ATTENTION: FILMMAKERS
Level Up with Exceptional Short Films
Your expert resource for short film funding, production, distribution & career growth.
Ready to take your short film to the next level?
Our courses and coaching have guided filmmakers to successfully secure top talent, raise crucial funds, and get recognized at festivals like SXSW and Tribeca.
OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS
MEET THE FOUNDER
John Trefry
John has a remarkable track record as a producer of more than 12 short films that have competed in over 100 global film festivals..
In addition to his role as a creative producer and writer, John has pioneered innovative methods for financing short films and has raised hundreds of thousands across multiple projects.
John is well-versed in marketing and distribution strategies, securing exclusive features for his films in renowned publications including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Indiewire. These efforts have led to global licensing deals that not only generate substantial revenue but also generated hundreds of millions of views. John is proudly represented by Jeff Portnoy at Bellevue Productions.
Alumni of 100+ festivals
2x SXSW , 3x Tribeca, 8x HollyShorts
Short film expert, speaker and festival juror
Specifically Designed for Creatives
FILMMAKERS
DIRECTORS
PRODUCERS
WRITERS
ACTORS
CREATORS
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
STUDENTS
YOUTUBERS
Why We Created Short Film Deep Dive
SHORT FILMS ARE CHALLENGING
It’s no secret that a great short film can launch your career. But creating an exceptional short film is tough. With over 14,000 short films submitted to Sundance each year, standing out is more difficult than ever.
The process—writing, funding, casting, directing, and distributing—is overwhelming, and few resources focus specifically on mastering this format.
That’s why we built Short Film Deep Dive: a community dedicated to guiding filmmakers through every stage of making world-class short films. We provide a proven blueprint, grounded in real successes, to help you craft a short film that truly gets noticed.
Your Blueprint to Elevate Your Filmmaking Journey
Raise Money for Your Film
Access proven fundraising strategies that actually work, from crowdfunding to pitching investors. Learn how to craft compelling pitch decks and utilize unique approaches to secure the funding you need.
Attract Top Actors and Talent
Discover the techniques to attract and attach recognized actors to your short film, even on a limited budget. Learn how to position your project as a unique opportunity that draws top talent.
Compete at
Prestigious Festivals
Get the inside track on what programmers look for, develop a personalized festival strategy, and leverage relationships to increase your chances of acceptance at top-tier festivals.
Build a Lasting Filmmaking Career
Establish a foundation for a sustainable filmmaking career by creating exceptional short films that get noticed. Learn how to craft work that attracts the attention of agents and managers, helping you secure representation and build vital industry connections for long-term success.
Unlock Opportunities
in Film & TV
Transform your short film into a calling card that opens doors to new opportunities in the film and TV industry. With the right strategy, your short can capture the attention of industry insiders, build your reputation, and pave the way for bigger projects.
Greenlight Your feature
Leverage your short film as a proof of concept to secure funding and interest for your feature. By demonstrating your storytelling ability and production quality, you can turn your short into a compelling case for your feature film project.
work with us
Partner with Us to Elevate Your Craft
Discover the guidance and tools to turn your filmmaking ambitions into reality. Dive deep into expert insights and practical strategies designed to elevate every aspect of your craft.
COURSES
Proven strategies to raise money
Attach top actors and crew
Secrets to get into top festivals
Ready to use templates & tools
On demand - lifetime access
COACHING
1-on-1 project guidance
Script & pitch deck support
Custom festival strategy
Personalized career support
Flexible and personalized
FREE RESOURCES
Weekly newsletter
Expert how-to articles
Filmmaking community
Exclusive events & offers
Free insights, articles and tips
TESTIMONIALS
What Others Are Saying
"This course was a wake-up call!"
"Short Film Deep Dive provides real-world tools from development through distribution. As an experienced indie filmmaker, I thought I knew it all, but this course was a wake-up call! The insights I gained continue to shape my approach long after finishing." - Christianna Carmine
"Bespoke advice and strategies"
"John has an incredible ability to craft bespoke advice and strategies specific to your needs as an artist and even more so as a human. His care and integrity while helping build strategies and tools for me, an Autistic writer who has been anxious about my capacity or ability to navigate this world has really made all the difference. " - Matt Foss
"Better than any other course out there"
"If you want to take your shorts to the next level, look no further than Short Film Deep Dive. Filled with everything needed to craft top-quality shorts, and packaged and presented in easily digestible sections, it’s better than any other course out there." - Jamin Mears
"John is the person you need to guide you"
"I’m not sure there is a person in the industry with more experience in the short film space than John Trefry. Even if you already completed your film John is the person you need to guide you through the coming decisions of festivals and distribution, and more importantly, other parts of the process you don’t even know exist yet." - Evan Miller
John at the Premiere of HOW TO BE ALONE at SXSW
John at the Premiere of HOW TO BE ALONE at SXSW
John at HollyShorts for a record 8th time
John at Tribeca for SOULS OF TOTALITY.
Learn from
Industry Experts
Our guest instructors are more than just experts; they’re Emmy winners and industry pros who have harnessed the power of short films to propel their careers and are here to show you how to do the same.
Denzel Whitaker
Known for his roles in Black Panther, The Great Debaters , Cut Throat City to name a few, Denzel Whitaker has simultaneously developed as a filmmaker behind the camera including working for the Peabody-awarded series The Boondocks. His short film, 5150, starring Jovan Adepo (Watchmen) and executive produced by David Oyelowo (Selma) was selected for Tribeca.
Kate Trefry
Kate is best known as a writer and producer on the Netflix series, Stranger Things, which she has written on since season 2. She also wrote and directed the narrative short, How To Be Alone, starring Joe Keery (Stranger Things) and Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest). The film premiered at SXSW and was released on Indiewire, ALTER, Short of the Week and Omeleto,
Ramfis Myrthil
Ramfis was named to the STARZ 40 Under 40 List and has an impressive track record competing at top festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, SXSW and dozens more. Born to Haitian immigrants, he intimately understands the perils of existing as a person of color in America and has made it his life’s work and journey to give voice to the voiceless.
Cristina Dunlap
Cristina's work spans dozens of features, series, narrative shorts and commercials. It's no wonder she's in high demand with audiences and festivals going crazy for her work including at SXSW where she had 3 separate projects in competition. Her recent work includes the buzzed-about Sundance winner Cha Cha Real Smooth released by Apple TV and the Oscar-winning film American Fiction
Trevor Gates
Trevor is a Supervising Sound Editor who operates out of renowned post-production company, Formosa Group. He is behind many incredible projects including Get Out, Hell or High Water, The Haunting of Hill House, and Atlanta to name just a few. Trevor is an Emmy-Winner who has a reputation as an artist who sonically elevates every project he works on, attracting directors like Jordan Peele, Donald Glover, Mike Flanagan and many others.
Russo Schelling
Russo is one half of the creative duo behind Stucco which he co-wrote and co-directed with Janina Gavankar (The Morning Show). Stucco premiered opening night at HollyShorts was awarded a special jury prize at SXSW and has gone on to generate over 140 Million views to become the most-viewed SXSW short of all time.
Richard Raymond
Richard's credits include Souls of Totality, a narrative short starring Tatiana Maslany (Emmy-winning star of Orphan Black, She-Hulk) and Tom Cullen (Knightfall, Becoming Elizabeth) which won a total of 12 awards including, the Best Short Film of the Festival at Raindance and the Grand Jury Award at HollyShorts.
OUR AWARD-WINNING SHORT FILMS
Insights from Real Projects
Explore the proven strategies behind our short films that attracted funding, secured top-tier talent and earned coveted spots at prestigious festivals.
Souls of Totality
Directed by Richard Raymond and featuring Emmy Award-winning actress Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk) and Tom Cullen (Knightfall), Souls of Totality stands as an acclaimed short film. Set against the backdrop of an authentic solar eclipse, marking a groundbreaking cinematic achievement.
How To Be Alone
In this delightfully eerie short film, Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest) takes the lead role, portraying a character whose most profound fears appear to take on tangible forms when her husband, portrayed by Joe Keery (Stranger Things), departs for his nighttime duty. How To Be Alone marks the directorial debut of Kate Trefry, who is a writer and producer on Stranger Things. The film premiered at SXSW and secured an exclusive release with Indiewire.
Will the Machine
Directed by Kent Lamm, this somber character study stars Chris Fornataro (Bad is Bad) and Denzel Whitaker (Black Panther) as they bring to life the story of a high school football star whose relentless ambition hides a darker side, only to surface when he starts losing races to an outsider. The film competed at top festivals like Rhode Island International, Edmonton International, Nashville and New Orleans.
Stucco
Writer/Director duo Russo Schelling and Janina Gavankar joined forces to create Stucco. They successfully landed 6 wins and 8 nominations across several film festivals including Hollyshorts and SXSW. Stucco became the most watched short film in SXSW history generating over 130M views.
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