Lucy Kerr’s debut feature Family Portrait could easily be described as a snapshot of humanity on the brink of disaster. Taking place in late 2019 or early 2020, on the eve of the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic which caused closures, deaths and distractions around the globe, Family Portrait kicks off at the tail end of a family gathering. The film’s central protagonist Katy (played by actress and filmmakerDeragh Campbell) frantically tries to gather everyone around for a group photograph. But there is news that a mysterious respiratory illness has begun to travel and Katy’s mother has gone missing from the group.Mixing overwhelming sounds with fascinating images of bodies and snaps, along with Katy’s obsessive insistence at her task, this quick paced 78-minute film begs the audience to ask themselves just whose viewpoint is captured in a family portrait. But also, what role memories play in our present and future, and can the experience of one individual affect the lives of others…In this journey down memory lane, Katy is joined by her extensive family, as well as her visiting boyfriend Olek (Chris Galust), in a film that was labelled “quietly disquieting,” by The Hollywood Reporter. Family Portrait premiered at this year’s Locarno Film Festival, where Kerr was awarded the Boccalino D’Oro (or Golden Jug) for Best Director by an independent jury of critics. It was an award well deserved for Kerr, a young filmmaker to watch whose latest work weaves a vivid portrait of a family tapestry across three generations — through conversations and the use of photos. E. Nina Rothe