Do you have a short film collecting dust on YouTube or Vimeo? Or maybe you built a whole website around your project, but can’t find new traffic? Perhaps you had a killer festival run, but the cheers and plaudits have faded.
New York Cinefest 2025 at Look Dine-In Cinemas, W. 57th Street
Whether you made the film to stand on its own or as a teaser for your next feature, it’s easy to get lost in the online morass. Fighting the algorithm for attention is like holding a knife in an AI-powered nuclear arms race. They have Skynet…are you ready to find your inner John Connor?
RiseFlix was created to solve the problem of being found in an overabundant ecosystem. It is a curated site of short films that intends to draw attention to new film projects in the pipeline.
Like Def Jam, RiseFlix was started in a college dorm room, but it’s already building a presence in the industry as a showcase for new talent, similar to The Blacklist screenplay site, but for shorts.
The RiseFlix welcome page
But filmmakers can only get so far by sending links. You have to make connections in person, so in addition to the website, RiseFlix hosts networking events and filmmaker showcase screenings in New York and Los Angeles.
(disclosure: I have sat on their industry panels in the past, but writing this was my idea, and they had no editorial control. I met co-founder Mr. Calle-Schultz when he hosted a Q&A for my feature film Stargazer at the Big Apple Film Festival in 2023.)
The Power of In-Person Networking
“Look a person in the eye when you shake their hand.”
I was told this at 5 years old, meeting my uncle as he returned from the army, and that advice still holds. Any good fortune in my career has come from putting myself out there and looking people in the eye. That’s especially important to remember post-COVID, where everyone got used to staying home and “networking” on their phone.
Last weekend, RiseFlix partnered with the film festival New York Cinefest, hosting two panels of industry guests who fielded questions from co-founder Ralph Calle-Shultz and moderator Jack Feldstein before taking queries from the audience.
Panelists included producer/casting directors Amy Gossels and Jodi Collins, entertainment lawyer Novika Ishar, actor/producer PJ Sosko, former executive creative director of DC David Erwin, and producer Scott Kluge.
A RiseFlix Industry Panel at New York Cinefest
David Erwin talked about being deluged by pitches daily, so he emphasized the importance of crafting a unique and captivating hook to get his attention. Kluge echoed the need for submitted work to be top quality, which he acknowledged might not be enough anymore, given the industry’s current flux, but he’s still looking for scripts he can’t put down or a short that blows him away.
Amy Gossels shared what she is looking for in a project when filmmakers approach her.
“As a producer, I don’t take on that many films unless they are shorts. I love taking on short films because you work for a few months and have something great to show at festivals. I don’t take on feature films unless I already have a relationship with the filmmakers, because it takes many years to go through the process.”
The creative path winds more than ever, and the competition is fierce, so take extra time to refine your work before you submit to producers or festivals.
Scott Kluge speaking on the RiseFlix panel with Amy Gossels and David Erwin
Kluge went on to praise the advocacy of directors Sean Baker and Bradey Corbet,
“at every moment they got they were advocating for change, saying ‘we’re nominated for Oscars and BAFTA’s, we haven’t made money from our films,’ if these two directors who are up for all these awards aren’t earning, how is the rest of the industry going to make it? This is part of the crisis, where there needs to be a critical change. But that advocacy is bringing it into the public conversation, and people are talking about it. So that’s a light down the road, to create changes and make a bigger door.”
“I’m optimistic,” said Erwin in response. “Because if you look at streamers, their reliance on data is only going to create mediocre material. I think as the need and hunger for fresh original voices and stories of all kinds is going to be needed and desired by the studios.”
Erwin also broached the topic of AI, the elephant in every creative room, encouraging filmmakers to see how they can incorporate the technology into their practice. “I’m already using AI to create sizzles, it has gotten so good…AI is a great tool if you have a great story to tell as a writer or director. These AI tools are really amazing.”
Entertainment lawyer Novika Ishar speaking on a RiseFlix panel at Cinefest, with (l.to r.) PJ Sosko, Jodi Collins, Ralph Calle-Schultz, and Jack Feldstein
I spoke with co-founder Ralph Calle-Shultz after the talk, asking him what had been most surprising since launching RiseFlix.
“My biggest surprise is how ego instantly disappears as you talk to people about what you are trying to provide. I started this last year as a Junior in college, so you can imagine me going up to talk to someone like David Erwin. It’s very easy for all of them to discount me because of my age, but when they see what we are doing, they want to get involved creatively. They want to talk on the same level playing field. That was my biggest surprise. I thought it would be hard to reach them and even harder to be treated on equal footing, but that has never been the case with anybody.”
Festival co-founder, Gustavo Sampaio, started collaborating with Calle-Shultz and RiseFlix in 2024,
“Ralph has a magnetic personality with a large network of highly skilled creatives and top-level film industry professionals. RiseFlix is a great partner for our CineFest events because of Ralph's ability to curate an engaging panel of experts, as well as bringing his charming and charismatic presence to our events, which elevates the experience for all in attendance. We look forward to a long-lasting partnership!
Panel discussions are really important to filmmakers because it allows them to hear from professionals that are working at the top levels and get a different perspective that helps them find inspiration to continue their creative journey. RiseFlix is also great at making the panels interactive and getting the audience involved so the discussions are catered to those present in the audience. Panels also bring a connection from the industry to the festival itself, bringing legitimacy to the event in its mission to promote independent cinema.”
Wanting to get the audience's perspective, I spoke with some of the panel attendees at the festival to get their reaction to the RiseFlix event. Frustrated by his lack of interesting acting roles, Michael Coppola wrote, produced, and directed a feature film, That Creep from the Bar Last Night, which was nominated for two awards, best feature and best actor, and won the acting award.
“I loved hearing that independent films can rise to the top (like Anora winning the Oscars) and hearing about the studios feeling uncertain. Everyone’s a little scared, and it opens up the chance for independent films. All the big blockbusters coming out are remakes or sequels, not taking the risk of new ideas, so there’s a hunger in the filmgoing market that wants to see a new idea and be wowed by Anora. It gives you hope, something to strive for. There’s an opening, how do I fill that opening? As an actor, I’m still trying to figure out how to be seen in the way I want, not letting the industry typecast me. The trailer for my film is a minute long and showcases what I can do and tells a story.”
Collin Linnville, an actor/producer in attendance with his first feature, Bears, felt an affirmation from the panel discussion that he is pursuing the right approach to getting his work in the world,
“it’s about how to get your work in people’s hands. Meet these people, who knows what connections anyone might have, so finding a personal chemistry with potential collaborators is important. Just be bold and upfront about the work you have to offer. I came into this industry through experimental theater so the idea of making something your own is quite comfortable for me. It’s fun that the industry is celebrating that line of thought at the moment.”
While networking in the festival lobby I bumped into filmmaker Melissa Rodriguez, who I knew from previous panels and currently has a short film, Helado, featured on the RiseFlix site. She was there with a current student of mine from SUNY Purchase, which was a nice coincidence! (We both teach at Purchase but on different days in different departments, so we met at a RiseFlix event!)
Melissa had nothing but praise for her experience as a filmmaker on the site,
“My experience with RiseFlix has been great! They’ve really curated a space for indie filmmakers and champion your film. I’ve had the opportunities to not only grow my network but also meet leading industry professionals that can help sponsor my next project.”
Networking and career building is a marathon, so keep at it and look for opportunities, but keep practicing patience. Just like dating, nobody is interested in people smacking with desperation. Find ways to connect in genuine ways when you meet someone making interesting work and be polite, especially when you feel like you have more experience than them.
Remember Film Industry Rule #1: Today’s production assistant is tomorrow’s producer! Network with integrity.
Attendees at the New York Cinefest RiseFlix panel
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