, U.S. Features in Development and the all-new U.S. Shorts to Features.
Closing Soon: Programs + Grants
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
Catapult and True/False Rough Cut Retreat (4/21 deadline)
Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship (4/23 deadline)
Paramount Directing Initiative (4/25 deadline)
Trans Possibilities Intensive (4/25 deadline)
Roy Dean Short Film Grant (4/29 deadline + waivers)
Black List x TRW Collection (5/1 deadline)
HollyShorts Screenplay Contest (5/3 deadline + discount)
Sloan Science in Cinema Fellowship (5/3 deadline)
SFFILM Rainin Grant (5/3 deadline + discount)
Cine Qua Non Revision Lab (5/4 deadline)
Film Independent Producing Lab (5/6 deadline)
South Arts Individual Artist Grant (5/7 deadline)
Firelight Documentary Lab (5/13 deadline)
Chicken & Egg (Egg)celerator Lab (5/22 deadline)
Smithsonian Spotlight Doc Residency (5/31 deadline)
See more spring + rolling deadlines in our interactive database in the app.
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Global Sr. Manager, Experiential & Content Production, Spotify.
Director of Video Strategy & Brand Development, Salem Media Group, Inc.
Sr. Designer, StoryWorks, BBC.
Principal, VFX Feature Films, Amazon MGM VFX Executive, Amazon.
Head of Programming, Overtime.
Director II, KRTV, The E.W. Scripps Company.
Producer, Cumulus Media.
Creative Producer, CBS Miami (WFOR), Paramount.
WABC Digital Content Producer, Disney Entertainment.
Associate Camera Operator - Temporary/Freelance, Trailer Park.
Camera Operator, Studios (Temporary), Warner Bros. Discovery.
Editor & Motion Graphics Designer, Kroenke Sports Enterprises.
Producer, Pushkin Industries.
See more jobs/gigs in our interactive, filterable database in the app.
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on Portrait.
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