What to Watch This Thanksgiving Weekend
Our Special Holiday Edition is here. Plus - all the deadlines to get a jump on this long weekend.
Happy Tuesday, friends. Welcome to our Thanksgiving Special Edition of the Portrait newsletter.
Just in time for the holiday: check out this week’s excellent premieres from Portrait members. We’ve also got a rundown of upcoming winter deadlines for those using the long weekend to catch up.
We’ll be back next week with our full coverage of industry news and opportunities. Until then, enjoy the films below — plus 36 Thanksgiving movies to feast on this season.
We’re grateful for all of you, our Portrait members and readers, this holiday. Thank you for spending time with us each Thursday. Come say hi on the Portrait app this week — or, if you aren’t yet a member, it’s a great weekend to request your invite.
Let’s dive in!
What To Watch: Thanksgiving Edition
Say hello to featured members on the Portrait app.
In Theaters: Powerhouse Character Studies
Maria. Starring Angelina Jolie as legendary opera star Maria Callas in her last days, the film is “an ode to a woman who could only find peace by singing her heart out” (EW). Liz Niles, EP; Constanza Muñoz, Production Manager; Mathilde Snodgrass, Casting Director; James Reyes, Supervising Digital Intermediate Producer; Rochelle Brown, Account Executive. In Theaters Wednesday.
Queer. Daniel Craig’s “portrait of desire, degradation, and delirium is a sight to behold—and the performance of his career” (Daily Beast). Yannis Drakoulidis, Still Photographer. In Theaters Wednesday.
Move over, Elphaba and Marcus Acacius. It’s Moana’s turn.
Moana 2. “In the wake of one of the best pre-Thanksgiving frames in over a decade with Wicked and Gladiator II drumming up a $200M-plus frame, crowded lobbies around the world will remain intact this week as Disney’s Moana 2 joins the fray” (Deadline). Dana Ledoux Miller, Director; Christian Olan-Geddes, VFX Artist; Carlos Cabral, VFX Supervisor. In Theaters Wednesday.
Now Streaming: Extraordinary Journeys
The Lost Children. “The filmmakers get incredible access to both sets of rescuers and the way these two mutually distrustful groups eventually joined forces" (Guardian). Rafael Mauricio Vidal, DP. Netflix
The New York Times Presents: Weight of the World. As GLP-1 drugs soar in popularity, the new doc “follows three people on their weight-loss journeys — and explores how decades of diet culture and society’s relentless pursuit of thinness paved the way for [the drugs’] rise” (NYT). Geoff O’Brien, Editor. Hulu Friday
A Special Invitation for Portrait members on December 3rd.
Facing the Falls. Director and Portrait member Celia Aniskovich’s film tells the story of an international disability rights advocate, deep in the throes of a muscle-wasting disease, who ventures out on a daring, 12-day expedition through the Grand Canyon.
Press NOTIFY ME on the video or on the Facing The Falls website to be alerted to watch for free on Dec 3rd. Portrait members are also invited to attend the in-person screening in New York on December 3rd.
Holiday Head Start: Winter Deadlines
Get a jump start on deadlines through the end of 2024.
Closing Soon: Winter Deadlines
Antigravity Academy Screenwriters (11/22 deadline)
Black List Cassian Elwes Fellowship (11/22 deadline)
CAPE New Writers Fellowship (11/25 deadline)
To.Get.Her Finishing Fund (11/27 deadline)
2025 Stowe Story Labs Narrative Labs Application: Special Discounted Offer (deadline 11/25)
Anarchists United Film Grants (11/29 deadline)
Ford Foundation JustFilms Grants (12/6 deadline)
DocLands DocPitch (12/13 deadline)
Sundance Ignite Fellowship (2/14 deadline)
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.