The pros behind the year's biggest projects
Portrait's Creative Talent of 2024 is here. Plus: A big week for the awards circuit and the theatrical releases of festival darlings.
Happy Thursday, friends. It’s launch week!
Portrait’s Creative Talent of 2024 highlights the people behind the biggest projects this year. The lists were a huge hit last year - we're back by popular demand.
Check out all the lists on the Portrait app:
Browse by role, review full portfolios, and save contacts for 2025.
Congratulations to all the filmmakers featured this year — and to everyone making creative work in tumultuous times.
Let’s dive in to what else is happening this week.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the Portrait app.
What to Watch This Weekend
Tackling Life’s Milestones
Nightbitch. “A movie about insisting on your joy and fiercely holding tight to it, not in spite of your motherhood but alongside it” (EW). Allison Rose Carter, Liz Niles, EPs; Howard Paar, Music Supervisor; Carissa Clark, Account Executive; Andrea Chlebak, Supervising Colorist; Natasha Nobre, Sound Post Coordinator; Adrienne Rose White, Cast. In Theaters Friday.
Oh, Canada. A “fascinating match of director and actor, in which both seem to be trying to exorcize the demons of aging through art” (Daily Beast). Damiano Tucci, Elliott Whitton, Divya Shahani, Judd Ehrlich, EPs; Andrew Wonder, DP; Katherine Castro, Camera Operator; Dina Juntila, Music Supervisor; James Baker, Sound Mixer. In Theaters Friday.
Millers in Marriage. “A cast that can look so comfortable in their own skin brings real gravitas to characters who have settled into lives they’re loathe to jeopardize” (Variety). William Rexer, DP; Janet Gaynor, Editor; Jason Singleton, Production Designer; Rosemary Lepre Forman, Costume Designer; Jamie Buckner, UPM; Liz Niles, EP; Ian Cymore, Re-Recording Mixer; Natasha Nobre, Sound Post AP. In Theaters.
Mobsters, Hitmen, and Terrorist Gangs
The Order. “While highly effective as docudrama, The Order is also briskly compelling as a straight-down-the-line detective thriller” (The Guardian). Sean O'Reilly, Lynne Bespflug, Producers; Brad Goodman, Post-Production Supervisor; Ryan Watson, Set Decorator; Benjamin Toner, Asst. Costume Designer. In Theaters Friday.
Hounds. “A trim, unsparing crime tale that pits social desperation against a nagging spiritual conscience” (Variety). Amine Berrada, DP. In Theaters Friday.
Lake George. “A satisfying old school LA Noir… this is [Shea] Whigham’s show, and this performance might yet [be] one of the year’s best” (Deadline). René G. Boscio, Composer; Mohamed Saad Mansoor, Production Supervisor; Jessica To, Associate Producer. In Theaters.
Family Dramas and Epic Journeys
The Taste of Mango. “[Chloe] Abrahams’s film-making language has a supple informality and immediacy, revealing what you might call the unofficial drama of family life” (the Guardian). Chloe Abrahams, Director; Elliott Whitton, Kellen Quinn, Diane Quon, Producers; Martha Gregory, EP; Isidore Bethel, Stella Heath Keir, Editors. In Theaters.
The Return. “Uberto Pasolini’s film feel[s] truly epic, namely in the ways the visual language of the film mourns the bloodshed that would otherwise thrill” (RogerEbert.com). Marius Panduru, DP; Enrico Bernocchi, Gaia Bussolati, VFX; Eve Gabereau, Thanks. In Theaters Friday.
Unstoppable. Jharrel Jerome and Jennifer Lopez star “in the rare sports crowd-pleaser you can believe in” (Variety). John Hindman, Writer; Andy Fraser, Katie Politanoff, Jacquelyn Carr, Producers; Jayme Greene, Asst. Art Director; Jessica Smith, Development Consultant. In Theaters Friday.
What We’re Reading: A Special Doc Collaboration
We’re collaborating with veteran documentary producer Kathleen Lingo on her new newsletter, featuring interviews with directors who have films fighting for eyeballs and impact. We’ll be featuring one column each week in the Oscar run up.
Kathleen’s first interview focuses on Zurawski v Texas, directed by Portrait members Maise Crowe and Abbie Perrault. From director Maise Crowe:
When it was clear during the Supreme Courts' oral arguments that it would be shocking if the Supreme Court didn't overturn Roe, Abbie and I started talking, and what we wanted to know was what does a post Roe America look like? And I, for one, could not imagine what it was going to look like…
The film premiered at Telluride to rave reviews, but no big distributor bought it — so the team has organized a mega indie run this fall. This is how the brave old/new world of social issue doc filmmaking works today. Read all about it in Kathleen’s column.
On the Festival and Awards Circuit
Film Independent Spirit Awards 2025 Nominees announced. See 206 members with nominated teams in the Portrait app.
Gotham Awards 2024 Winners announced. See Portrait members behind winning films in the app.
New York Film Critics Circle 2024 Winners announced. See Portrait members behind winning films in the app .
The Telly Awards announced judges for the 2025 cycle. Congrats to members Francesca Sharper, Rebecca Stern, and Simone Cassas. Portrait is proud to be an official partner of this year’s Telly awards!
The Week Ahead
Thursday: Hamptons Doc Fest kicks off. See 108 Portrait members with films.
Thursday: IDA Awards. See 208 Portrait nominees in the app
Friday: BIFA Awards. See 122 Portrait nominees in the app.
Saturday: European Film Awards. See 54 Portrait nominees in the app.
Monday: Cinema Eye Honors. See 145 Portrait nominees in the app.
Acquisitions this Week
Greenwich Entertainment acquires Ex-Husbands. Michael Taylor, Editor; Ben Mercer, Associate Editor; Amandine Thomas, Production Coordinator; Laura D'Augello, Accountant.
Wayfarer Studios sets nationwide release for The Senior. Jonathan Duffy, EP; Kali Kasashima, Editor; Gerry Pass, Special Thanks.
Greenwich Entertainment acquires blur: To The End. Sebastian Cort, DP; Danny Abel, Editor; Richard Eastick, Sound Recordist.
Window of Opportunity 🔍
Portrait member Jon Reiss’ 8 Above Distribution Lab starts January 2025. Jon created the Distribution Lab so that filmmakers could receive guidance throughout the distribution and marketing process and build relationships with other filmmakers. Read more more information about the Lab and sign up to an info session.
Closing Soon: December Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship (12/5 deadline)
Ford Foundation JustFilms Grants (12/6 deadline)
CAPE Julia S Gaouw Short Film Challenge (12/9 deadline)
IMZ Documentary Pitch (12/9 deadline)
NOFS Emerging Voices Directors Lab (12/10 deadline)
CAAM Fellowship (12/11 deadline)
Sony Future Filmmaker Awards (12/12 deadline)
Uptilt Scholarship (12/12 deadline)
ITVS Open Call (12/13 deadline)
DocLands DocPitch (12/13 deadline)
NYFA Artist Fellowship (12/17 deadline)
Jewish Story Partners Grants (12/17 deadline)
LEF Moving Image Fund (12/17 deadline)
Sundance Cultural Impact Residency (12/20 deadline)
Bitchitra Fellowship (12/30 deadline)
Select Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Director of Photography, West Coast, Hearst.
Vice President, Content, PGA Tour.
Senior Producer, Central Production, Microsoft.
Senior Shooter/Editor, Hearst.
Director, Video, Front Office Sports.
Director, Content Editor & Writer, Expedia Group.
Senior VFX Artist, Blizzard Entertainment.
Digital Media - Director of Content Operations, Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Senior Producer, Games Innovation, Netflix.
Senior VFX Artist, Ember Lab.
Motion Graphics Producer, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.
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.