Nothing Compares 2 Sinead

Jul 27, 2023

Happy Thursday, friends.

Listening to “Nothing Compares 2 U” on repeat? Check out some news that would jive with a fighting-Irish spirit:

Documentary Workers United unanimously voted to ratify their first union contract. Congrats to Bedatri Choudhury and the organizing committee.
5,000 TV commercial production workers unionized with IATSE. Congrats to the many Portrait members involved in this effort.
Looking to exercise your O’Connorian right to put your hand up? Apply for this Worker Power Storytelling Grant to provoke conversation on this moment for labor.

Let’s dive into all the ways you’re being a human like Sinead this week.

— Jean Ellen & Kasia
Co-Founders, Portrait

Roll of Honor

Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week

Congratulations to those with premieres! Let us know if your film is in the mix.

At TIFF: “Stamped from the Beginning,” Roger Ross Williams, director; “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” Julie Gratz, animation; “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa,” Yaniv Elani, editor.
At Venice: “Gasoline Rainbow,” Justin Lacob and the XTR team; “Origin,” Christine Ng, camera operator.

… And congratulations to the team of “On the Line: The Richard Williams Story.” Following its Tribeca premiere, the film has been sold into Sky, Canal+, MNET, Paramount+ and TVNZ. Kadri Koop, Kalea Calloway, Idil Eryurekli, Amanda Ferrarese, Dae Hyun Kim, Caitlin Woods, and Heather Gray.

Watch: A Friendly Joy Ride. If you loved Stephanie Hsu’s last role exploring of the meaning of the universe, check out this equally funny film on friendship and identity. Paul Yee, cinematographer.
Listen: A Financial Thriller. Was the Feds’ 1987 attempt to expose corruption in Chicago a huge success or a massive failure? “Brokers, Bagmen and Moles” investigates. Danielle Elliot, podcast showrunner.
Read: An Organizing Blueprint. Arij Mikati, Managing Director at Pillars Fund, discussed the opportunity right now for doc filmmakers for Color Congress.

“UNKNOWN: Cosmic Time Machine.” The third installment of Netflix’s hit science series — and one of the top 5 show on the platform. Shai Gal, director; Nell Constantinople, producer; Leah Van der Werff, co-producer; Mike Culyba, editor; Sarah Katz, archival producer; Gil Talmi, composer.
“Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia.” The documentary is “slyer and smarter… and the story it prefers to tell is more interesting and complex.” NYT Critic’s Pick. Salima Koroma, director; Olivia Snyder-Spak, producer; Barbie Leung, DP; Sophia Myszkowski, associate producer; Geoff O'Brien, editor; Wyatt Stone, archival producer; Maya Tanaka, producer, Sam Bradley, camera operator.

Brooklyn, Today. Check out the FAM fireside chat with Celia Aniskovich on her doc exposing large music industry conglomerates.
Martha’s Vineyard, Today and Tomorrow. “The Lady Bird Diaries” screens with a discussion with producer Kimberly Reynolds and Luci Baines Johnson. Ben Zweig, editor; Christine Mallia, post-production supervisor.
DC, Tomorrow. Don’t miss the DC screening and Q&A of “This is Not Financial Advice.” Congrats to the full team - Chris Temple, Zach Ingrasci, Jenna Kelly, Carrie Weprin, Martine Phelan-Roberts, Cutter Hodierne, Nicholas Kraus, Mariana Blanco, Yaniv Elani, and Gil Talmi.
New York, this Sunday. “Starring Jerry As Himself” screens at the Asian American International Film Festival. Check producer Jonathan Hsu’s post on Portrait for a special discount code!

Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, Intensives, Workshops, and More

Visions Sud Est Fund (7/27 deadline)
AXS Film Fund (7/31 deadline)
Chopard x BTTL Action Grant (7/31 deadline)
The BDC Films Fellowship Program (7/31 deadline)
DOC NYC: 40 Under 40 (8/1 deadline)
DOC NYC’s 2023 Documentary New Leaders (8/1 deadline)
South Arts Cross-Sector Impact Grants (8/1 deadline)
Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” Grant (8/1 deadline)
DTLA Screenwriting Contest (8/1 deadline)
IDA Documentary Awards (8/8 deadline)
iTVS Open Call (8/11 deadline)
New Orleans Film Society South Pitch (8/11 deadline)
The Gotham: Owning It Personal Brand Accountability Challenge (8/18 deadline)
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab (non-member: 8/28; member: 9/11)
Berlinale Talents Summit (9/4 deadline)
Nostos Screenwriting Retreat (9/15 deadline)
The Athena List (9/15 deadline)

Nausheen Dadabhoy is looking for South Asian and Middle Eastern talent for a short hybrid doc filming in LA on 8/5 for PBS.
Kadri Koop is looking for a 1st AC rec for a narrative shoot in the south of France, August 21-31.
Joe Van Eeckhout is looking for a Doc Editor with verite camera footage experience, ideally interested in western politics and conservation (cannot be anti-hunter). Independent short.
Senior Editor, The Ezra Klein Show, The New York Times.
Video Programming Producer, CNN Digital, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Senior Producer, MSNBC The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle, NBCUniversal.
Sr. Broadcast Producer, This Week (ABC News), The Walt Disney Company.
Health & Science Video Producer, Associated Press.
Content Producer, CNN Newsource, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Executive Producer, Pinterest.
Awards Producer, Woodstock Film Festival.
Editor, NBCUniversal.
Producer, Newsgathering, NBCUniversal.

Congrats to the Optimist team on their US Capitol screening of Abundance: The Farmlink Story to shift policy around food access! Owen Dubeck, director; Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, executive producers; Jenna Kelly, producer.

Until next week, friends. See you on the app.