RISE Fest

Opens on December 4

Run Time: 100 min.

FREE EVENT: TICKET REGISTRATION STRONGLY ENCOURAGED

Doors 6:30 p.m.; Event 7 p.m.
Select Showtime to Purchase Tickets

Click here to learn more about accessibility at the Tomorrow Theater.

This event is free as part of PAM’s Free First Thursday, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

THE EXPERIENCE

RISE is a community cinema showcase featuring new films by members of Catalyst Film Collective and Women in Film—Portland, and includes a Q&A with filmmakers, live audience choice awards, and an after party. This event has built a reputation for not only showcasing diverse filmmakers and films, but as simply one of the best short film programs in Portland, proving that by lifting each other up, we all Rise.

ON SCREEN

Leaders of Men – Lorenzo Lowe III, 2025, 5:42, For Head Coach Anthony Stoudamire, it’s more than just X’s and O’s when leading the Jefferson Demos football team.

Rash – Lyssa Samuel,2025, 11:27, Days before her board exam, a stressed medical student develops a mysterious rash and must decide between pursuing success or saving her health and sanity.

House On Fire – Heather Hawksford & Reed Harkness, 2021, 5:43, Your house is on fire. All people and pets are safe, your data’s backed up. What do you grab? Ask Polly advice columnist Heather Havrilesky’s answer is as surprising as it is deeply moving.

Controlling The Narrative – Eva Moss, 2025, 16, Danica Stone, a cutthroat Hollywood producer, develops a “cinematic dissociative disorder” after her estranged mom dies. To avoid getting stuck in a Rom-Com, she must learn the only way to control her narrative is to let go of what she can’t control.

Salt And Pepper – Cheryl Willis, 2025, 4:37, Introducing Salt and Pepper, a Black tap dancing duo who rise to the pinnacle of the 1940s Black entertainment circuit, while confronting Jim Crow, homophobia, and a friendship wrought with personal clashes.

Cockroach – Heather Older, 2025, 8:40, Juliette tries to survive a recent breakup with her longtime girlfriend by chronically masturbating and convincing herself to start dating men. Her hallucinatory haze is finally relieved (sort of) by an unexpected stranger. Like cockroaches, love always finds a way to survive against the odds.

Help Solve A Murder – Mary Matthews, 2025, 14:25, Meet Perlia Bell, her granddaughter Asianique Savage and the justice fight for Tyz’ Juan James.

There’s A Devil Inside Me – Karina Lomelin Ripper, 2025, 15:30, A mischievous teen, wandering the halls of a Catholic church, is forced to choose where her values lie, when she is accidentally given the church’s collection basket full of cash.

ON STAGE: Elyse Taylor Liburd

As the Film Industry Project Manager at the Portland Events and Film office, Elyse Taylor Liburd works to create opportunities for local filmmakers and productions. This includes initiatives like the Amplify Portland grant program, which awards funding to projects that utilize local talent and showcase diverse stories, workforce development with local organizations so we can increase our talent pool, and being the communication liaison for industry to city bureaus. Her efforts contribute to building a strong film industry ecosystem within Portland and beyond.

A native Portlander, Elyse brings solid entertainment experience of over 15 years of having studied, worked, and performed in both New York and Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has performed in off-Broadway and Nationally. Her work in production began with internships and work at various studios such as Warner Bros, Next Entertainment, and ABC Studios.

ABOUT

Catalyst Film Collective is a Portland-based nonprofit elevating new voices in film by creating visibility and opportunities for members of marginalized communities to tell their own stories—both in front of and behind the camera—at all levels of production. They believe this industry is uniquely positioned to change the global dialogue and culture, and that belief is a thread in all they do.

They are an intersectional group that produces and supports equitable projects that are intentional about hiring women/non-binary, Black, Indigenous, Creatives of Color, and LGBTQIA+ folks, especially in positions of power. They encourage agencies, production companies, and individuals to create better art by hiring truly diverse crews.

Women in Film – Portland is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 member-funded organization dedicated to elevating women in film, communications, and media through education, outreach and professional development in and around the Portland area and is the Portland chapter of the international association of Women in Film.