Weekly Portrait: Behind the Scenes with the Newest Films of 2023
Creative war rooms, Texas break-ins, and all the awards live from Austin
Happy Thursday, friends,
What a week at Portrait House and SXSW! Thank you to our panelists, our attendees, and our partners at The Gotham and the Documentary Producers Alliance.
Now: let’s see what we’re taking home with us.
This week, we’ve curated our favorite behind-the-scenes stories from Portrait House — plus the accolades y’all swept all over Austin; the cowboy we helped with a break-in; and the deadlines and gigs that are up next.
Let’s circle the wagons!
— Jean Ellen & Kasia
Co-Founders, Portrait
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week
We Learned & Loved: Unlikely Activists Panel
“The Lady Bird Diaries.”
Kimberly Reynolds, Producer; Ben Zweig, Editor
We learned: “Lady Bird truly was the director of this film,” Kim told us. Lady Bird Johnson’s audio descriptions were so visually evocative, the film team used them to go hunting for the perfect archival clips to illustrate the scenes.
We loved: The team joked it would be highly embarrassing if SXSW passed them over given Lady Bird Lake is in Austin. The film did better than that — it won the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award.
“Queendom”
Agniia Galdanova, Director; Igor Myakotin, Producer.
We learned: Igor is from the same town as Gena, the film’s queer protagonist. Igor was inspired by Gena’s courage to be herself — in a small town where that didn’t seem like an option to Igor.
We loved: This Indie Wire review’s description of “fearless producer Igor Myakotin.” Sounds like you have some courage too, Igor!
We Learned & Loved: Hybrid Docs Panel
“Still: A Michael J Fox Movie.”
Annetta Marion, Producer; Julia Liu and Clair Popkin, Cinematographers
We learned: Annetta described the “creative war room” where the team mapped out scripted segments given the “plethora” of MJF material.
We loved: The film won the Hope Award. Jean Ellen witnessed many joyful tears at the film’s screening. Including her own.
“You Were My First Boyfriend.”
Ines Hofmann Kanna, Producer.
We learned: How the film team meticulously recreated the director’s teenage years and some amazing ‘90s throwback treats. More in the clip above.
We loved: This article in Film Threat describing the fill as “elaborate therapy.”
“This World Is Not My Own”
Petter Ringbom, Co-Director; Ruchi Mital, Writer, Producer.
We learned: The recreations of artist Nellie Mae Rowe’s world aren’t claymation — they’re real sets with 3D animation.
We loved: This Deadline Review: “…one of the most inventive films of the festival.”
From Our SXSW Short Film Panelists
“Breaking Silence”
Amy Bench & Annie Silverstein, Directors.
We learned: Amy and Annie let their deaf subject choose what made him comfortable, which meant not bringing an interpreter to sessions.
We loved: The film won the Texas Shorts section, which can only help increase needed festival visibility, as the team’s consultant’s describes, above.
“Closing Dynasty”
Lloyd Lee Choi, Director.
We learned: Seven-year-old Queenie’s moving, eerie humming wasn’t scripted — the child actress started humming the melody, and Lloyd and the composer worked it into the film.
We loved: How the humming and score wove in sounds of the city to create a love letter to New York. The Berlin Film Festival agreed, awarding it best short film.
How to Rig an Election: The Racist History of the 1876 Election
Jenna Kelly, Producer.
We learned: Jenna spoke about how to position for distributors from the outset, given they can be trickier to secure for a short
We loved: Seeing Jenna’s strategy work! The Washington Post’s announced its acquisition of the animated short — narrated by Tom Hanks, launching April 3rd.
“Riders on the Storm” Film Team with Portrait member Bill Wheeler
Elsewhere in Austin….
“Another Body” won the Special Jury Award for Innovation in Storytelling. Nausheen Dadabhoy, Cinematographer.
“The Herricanes” won the Special Jury Award for the Louis Black “Lone Star” Award. Fletcher Wolfe, Cinematographer.
“Riders on the Storm” won the Special Jury Award for Poster Design.
Portrait Member Jason Motlagh, Co-Director.
Window of Opportunity
Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, Intensives, Programming, Events, and More
Coming Soon / Closing Soon
Programming
March 22nd. ”The Lesbian Bar Project” screening in New York. Portrait member Erica Rose is Director and Co-Creator.
March 23rd. Master Class: Thriving as a Woman in Leadership. Sundance.
March 21st: Development, Packaging, & Financing. The Gotham.
Grants and Intensives
NYWiFT’s Loreen Arbus Disability Awareness Grant. Deadline March 10th.
SFFILM Rainin Narrative Feature Grants: $25,000 grants. Deadline March 24th.
JFI Completion Grant. Various Sizes. Deadline March 31st.
Roy W. Dean Film Grant: $3,500 grants. Deadline March 31st.
IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund. Deadline April 4th.
The Gotham/Cannes Producers 2023 Fellowship Application. May 17 - 22.
Critical Juncture grant for LBTQIA+ Black/African descent filmmakers. Applications open April 1st.
Festival Submission Tracker — Two Weeks of Deadlines
New Orleans Film Festival - Next deadline March 17th
Outfest - Next deadline March 17
Nashville Film Festival - Next deadline March 20th
Austin Film Festival - Early bird deadline March 23rd
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Editor to cut a sizzle (April). From Portrait member Matt Ippolito!
DM Matt on Portrait or email him at matt@sena.la.Community Programs Manager, Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Development Manager, Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Senior Editor, Film, The LA Times.
Social/Digital Editor: Email jobs@buddha-jones.com
Digital Editor, A360 Media.
Producer/Reporter, ABC Early Morning News
Associate Producer, Condé Nast
Nightline Producer, Disney
Senior Video Journalist, Bloomberg Industry Group
Video Producer, Instagram, The Washington Post
End Credits: Scene of the Week
We either helped the owner of this unit get in after he locked himself out or we aided and abetted a robbery. What happens in Texas, stays in… this newsletter.
Until next week, friends,
JE + K