Luis Rivera Ruiz
My name is Luis Rivera, and I’m an independent filmmaker and student from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. I study Criminal Justice, Communications, and Film Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where I’ve spent the past several years developing my craft as a storyteller and visual artist.
My journey in filmmaking began with a love for acting, which led me to reenact scenes from my favorite shows at home every day. This is how I taught myself English, by learning the pronunciation of certain words through the characters on screen. Ever since, I’ve experimented with all aspects of filmmaking, including directing, cinematography, lighting, sound, and producing. To date, I’ve created over 25 short films, including several that I’ve written, directed, and edited myself.
Through my projects, I’ve explored everything from character-driven dramas to stylized superhero concepts, as well as documentary filmmaking that examines how media shapes public perception of crime and justice. I’m especially drawn to stories that highlight emotion, perspective, and humanity. My biggest goal with every film is to move forward Hispanic/Latino representation both in front and behind the camera.
Crossroads (2024)
Crossroads was the first film I ever made independently. I wrote, directed, and acted in the project. It was created for the Gold Reel Film Festival and was selected in April 2024. This film was a passion project combining my intrigue for the legends of the crossroads demons and my goal to create stories that showcase Latino/Hispanic talent in front and behind the camera.
Synopsis: John, an aspiring artist, makes a deal with a demon and has to face the bloody consequences.
The Presence of absence (2025)
The Presence of Absence was a short film that was edited to be a one-shot. This was a considerable challenge, as I was the boom operator and had to make sure audio stayed consistent throughout the six shots we took. This film is now in 6 film festivals (two of which are international) and won Best Actress at the Gold Reel Film Festival.
Synopsis: A worn couple finally airs out the distance between them.
UNCC Film Club Documentary (2025)
For my Fundamentals of Film course this semester, I made a documentary on the UNCC Film Club. I served as director, interviewer, camera, and editor. As a longstanding member and president, it was so interesting to learn more about the club’s history through my interview with Professor Rodney Stringfellow.
Five Nights at freddy’s promo (2023)
This promo was created as a part of a collaboration between Allied Global Marketing and the UNCC Film Club. We promoted Blumhouse’s film “Five Nights at Freddy’s” back in 2023. I acted as an actor and producer on the project. The film was seen by higher-ups at Blumhouse, and the officers of the club were sent merch from the studio.
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