May 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival in France
Rishi Raj is an award-winning filmmaker based in Seattle, Washington. His passion for storytelling began in his teenage years in Atlanta, Georgia where he started making short films and videos with friends and family.
While pursuing a computer science degree at Georgia Tech, Rishi honed his filmmaking voice by participating in college filmmaking competitions. He won the top prize at Georgia Tech's Campus Movie Fest all four years. His work earned him three invitations to the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival in France, which he finally attended in his senior year.
After graduation, Rishi relocated to the Seattle area to work as a software engineer at Microsoft. Despite a demanding career in tech, he found his way into the local film scene through the 48 Hour Film Project, where his team, Transatlantic Films, won the Best in City twice and received dozens of accolades, including Best Director and Best Writing twice.
In late 2023, Rishi made the leap and left Microsoft to pursue filmmaking and video production full-time. Since then, he has worked with clients such as the City of Seattle, King County, Mayor of Seattle, Pagliacci Pizza, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Kraken, Goldfinch Entertainment, and various independent narrative productions across the country.
His work has screened at festivals around the world, including HollyShorts in Los Angeles, as well as throughout the Pacific Northwest and Atlanta area. His films span a wide range of genres and styles, but he gravitates toward dramedies that blend sharp wit with emotional depth, often exploring timeless themes of family, identity, and connection.
Rishi pairs a meticulous, technically precise approach with a storytelling style that’s driven by emotion. He seeks to craft narratives that are universal in resonance yet deeply personal in feeling. Taking audiences on a journey that lingers long after the credits roll.
Use the contact page if you're interested in working with him.
Experience:
Director
Screenwriter
Editor (DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro)
Director of Photography
Assistant Director
Producer
Post-Production sound (Re-recording and mixing)
Motion Graphics and VFX (Adobe After Effects)
Gear:
Sony FX6, Sony A7siii, Sound Devices MixPre3, Sennheiser MKH50 Mic
Awards & Official Selections:
HollyShorts 2023, 2024 & 2026
Tasveer Film Festival 2026
Seattle International Film Festival 2026
Wyoming International Film Festival 2026 - Best Director
West Sound Film Festival - Best Comedy 2023, 2024
West Sound Film Festival 2025, 2026
Newport Beach Film Festival 2025
Festive Film Festival 2025
All the Laughs Comedy Fest - Best Domestic Sketch 2024
Lake Stevens Film Festival - Audience Choice 2024
Tacoma Film Festival 2024 & 2025
Bainbridge Island Film Festival 2024
Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner 2019 & 2023
Filmapalooza 2021, 2023, & 2024
Seattle Film Summit 2023 & 2024
Panic Fest 2022
Seattle 48 Hour Film Project Best in City 2020 & 2023
Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Project Best in City Runner Up 2021
Seattle 48 Hour Film Project Best Direction x2, Best Writing x2, Best Cinematography x2, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, Audience Favorite x
Georgia Tech Campus Movie Fest Jury Award 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018