Anya Raza is a Pakistani-Dutch writer, filmmaker and economist. She runs her creative agency ARC, out of Lahore.
Previously, Anya has worked for several international organizations, including the United Nations, Concern, Kiva, European Union, World Bank and others. She has a background in humanitarian and film industries, and has an MA in Film & Media Production from American University, and and MSc in Economics from the University of Amsterdam.
Moved by the human spirit, Anya works at the nexus of art and justice, and has over a decade of experience telling stories, distilling complex messages and finding commonality in grey areas. Her thought-provoking, poetic and sometimes humorous stories aim to break stereotypes, encourage critical thinking and catalyze change. Anya believes deeply in building community.
Her stories have a focus on quieter voices, supporting social justice themes of freedom of expression, economic empowerment, equal rights and humanitarian causes, amongst others.
Anya is known for her films On The Mountain (2024), Still Here (2022) and How She Moves (2020). Her work has been featured on Forbes, PBS, WETA, Arab News, Al-Jazeera, Volkskrant, and others. Her films have premiered at over 40 festivals globally, including the Oscar-qualifying film festival Tasveer, FilmFest DC, the UK Asian Film Festival, and others. She has won multiple awards for her films, including Best Documentary at the UK Asian Film Festival in 2024, and the 2025 CILECT Fiction Award.
Anya’s documentary series with Kashf Foundation Boss Bajis, is slated for premiere in September 2026. Her films Stars and Asma are in post-production.
Anya is a Quiet fellow, a Kiva fellow, and a proud member of Video Consortium, Brown Girl Doc Mafia and stand-up crew Auratnaak.
PRESS
- Sara Javed Rathore: “On the Mountain” by Anya Raza: Humanising Refugee Narratives in Cinema
- Forbes: ‘On The Mountain’ Is A Short Film With A Big Message
- The Carillon: On the Mountain: A reflection of hope, sacrifice and the unseen battles within
- Arab News: ‘What if this were me?’: Pakistani-Dutch filmmaker amplifies Afghan voices challenging refugee stereotypes
- Voice of America (VoA)
- DC Area Educators for Social Justice: The Most Inspiring Medium: Filmfest DC Classroom Visits 2024
- Al Jazeera
- Dawn News: How She Moves celebrates Pakistan’s Rich Heritage of Classical Dance
- Trouw: ’Ik heb een dak en douche, twintig miljoen hebben dat niet’
AWARDS
- Best Film (2026) – My Karachi Film Festival MYCO – On The Mountain
- CILECT Prize 2025 (Winner) – On The Mountain
- Special Mention Award – Gandhara International Film Festival (GIFF) (2024) – On The Mountain
- Best Film – Sierra International Film Weekend (2024) – On The Mountain
- Best Film (nominee) – Regina International Film Festival & Awards (RIFFA) (2024) – On The Mountain
- Best Documentary – UK Asian Film Festival (2024) – How She Moves
- Best Screenplay – Visions Awards (2022) – Price of Gold
- Impact Award Winner – Dance Camera North (2022) – How She Moves
- Audience Award – Dancinema (2021) – How She Moves
- Honourable Mention – Women’s Voices Now (2021) – How She Moves
- Best International Documentary Short Form Winner – Regina International Film Festival (RIFFA) (2021) – How She Moves
- Excellence in Short Filmmaking Documentary Award – Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) (2020) – How She Moves
FILMOGRAPHY
ON THE MOUNTAIN (2024) – Rabia is put to the test when she is forced to choose between saving the life she once knew, and protecting those she loves and leaving it all behind.
STILL HERE (2022) – Still Here is a short film that depicts the journey from trauma toward healing. It is inspired by clients from the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) – both refugee and asylum-seeking survivors of torture from across the globe – and their many years of work seeking accountability for U.S. torture and to close the Guantánamo Bay prison. To learn more visit https://www.cvt.org/campaign/still-here/
HOW SHE MOVES (2020) – We follow the spirited Indu Mitha, a 90-year-old dance teacher, as she prepares for her final dance performance in Pakistan. From Macao to Bolivia, How She Moves has screened at 27 film festivals globally and won 7 Awards, including Best Documentary and Impact Awards.
NON-FICTION WRITING
- The Quiet effect: Reimagining Return on Value (ROV)
- Home is where the heart is: A look at DC’s housing crisis
- Interview with acclaimed author Diana Athill for Lenny Letter
- ‘Islamofobie? Hollandse nuchterheid noodzakelijk tijdens verkiezingen’ (Translation)
- Contributing Writer, International Yearbook. Country Profile: Pakistan Centro de Estudios y Documentación Internacionales de Barcelona (CIDOB)
- Can Conditional Cash Transfers Contribute to Reducing Poverty in Pakistan?
- The Effect of Remittances on Employment in Pakistan
CONTACT
Queries, comments or interested in collaborating? Email: [email protected]
