The year movie economics can't be ignored
Plus: "old Shyamalan is back"; Emmy showcases; award-winning theatrical releases; Black Star kicks off.
Happy Thursday, friends, and happy first day of August.
Summer is a time for plans with friends, and we’ve got lots of of them. Check out:
Our new collaborative showcase with The Popcorn List
Our new distribution group with Kinema
Our News and Doc Emmy showcase, now added alongside our TV Emmy nominee showcase. 100 shows and projects from Portrait members were nominated this year — congratulations to all!
Our summer NYC party with ARRI Rental — details coming soon!
Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the app.
What to Watch This Weekend
From Sundance to Theaters: Sex, Drugs, and Political Irish Hip Hop
Kneecap. “Bursting with unruly energy that practically escapes the confines of the screen, “Kneecap” is a riotous, drug-laced triumph in the name of freedom that bridges political substance and crowd-pleasing entertainment” (Variety). Niamh Fagan, EP; Lisa Service, Associate Producer; Jeanette Rehnstrom, Music Supervisor; Kev Cahill, VFX Supervisor.
Sebastian. “Cinematographer Iikka Salminen casts a sleepy spell over London” in this “provocative, explicit, and ultimately tender drama” (IndieWire). Iikka Salminen, DP; Dries Phlypo, Co-Producer; Arttu Salmi, Editor; Katy Covell, Ollie Gilbert, Casting Directors; Guy Thompson, Production Designer.
War Game. A “political thriller in documentary form,” the “chilling” film “shows us what America’s next insurrection might look like” (Vulture). Tony Gerber, Director, Writer; Jesse Moss, Director, Producer; Wolfgang Held, DP; Avantika Nimbalker, Sound, A2; Thorsten Thielow, DP.
Streaming: Dancing across the stage, in the air, up the mountain.
Swan Song. “An absorbing Canadian doc about a celebrated ballerina Who revitalizes ‘Swan Lake’ (THR). Derek Howard, DP; Brendan Mills, Editor. Apple TV+ Friday.
Cirque Du Soleil: Without a Net. [Dawn] Porters’ inquisitive camera gives the viewer enticing detail on how everything comes together… while holding in suitable awe the actual magic all this work eventually yields” (NYT). Bryant Fisher, DP; Kayla Sklar, Associate Editor. Prime Video.
Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa. “What’s remarkable about Lhakpa is not only what she has accomplished as a climber, but the obstacles she overcame”. (Deadline). Christopher Newman, Producer; Devin Whetstone, DP; Matthew Irving, 2nd Unit DP; Tahria Sheather, 2nd Unit Director; Davon Ramos, Editor; Robin J. Hayes, Researcher; Yaniv Elani, Editor; Dalia Burde, producer; Terry Leonard, co-producer. Netflix.
What We’re Reading
At Sundance Lab, movie economics can’t be ignored this year. Portrait 2024 Sundance Lab fellows include Diana Peralta, Hanna Gray Organschi, Sara Crow.
The future of the TV business looks worse than it did just 3 years ago.
Imax CEO Says impact of Hollywood strikes, pandemic is “firmly behind us.”
“Old M. Night Shyamalan Is Back”: Trap first reactions praise Josh Hartnett serial killer thriller. Sabrina Lantos, Still Photographer.
On the Festival Circuit
Lots of festivals kicking off this week! Click through to see who’s attending and to connect with the film teams.
Black Star Film Festival kicks off today (126 members with films)
Asian American International Film Festival kicks off today (65 members with films)
Locarno Film Festival kicks off next week (36 members with films)
Indy Shorts award winners announced!
On the Acquisitions Beat
IFC Films & Shudder Acquire Azrael. Dan Kagan, Producer; Peter Mercell, Compositor: Magic Lab.
The Forge acquires Resynator for North American Distribution Alison Tavel, Director; Kathryn Robson, Writer, Producer, Editor; Sara Nesson, Producer; Christopher Gibson, Editor.
Window of Opportunity 🔍
Check out the Discover Tab on Portrait for grants, programs, festivals, and jobs.
Special Member Benefit: Our New Travel Partner
United for Business offers special travel benefits & discounts to Portrait members and the entertainment industry. Discover more about the perks you can receive on the travel you're already doing.
Closing Soon: July Program + Grant Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
DOC NYC New Leaders (8/1 deadline)
Nickelodeon Writing Program (8/1 deadline)
PROOF Pitch Deck Show and Tell (8/1 deadline)
SeriesFest - Pitch-A-Thon! Roadshow: Toronto (8/2 deadline)
TFM Short Film Fund (8/5 deadline)
IDA Documentary Awards Call For Entries (8/5 deadline)
The Writers Lab Canada (8/8 deadline)
Inside Out ReFocus Fund (8/9 deadline)
NALIP WOC Incubator (8/11 deadline)
CAPE Leaders Fellowship (8/12 deadline)
Women in Animation Mentorship Circles (8/13 deadline)
NEH Media Projects Program (8/14 deadline)
Feature Campus: Stowe Story Labs (8/16 deadline)
LEF Early Development Fund (8/16 deadline)
Southern Doc Fund Production Grant (8/16 deadline)
The Writers Room: Stowe Story Labs (8/16 deadline)
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Creative Title Lead, A24.
Rolling Stone: Director of Photography, Rolling Stone.
Senior Executive, Promo Planning & Strategy, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Head of Studio Operations, Peachy Studio.
Head of Video, Times10.
TV Program Director, The Ohio State University.
Executive Producer - Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft.
Assistant Professor of Practice in Film/Media, University of Texas at San Antonio.
Director of Physical Production (Remote), Legacy Pictures.
DGA Director, FOX.
Director, Paramount.
Senior Photo Editor, The New Yorker, Conde Nast.
Freelance Sports Producer, Paramount.
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on Portrait.
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Could you include Lucy Walker as director?