Join us Saturday, January 24th for a free 90-minute Last Saturdays with Tim webinar as Tim dives deep with writer-director Jessica Rowlands about her remarkable short film RISE, her creative journey, and what it took to bring this powerful story to the screen.
RISE, written and directed by Jessica Rowlands, is a short film based on the extraordinary true story of a young boy in Zimbabwe who finds strength, purpose, and belonging through boxing. The film premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. It is the first Zimbabwean film ever selected to screen at Tribeca and has gone on to win awards internationally while qualifying for 2026 Academy Award consideration in the Best Live Action Short category.
Join Tim and Jessica as they discuss how Jessica found her voice as a filmmaker and the personal experiences that shaped RISE and the evolution of the screenplay — from its origins as a feature idea to the powerful short that has captivated festivals and awards-season buzz.
Tim, who worked closely with Jessica on both the feature script and the short film script that was borne out of it, will offer craft-focused insights on how to take a larger idea and narrow it down to a short film script.
You’ll also get an inside look at what it takes to make a film that travels the world – from festival strategy and working with international collaborators to marketing, impact, and distribution.
Stick around for a live Q&A where you can ask Jessica and Tim your own questions about writing, directing, and navigating the industry.
This free webinar is perfect for writers, directors, filmmakers, and storytellers looking for inspiration and real-world insight into the creative process, especially from a project that has broken new ground for African cinema.
Don’t miss this chance to learn how to best position your work so that it elevates not only your creative vision, but also your visibility to decision makers in the industry.
Date: Saturday, Jan 24
Time: 10am PST / 1pm EST via Zoom