Glued to Our Seats: 10 Compelling Film-based Portfolios

Mackai Sharp

Using Meander

Using motion to maximum effect on this editorial theme, cinematographer Mackai Sharp has created a dynamic portfolio for works in stills and video. The free-form foundation of the meander theme perfectly staggers for a compelling scroll, allowing individual works and projects to stand out from one another. The distinctive site menu enhances this execution, we love this portfolio!

Lorraine Khamali

Using Chroma

London-based director and cinematographer Lorraine Khamali has created a portfolio with a vintage vibe, perfectly suited to her use of film, and the kind of nostalgia her work aims to evoke.

The staggered video and stills of her homepage draw viewers in, and individual works are given the full focus on isolated pages. The use of subtle color background softens the screening of Khamali’s beautiful films. Go, watch.

Duran Levinson

Using Shapes

We love a color background, and this is no exception. The bright, contemporary pink stands in cool compliment to the work of Berlin-based South-African director and content creator Duran Levinson. The contrasts of his work, and the use of scale, and image ratio makes this an exceptionally dynamic portfolio. The large, expanding top navigation gives an editorial feel, as do the hover-on project titles. 

Emily Barresi

Using Offset

There’s still something striking to the use of a classic, minimalistic design to showcase your work. Yale graduate, visual artist and filmmaker Emily Barresi has a lot of it, and draws viewer focus from navigation to the content with no filler. Her use of galleries in displaying stills from her work has her highlighting her favorite frames before the main feature. Her work explores themes of surrealism, magic in everyday American life, and deserves the full attention.

Skinner Myers

Using Iris

LA-based multi-hyphenate talent Skinner Myers has created a beautiful showcase of his work in cinema and image. The large landscape project previews and dynamic, moving text hovers bring a sense of motion even before pressing play. The color-shifting of backgrounds responsive to image brings a sense of immersion into single works. Encouraging viewers to enter the atmospheres he has created.

Genevieve Blais

Using Reflection

World-building is the action behind Toronto-based commercial director and storyteller Genevieve Blais. A delicate gothic style with custom logo frames works embedded directly into the Format portfolio, allowing Blais to capture viewers’ immediate attention with a muted autoplay. We love the scrolling horizontal galleries, and final text panels where Blais lists production credits for works. A fantastic use of this theme and design.

Lusha Alic

Using Slate

The dark electrowave aesthetic of Lusha Alic’s portfolio sets the right tone for her work, which has seen her collaborating with artists like Billie Eilish, 21 Savage, Die Antwood and Kendrick Lamar. Working with brands like Nike, and appearing in publications I-D and Vogue, the video and photo-based artist brings a unique, colorful and surreal style perfectly highlighted in her portfolio.

José Betancourt

Using Horizon Left

A twist on the minimal single-frame portfolio, film director José-Betancourt has used a theme that allows some works to sit alongside one another, creating beautiful contrasts and compliments between his styles. His range is beautifully on display. The use of text under works not only credits collaborators, but visually works so well as a kind of nod to print publications and artists’ monograph. 

Adam Christopher

Using Capture, a theme designed specifically for filmmakers. 

Adam Christopher, a director, photographer and editor based out of Toronto, has distinguished between his multiple roles by using different gallery templates to showcase his work and contributions to other projects. His own as director, large and prominent, his collaborations displayed in a grid. It’s a great cue for the viewer, and shakes up the experience.

Filipe Correia Santos

Using Meridian

With an extreme letterbox stacking of stills and vertical text describing projects, film director Filipe Correia Santos has evoked a film reel with his site design. It’s unique, compelling and drives the viewer into each project. Having worked with brands and artists alike, the self-taught Santos has shown a vision in the display of his works, as distinct as his work itself. Another example of an artist who values their collaborators, each project includes credits in stylistic harmony with the site navigation and design.