Natalie Portman’s new thriller, The Gallerist, debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, featuring Jenna Ortega among its cast. The film, directed and co-written by Cathy Yan, unfolds a tense story centered around Polina Polinski, a desperate art dealer portrayed by Portman herself, who schemes to sell a dead body during Art Basel Miami.
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team Present at the Screening
The Sundance screening gathered key figures including Portman, Ortega, Charli XCX, Yan, and co-writer James Pedersen onstage, though Catherine Zeta-Jones was absent due to travel issues. Alongside them are Sterling K. Brown, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Daniel Brühl, and Zach Galifianakis, rounding out a diverse and acclaimed ensemble. Notably, Charli XCX has three films premiering at this year’s festival, highlighting a busy slate of appearances.
Portman Explores Artistic Compromise and Market Pressures
During a post-screening question-and-answer session, Portman reflected on the film’s deeper themes. Discussing her character’s desperate measures, she humorously remarked,
“I’ve never tried to sell a dead body before, It’s not a one-to-one relationship.”
Natalie Portman, Actress and Producer
She explained that the film’s script expresses a symbolic process artists undergo, saying,
“It’s literal alchemy, what we do as artists. We’re taking something from our souls, and it becomes a commodity. And there’s a magic to that, and there’s a horror to that.”
Natalie Portman, Actress and Producer
Portman further elaborated that The Gallerist resonates with creators who rely on the market for survival:
“Those of us who make art, but also obviously depend on the market to keep getting to do what we love to do.”
Natalie Portman, Actress and Producer
She acknowledged the slippery ethical slope depicted in the story, describing it as a gradual series of compromises:
“Also, what Cathy talked about in our first meeting, which was so resonant, was just the slippery slope of compromise, Being like, ‘Okay, I could do that.’ And then you take one step and then, ‘Okay, I guess I could do that.’ And then before you know it, you’re washing blood off your hands.”
Natalie Portman, Actress and Producer
Festival Context and Transition Ahead
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 22 through February 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, marking the final year the event will be held in these locations. Beginning in 2027, Sundance will relocate to Boulder, Colorado, following the passing of Robert Redford, the festival’s founder. This transition adds emotional weight and a sense of unease to this year’s event amidst tributes and reflections on the festival’s future.
