Lisa Portolan Slow Love Podcast Co-host Film Event !exclusive!
The event, which Portolan will co-host alongside , is designed not as a standard screening, but as a dialogue. The format typically involves a short introduction setting the thematic stage, a screening of a carefully chosen film known for its nuanced portrayal of connection (past selections in the Slow Love universe have included Past Lives , Before Sunrise , or Aftersun ), followed by a guided audience discussion.
Building on the podcast's core theme of "Slow Love"—a movement toward mindful dating and Jane Austenesque courtship —the event explored love and intimacy in a digital-first world.
The audience for these events is a specific cross-section of Portolan’s followers: predominantly millennials and Gen Z, tired of performative dating but still deeply hopeful about partnership. They come as much for the communal experience as for the film.
The upcoming event at [Insert Venue] promises to be the most ambitious yet. Portolan and her co-host have selected a film that challenges the typical “happily ever after” narrative, opting instead for a story about long-term commitment, forgiveness, or the quiet moments that define a partnership. lisa portolan slow love podcast co-host film event
“Cinema has always been our collective dreamscape for romance,” Portolan explains. “From the grand gestures of classic Hollywood to the messy realism of indie dramas, films shape our expectations of love. But we often consume them passively. This event is about watching actively .”
The connection between Portolan and Borgobello was forged at the Italian Film Festival in Canberra , where Ruth’s film, The Space Between , was being showcased. This initial meeting sparked a creative partnership that would later evolve into the podcast during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Portolan, who holds a PhD in dating apps and intimacy, saw a need to document the raw, authentic experiences of vulnerability she was uncovering in her research. Borgobello, drawn to the power of shared human narratives, joined as co-host to help conceptualise and produce the series. Slow Love: Reimagining Intimacy
As dating culture becomes increasingly gamified, events like Portolan’s film night serve as a quiet resistance. They remind us that love stories—both on screen and off—are not products to be optimised but narratives to be lived. The event, which Portolan will co-host alongside ,
: A term coined by Portolan to describe the anxiety and "product-like" feel of modern dating apps.
Slow Love has always been about reclaiming time. At this film event, Portolan offers us the most radical act of all: two uninterrupted hours to watch, reflect, and connect. No swiping required.
In the context of these film events, Portolan acts as a mediator between the screen and the viewer’s heart. Modern dating often feels like a montage of bad dates and awkward text messages—a chaotic, fast-cut edit. The films championed at Slow Love events often provide a contrasting narrative arc. They allow audiences to witness the nuance of courtship, the awkwardness of silence, and the beauty of long-term commitment. By hosting discussions around these films, Portolan encourages the audience to see their own lives as narratives that shouldn't be fast-forwarded. She challenges the "happily ever after" trope, replacing it with a more realistic, though slower, "happily working through it together." The audience for these events is a specific
The intersection of this philosophy with film is where Portolan’s work becomes particularly resonant. Film, by its very nature, is a medium of time. It requires an audience to sit, to watch, and to feel over a duration—a "slow" activity in a distracted world. When Lisa Portolan curates or participates in film events centered on the theme of Slow Love, she is utilizing cinema as a pedagogical tool. These events are not merely screenings; they are communal rituals that echo the very intimacy the movement seeks to restore.
“Slow Love focuses on capturing the stories of everyday Australians... whether they are divorced and in search of a new relationship, eternal romantics or sceptics of monogamy, the protagonists tell their stories with sincerity and candour.” Ilglobo.com · 5 years ago