Santa with a Vengeance
Where the Santa saga began. A cult short that earned an IMDb 8.3.
Short • Dir. Aris KoulaidisRiseout Productions presents
Riseout
PRODUCTIONS
Cult cinema. Practical monsters. Neon nostalgia.
Handcrafted horror, dark comedy and ambient worlds — made the hard way, one frame at a time.
Scroll
Filming Now / In Production
Riseout Productions presents
Papanishers vs Santa
The cult-favorite avenger returns — and this Christmas, the enemy is the one with the sack.
Directed byAris Koulaidis & Nick Chanakoulas
GenreHorror • Dark Comedy
FormatAnamorphic 2.39:1
Born from the award-winning Papanisher (2016) and the blood-red legacy of the Santa saga — Santerminator, Santa's Hunger and Santapocalypse — Papanishers vs Santa is the collision the Riseout universe has been building toward for a decade.
Shot in our signature anamorphic 80s style, with practical effects, handcrafted creatures and a pulsing analog score, the production is currently before the cameras. Every frame is built by hand. Every shadow is deliberate.
- Script
- Pre-Production
- Filming
- Post
- Release
Follow the shoot — @riseoutpro
The Saga
The Riseout universe
A decade of blood-red Christmas carnage, building to one collision. Drag to explore.
Santerminator
The saga returns, harder and stranger.
Producer • Nick ChanakoulasSanta's Hunger
More appetite, more practical monsters.
Writer & Producer • Nick ChanakoulasPapanisher
The award-winning avenger arrives. IMDb 8.7.
Film • Dir. Aris KoulaidisSantapocalypse
The saga reaches its end-of-the-world chapter.
Writer & Producer • Nick ChanakoulasPapanishers vs Santa
The collision. Currently before the cameras.
In ProductionScreening Room
Watch our films
Our Vision
Cinema you can feel.
Riseout Productions is an independent collective of filmmakers defining the language of modern cult cinema through tactile artistry and ambient soundscapes — built with real light, real materials and real obsession.
RECTC 01:04:12:08 • 2.39:1
01 / Panavision
80s Aesthetics & Panavision Style
At Riseout Productions, we don't just mimic the past; we channel it. Our visual language is deeply rooted in the gritty, neon-soaked aesthetics of 1980s cinema. By utilizing modern techniques to simulate classic Panavision anamorphic formats, we craft a distinct look characterized by wide aspect ratios, cinematic lens flares, and a meticulously graded color palette. This stylistic choice breathes a sense of epic nostalgia into our narratives, turning every frame into a textured painting of light and shadow.
Smoke-filled rooms, hard backlight, saturated reds and teals, and the soft halation of practical lamps — each look is designed in pre-production and carried through lensing, grading and sound. The goal: a film that feels like a rediscovered VHS from a parallel decade, only sharper, stranger and more alive.
RECTC 01:19:47:21 • Practical
02 / Practical
Tactile Storytelling: Marionettes & Claymation
In an era dominated by digital effects, we champion the visceral impact of practical artistry. Our signature film parodies often incorporate handcrafted marionette puppets and intricate claymation concepts. This tactile approach brings an uncanny, satirical edge to our storytelling. The slight imperfections and physical presence of these mediums create a surreal atmosphere, allowing us to push the boundaries of dark comedy, horror, and social commentary in ways CGI simply cannot replicate.
From sculpting and rigging to lighting and puppeteering, the work is done by hand — and you can see the fingerprints. That human warmth, even in the most grotesque creature, is what gives our films their strange heartbeat.
RECTC 02:31:05:00 • Stereo
03 / Sound
Ambient Soundscapes & Relaxing Music
Beyond the visual shock and awe, Riseout Productions holds a deep reverence for aural atmosphere. We specialize in producing rich, ambient soundscapes and immersive, relaxing music videos. These auditory experiences act as a cinematic counterweight to our intense narratives, offering audiences a space for introspection and calm. Through careful sound design, analog synthesis, and environmental recording, we compose audiovisual journeys that resonate deeply on an emotional level.
Every score is composed in-house, so picture and sound are born together — a pulse under the horror, a drone under the comedy, a quiet hush between the screams.
0Years of cult cinema
0Films & shorts
0Top IMDb score
0Now filming
The Directors
Two minds. One universe.
Together they write, shoot, score, perform and direct every Riseout production — from the first spark of an idea to the final grade.
Director • Editor • Producer • Composer
Aris
Koulaidis
A multifaceted filmmaker whose expertise spans directing, producing, music composition, cinematography, and animation. Known for the visceral impact of Earth Reborn (2010), the cult grit of Zombietrap (2012), and the award-winning Papanisher (2016). His works have garnered recognition at international festivals, pushing the boundaries of independent cinema.
Aris shapes the Riseout look and sound: he frames the anamorphic image, cuts the picture, animates the creatures and composes the score. Recent works include Blood Water and Mummy Nights (2025), and he now directs Papanishers vs Santa.
IMDb Profile
Director • Actor • Writer • Producer
Nick
Chanakoulas
An uncompromising director, actor, writer, and producer known for his intense performances and razor-sharp scripts. He is widely recognized for his memorable roles and creative contributions in Dr. D - The Crash (2012), the atmospheric Τα κουνούπια (2022), and the celebrated Papanisher (2016).
Nick is the voice and the venom of Riseout. He builds the worlds on the page, produces them into existence and steps in front of the camera to bring the characters to life — from the Executor in Papanisher to the voice of the Mummy. He now co-directs Papanishers vs Santa.
IMDb ProfileSelected Works
Analytical Filmography
Director / Producer
Aris Koulaidis
Now
Papanishers vs Santa In ProductionDirector
2025
Blood Water Director • Short
2025
Mummy Nights Director • Short
2023
Chronodark Director • Short
2023
Coffee Boost Director • Short
2022
Τα κουνούπια DP • Short
2020
Devastated Director • Short
2019
I Found Me IMDb 9.0Director • Short
2016
Papanisher IMDb 8.7Director • Film
2013
Santa with a Vengeance IMDb 8.3Director • Short
2012
Zombietrap Director • Short
2010
Earth Reborn Director • Short
Director / Actor / Writer / Producer
Nick Chanakoulas
Director
- Papanishers vs Santa● In Production • Now Filming
Actor
- Blood Water2025
- Mummy NightsVoice of Mummy • 2025
- Τα κουνούπιαScientist • 2022
- OutlandersGuardian • 2019
- PapanisherThe Executor • 2016
- Dr. D - The CrashAvenger • 2012
Writer
- Blood Water2025
- Τα κουνούπια2022
- Santapocalypse2017
- Papanisher2016
- Santa's Hunger2015
- Dr. D - The Crash2012
Producer
- Papanishers vs Santa● In Production
- Τα κουνούπια2022
- Santapocalypse2017
- Papanisher2016
- Santa's Hunger2015
- Santerminator2014
- Dr. D - The Crash2012
On YouTube
Our channels
Channel
Riseout
The official Riseout Productions channel — our films, shorts and AI-generated movies.
@riseoutGet in touch
Let's make something.
Collaborations, screenings, press or just a word about the films — write to us and we'll reply.
info@riseout.art