Candid, insightful, and one-of-a-kind “master classes” with industry icons and creatives. Always off the record, these invite-only evenings offer both inspiration and actionable advice. Past guests have included Robert Rodriguez, Issa Rae, Jon M. Chu, Ava DuVernay, and Jason Blum.

Informational, eye-opening programming curated around the interests of our community and the needs of the moment. Recent programming has included The Business of Story: Money, Markets, & Momentum in Independent Filmmaking, a series of panels discussing the current state of indie film and strategies to navigate it, along with Storytelling in AI: Where Tech Meets Creative, a full-day summit exploring how creatives can leverage AI tools, and ending with a hands-on generative tutorial.

After developing their projects at RISE, Fellows take to the stage to pitch in the culminating event of the year. PitchFest brings financiers, producers, executives to experience RISE’s top tier talent, offering distinct networking opportunities for filmmakers & industry.

From intimate salon dinners designed to cultivate thought leadership and action, to larger-scale mixers for all levels of the industry (from assistants to C-suite), RISE has become the leading convener of POC Hollywood.

Flagship RISE event showcasing the next generation of POC comedians alongside seasoned vets, hosted by Jo Koy. Past comics include Fluffy, Jimmy O. Yang, Tiffany Hadish, and Hasan Minhaj.