Lionsgate's Bold Bet on AI
Plus: Introducing Portia, your Portrait guide; Sundance winners premiere in theaters; Emmy and TIFF hot takes.
Happy Thursday, friends. Another week, another fun launch on the Portrait app.
Meet Portia, your guide to the latest industry news and all things Portrait.
Daily Insights: Portia shares news and trends at the top of the Portrait feed.
Portrait How-To Guides: Portia's profile highlights ways you can use the app
One-on-One Advice: DM Portia questions, ideas and feedback on the app. Our member experience team will follow up by the next business day.
No, Portia is not AI (we’ll leave the AI news to Lionsgate for today). She is our way of giving you more of what you love from the newsletter, every day in the app.
Check out Portria’s first post on the app — and look for a launch email later today.
Now let’s dive in!
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the app.
What to Watch This Weekend
Delicately Told Coming-Of-Age Tales
Rez Ball. “A charmer with enough of an edge to keep viewers on their toes” (IndieWire). Andrew Roberts, VFX Supervisor; Joseph Winterbotham, Sound Editor; Olivia Miles, Costume Designer; Justin Browne, Camera Operator; Angelique Midthunder, Stacey Rice, Casting Directors. In Theaters.
Girls Will Be Girls, “A resonant and impeccably written film on generational female awakening, mother-daughter affection and rivalry, and bodily autonomy” (Harper’s Bazaar). Shuchi Talati, Director, Writer; Claire Chassagne, Producer; Jih-E Peng, Cinematographer; Kent Bassett, Co-Producer; Akanksha Shyam, 1st Asst. Camera. In Theaters.
In the Summers. “The type of personal, confidently executed first outing that [puts filmmaker Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio] on an auspicious track” (Variety). Alejandro Mejía AMC, DP; Lynette Coll, Sergio Lira, Jan Suter, Rob Quadrino, Fernando Vila, Producers; Javier Gonzalez, Co-Producer; Thomas Culliver, Arturo Sampson, EPs; Estefania Larrain, Production Designer; Emma Ramos, Cast; Johnny Sanchez, Heidi Marshall-Sanchez, Acting Coaches; Oscar Ignacio Jiménez, 2nd Unit: DP; Joseph Winterbotham, Sound Supervisor; Angie Rodriguez, Asst. Editor; Elizabeth Arnott, Marketing. In Theaters.
Fascinating, Affecting New Documentaries
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. “A powerful story of human endurance” (THR). Ian Bonhôte, Co-Director, Producer; Daniel Kilroy, Andee Ryder, EPs. In Theaters
HOLLYWOODGATE. A “fascinating fly-on-the-wall study of the Taliban’s first year in power” (Guardian). Ibrahim Nash’at; Shane Boris, Writer; Elijah Stevens, Producer; Diane Becker, EP; Hussain Currimbhoy, Co-EP. In Theaters
Denial. “A short documentary shows the effect of election conspiracies… through the experience of one elected official” (The New Yorker). Daniel Lombroso, Paul Moakley, Directors; David Zucker, Editor; Melissa Fajardo, Production Team. newyorker.com
Wild and Wonderful Sci-Fi Stories
Omni Loop. “A well-done piece of sci-fi storytelling, a movie that uses what seems like a familiar set-up in a new way” (RogerEbert.com). Ava Benjamin Shorr, Cinematographer; Caity Birmingham, Production Designer; Audrey Waple, Prop Master; Chantelle Adams, Set Decorator. In Theaters
A Different Man. This “psychological thriller stars a never-better Sebastian Stan as a facially disfigured actor who… can't hide the gloomy, self-loathing introvert that lingers in his DNA” (ABC). Anna Kathleen, Production Designer; Umberto Smerilli, Composer; Emilia Spirito, Art Director; Annie Pearlman, Melissa Chapman, Music Supervisors; Owen Kline, Cast; David Forshee, Sound Designer; Deborah Brozina, Camera Operator; Bart Keller, 1st Asst. Editor. In Theaters
What We’re Reading
Lionsgate’s new deal is a test of Hollywood’s relationship with AI
Points North Institute appoints Elise McCave as Executive Director and Sean Flynn as Artistic Director.
How to get locked in by locked cut: a quick music checklist for filmmakers. From member Aurelia Belfield.
On the Festival and Awards Circuit
Emmy Awards. Congratulations to Portrait members who were nominated and won across Sunday night — and at the Creative Arts Emmys. See winning Portrait members in the Portrait app.
TIFF Awards. Read THR's analysis: “the dearth of world premieres of real awards contenders, the comatose sales market and the bizarre audience award pick.” And say congrats to winning Portrait members in the Portrait app.
Nashville Film Festival kicks off today. Click through to see the teams with films in the fest and industry attendees on the app.
In Acquisitions News
A24 acquires Friendship. Andrew Rydzewski, DP; Rocio Gimenez, Production Designer.
Indican Pictures acquires Once Again (For The Very First Time). Nathan Hasz, Andrés Marthe, ADR mixers; Talia Shea Levin, 1st Asst. Director; Jeff Spivack, Associate Producer; Tommy Raps, Cast; Kara Grace Miller, Production Coordinator.
Hulu acquires Nutcrackers. Caitlin Doukas, Costume Designer; Andre Coutu, Post Producer, Co-producer; Kara Grace Miller, Production Coordinator; Danielle Dmytraszko, Post-Production Supervisor; Jessica Arthur, Asst. Costume Designer.
Paramount acquires September 5. Hansjörg Weissbrich, Editor.
Window of Opportunity 🔍
Check out more grants, deadlines, and jobs in the side menu of the Portrait app.
Closing Soon: Fall Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
The Gotham Awards (9/19 deadline)
From Script to PrePro Lab (9/22 deadline)
Berkeley Narrative Short Film Program (9/23 deadline)
#TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive (9/25 deadline)
Voices with Impact Grant (9/26 deadline)
Working Films Impact Kickstart (9/26 deadline)
Lynn Shelton Grant (9/27 deadline)
BEND BIPOC Women Grant (9/27 deadline)
JFI Filmmakers in Residence (9/27 deadline)
Cannes Film Festival Residence (9/30 deadline)
Black Public Media Open Call (9/30 deadline)
The Athena List (9/30 deadline)
SFFILM Film House Residency (10/4 deadline + discount)
Kartemquin Diverse Voices In Docs (10/6 deadline)
SIMA Awards (10/10 deadline)
QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab (10/11 deadline)
Telly Awards Call for Entry (Entries Open 10/15)
Toronto Arts Council Program (10/15 deadline)
Select Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Head of International Content, Wondery.
President and CEO, Firelight Media.
SVP, Movie Development & Programming, Lifetime, A+E Networks.
Director, Drama Programming & Development, FOX Entertainment.
Vice President, Content, Zenith.
TV Director, Spanish Broadcasting System.
Vice President, Casting - Unscripted Production, Telemundo.
Freelance Vice President, Physical Production, FOX Entertainment.
Head of Global Entertainment Brand Partnerships, Video Strategy and GTM, Amazon Advertising LLC.
Director, BET + Partnership Strategy & Business Operations, Paramount.
Looking for DP and Location Sound Mixer, Stockholm, Sweden.
Looking for a Producer for a new comedy/drama feature film. Send links and resume to: terry@terencedonnellan.com or DM him on the app!
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week.
Until next week, friends. See you on the Portrait app.
Portrait is an invite-only professional network for creative careers. Apply to join or nominate a friend.