Industry Chess Games
Plus: Memorial Day's record box office; Mountainfilm winners; Cannes redux; June deadlines
Happy Thursday, friends.
We hope Memorial Day’s feel-good box office story put you in a good mood. Every outlet had its own takeaways from the record-breaking long weekend:
Puck: This is how a theatrical ecosystem is supposed to work. “We had two mega-movie openers scoring best-case-scenario grosses without somehow cannibalizing each other, all while older movies still generated interest.”
AV Club: Live-action remakes are back from the Snow White bomb. “It’s hard to argue that there’s no money in regurgitating beloved childhood classics when a little blue alien is capable of turning this kind of profit.”
Variety: Execs rejoice. “Last year’s abysmal Memorial frame took the wind out of the sails of the industry that took many weeks to counteract, and this year we don’t have that problem.”
And with that last proclamation, let’s sail on…
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hi to featured Portrait members on the Portrait app.
What to Watch This Weekend
Surreal Quests and Shadow Selves
Tornado. “The second feature from John Maclean is an almost surreal tale of itinerant martial arts performers and a band of thieves in 18th-century Scotland” (The Guardian). Selina Macarthur, Editor; Graeme Mackenzie, Location Manager.
Ghost Trail. “The film [marries] some of the best aspects of spy thrillers and slow cinema in a portrait of the ways that wars haunt us long after we escape them” (IndieWire). Anne-Sophie Gledhill, Costume Designer.
Tim Travers and the Time Traveler's Paradox. “Don't let the tongue-in-cheek tone fool you… at its core, [it’s] a tale of self-acceptance told through the lens of science fiction” (Screen Rant). Bryan Gosline, Cinematographer; Benjamin Yennie, Producer; Simon Begg, Composer; Adam Terrell, Sound Mixer; Daniel Schaefer, Still Photographer.
Full of Sound and Swagger, Signifying Something
It’s All Gonna Break. “Broken Social Scene always seemed like more of a collective than a band… [the film] shows the hard work the musicians had to put into getting on the road” (Rolling Stone). Stephen Chung, Director; Hannah Donegan, EP; Dylan Reibling, Mike Filippov, Camera Operators; Abe Wynen, Colorist.
Ron Delsener Presents. “Nostalgia and moxie infuse an affectionate portrait of a groundbreaking music promoter” (THR). Dan Crane, Writer; James Codoyannis, Editor; Luke Geissbuhler, Cinematographer; Liz Toonkel, Production Designer; Bryant Fisher, Photography; Milena Erke, Music Coordinator; Matt Lathrom, Visual Effects Artist; Leo Gallagher, Asst. Camera.
What We’re Reading: Industry Chess Games
Reed bets on bots. Netflix co-founder joins the board of Anthropic.
Barry Diller writes a eulogy? “A last-of-the-Mohicans memoir for a business no longer defined by big personalities.”
Gavin Newsom doubles down. California is doubling its film incentive, but it may be too late to stop runaway production.
CAA brings in Candle Media exec. The agency hires veteran Brent Weinstein to oversee digital media, podcasts, games, and speakers.
On the Industry Circuit
Mountainfilm award winners announced. Congrats to Director Sam Price-Waldman and Cinematographer Greg Balkin on their Audience Award win for The Life We Have as well as all Portrait members with winning projects.
The best Cannes films, as picked by 48 Critics. Congrats to Portrait members with featured projects!
Masterpiece nabs programs for its 2025/2026 season.
The Count of Monte Cristo. Gabriel Andrés, Nikoline Løgstrup, Editors; Jeremy Zimmermann, Casting Director; Jenny Oman, Production Buyer; Andrea Lo Priore, Elisabetta Rocca, Claudio Bellizzi, Stefano Leoni, Sebastian Vaskio, Alessio Ciattini, Post-Production.
The Great Escaper. Lauren Evans, Casting Director; Richard Spooner, Post-Production.
Window of Opportunity 🔎
Closing Soon: Early Summer Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
SFFILM Sloan Fellowship (5/30 deadline)
The Women’s List (5/31 deadline)
1497 Features Lab (6/1 deadline)
Music on Film Grant (6/2 deadline)
The Black List 2025 Annual Labs (6/1 deadline)
HollyShorts Screenplay Contest (6/2 deadline)
Final Draft Screenwriting Contest (6/9 deadline)
Film Independent Fast Track 2025 (6/9 deadline)
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting (6/15 deadline)
Film Independent Fast Track 2025 (6/23 deadline)
Queer Art Illuminations Grant (7/2 deadline)
Select Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Adjunct Professor of Film and Television Production - Producing, USC
Sr. Account Executive, Wondery
Director, Creative Marketing - Hip Hop & R&B/ Film & TV, Sony
Senior Director, Client Partnerships, Vox Media
Lead Artist, Game Studio, Netflix
Manager, Post Production, Comedy Series, Netflix
Producer, Court TV
Creative Producer, MrBeast
Assistant Director, News, Nexstar Broadcasting
Account Executive, Billboard
Manager, Product Design, Paramount
Video Producer, Democratic National Committee
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on the Portrait app.
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