The SXSW Tea: Premieres, Parties, Panels, Industry Gossip, and More
Plus: Inside the Epic Implosion of Technicolor, Keeping Production in California, and the Nonfiction Hotlist
Happy Thursday, friends.
We can’t wait to see you in Austin this weekend! Come say hi at our official SXSW panel on Friday OR meet us on the two-story snake slide at our Make A Splash Party on Saturday. Good old fashioned Austin shenanigans guaranteed either way.
Not heading to SXSW? We’ve still got grants, funding deadlines, and industry and acquisition news to keep you entertained.
Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor: SXSW Edition
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hi to featured Portrait members on the Portrait app.
What to Watch in Austin (or Online)
As we head into opening weekend, watch lists abound. A few of our faves:
Congratulations to Portrait films that dominated this year’s watchlists, a staggering 95% of films and TV shows at the festival were made by our members!
Check out all the SXSW films and TV shows made by over 750 Portrait members in the app. Reading this on your phone? Here are a few quick app links to get you oriented:
Industry attendees on Portrait (385+ attendees)
Navigating the Fest: Parties, Panels…Celebs.
Exclusively for Portrait members: be sure to RSVP to our Saturday night party, with Switchboard, ShotDeck, DPA, Dolly Card and Dubfrog.
Panels and events abound: check out events from us, our members, and our partners in the app schedule.
For the headliners: Forbes SXSW Party Guide. Leave it to Forbes to hone in on the buzziest events.
Heading to SXSW for the first time? Here are 10 things you should know. This Austin American-Statesman knows what’s up.
The film festival is set to bring A-list stars—and perhaps some off-screen drama: the biggest storylines to follow at SXSW.
And just for fun… SXSW celeb spotting.
And don’t miss…
Our Official SXSW Panel, Friday 2.30pm, Austin Convention Center.
Join Portrait members and industry bigwigs, Adrienne Becker, Amanda Spain, and Joel Stonington, and Portrait’s Head of Partnerships, Jenny McQuaile, as they discuss surviving constant change in the entertainment business.
What We’re Reading: The SXSW Tea
Prime Video celebrates women-led projects Another Simple Favor, Summer I Turned Pretty and more with immersive SXSW activation.
Here are 10 free events for SXSW 2025 — official or otherwise.
Waymo, Uber begin offering robotaxi rides in Austin ahead of SXSW.
SXSW By The Numbers:
345,066: Predicted attendance for SXSW 2025.
$27,451,942: Estimated event spending.
95: Percentage of SXSW films and shows made by Portrait members.
Beyond Austin: On the Festival & Awards Circuit
Athena Film Festival kicks off today, click I’m Attending in the app.
The Oscars: see the 42 Portrait members behind Oscar winning films in the app.
On The Industry and Acquisitions Beat:
Dogwoof acquires SXSW documentary Deeper. Blayke Hoffman, Writer, Producer; Benjamin Dowie, DP; Sarah Noonan, EP; Cam Batten, Camera Operator; Antony Partos, Music.
Magnolia Pictures acquires The Assessment starring Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel. Allen Gilmer, EP.
Film Movement acquires Adam McKay & Alan Cumming EP’d docudrama Asog. Cecilia Mejia, Producer; Anna MacDonald, DP.
New grassroots efforts take aim at keeping production in California.
CPH:DOX launch online showcase for U.S. buyers: Europe! On Demand.
From “back” to bust: inside the epic implosion of Technicolor.
Window of Opportunity 🔎
See more funding, deadlines, and jobs in the Portrait app
The Nonfiction Hotlist drops this Friday. It aims to celebrate and amplify the best unproduced nonfiction projects. Like The Black List, but for docs! The list is the brain child of Portrait members Adam Neuhaus and Mandi Gorenstein, amongst many others. Read a Q&A with Adam in our friend and Portrait member Kathleen Lingo’s newsletter.
Closing Soon: March Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
Cannes Producers Network Fellowship (3/6 deadline)
AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship (3/7 deadline)
The Writers Lab (3/10 deadline + discount)
Doc Society Climate Story Fund (3/10 deadline)
Sundance Sandbox Fund (3/10 deadline)
Canadian Executive Residency Program (3/13 deadline)
ISA Diversity Initiative (3/13 deadline)
The Doc Society Climate Fund (3/14 deadline)
BRIClab (3/14 deadline)
Claims Conference Grants (3/15 deadline)
Select Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Social Media Director, Brave New Films.
Director, Studio Business Operations, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Vice President, Distribution, Sony Pictures.
She Media: Vice President, Media Solutions, Penske Media Corp.
Editor, IMAX.
Library Sales Executive, A24.
Senior Media Manager, Prime Video, Amazon Prime.
TV Production - Business Affairs Executive, Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Professor of Practice - Media Production, University of Houston.
Assistant Professor, Film and Media Production, University of Nevada, Reno.
Senior Director, Production (Experiential), Wasserman Media Group LLC.
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
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.