75min | USA | 2023 Set at the dawn of Covid, Family Portrait follows a sprawling family on a morning when they have planned a group picture. After the mother disappears and one of the daughters becomes increasingly anxious to find her and take the picture, the rest of the family appears to resist any attempt to gather. Initially presenting itself as a realistic portrayal of a family on an idle but hectic summer day, the film progressively descends into a realm where time and space lose their grip, transforming the family portrait into a solemn and enigmatic ritual of transition.
Year of production 2023 Length 75' Country USA Shooting Format Digital Aspect Ratio3:2 Dialogue English Director Lucy Kerr Producers Megan Pickrell, Frederic Winkler Production Insufficient Funds, Conjuring Productions Co-producerRob Rice Executive Producers Lucy Kerr, Brittany Reeber Screenwriter Lucy Kerr Cinematographer Lidia Nikonova Editor Karlis Bergs Production Designer Tim Nicholas Production Manager Sarah Wilson Directorial Advisor Rob Rice Sound Design Nikolay Antonov, Andrew Siedenburg Supervising Sound Editor Nikolay Antonov, Andrew Siedenburg Sound Mixing Andrew Siedenburg Re-recording Mix Nikolay Antonov Art Director Tim Nicholas Set Design Tim Nicholas Costume Design Dev England Hair Stylist /Makeup Artist Heather Michaels Post Production Audio FacilityTonburo ADR Facility Outloud Audio VFX XANF Color Grading Asa Fox Casting Lucy Kerr Cast Deragh Campbell, Chris Galust, Rachel Alig, Katie Folger, Robert Salas, Veronica Cinibulk, Silvana Jakich, David McGuff, Christian Huey, Les Weiler Festival selections Locarno Film Festival 2023, Switzerland - World Premiere, Golden Boccalino Award for Best Director Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival 2023, Mexico Chicago International Film Festival 2023, USA El Gouna Film Festival 2023, Egypt
Directors' Statement Family photographs, according to Roland Barthes, are a desperate means to freeze time and immortalize the family. However, what the family doesn’t realize yet is that, as they smile and pose for the picture, they have already died
