Biography

As screenwroter/director, Raina is currently discussing a first feature project with UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund. She is co-creator, with producer Paul Raphael (Starfield Productons: Anita And Me, Rogue Trader) of a UK Film Council funded romantic comedy project, screenplay by Meera Syal.

Raina combines a solid grounding in theatre, tv and film craft with a desire to explore newapproaches to image making. She supports her practice with an on-going programme of part time study. Currently, she is studying at SOAS (University of London) for a Masters degree in critical media, film and cultural studies.

Raina established her artistic and political foundations in London in the 1980s, writing and performing in theatre productions In 1990 she joined BBC television to direct and produce a variety of news, documentary and music video material, for the campainning disability current affairs magazine programme, One In Four.

Raina went on to train in fiction film direction at The Northern Film School. Her graduation film DRIVE (1997) premiered at The Leeds International Film Festival. DRIVE with audiodescription premiered with LAWN DOGS at the Birmingham International Film Festival (1997). DRIVE was the first fiction film to be audiodescribed at production stage. For this innovation, Raina was awarded 'The Best Overall Innovation, Disability Culture Award', by Picture This Film Festival, Canada. GETTIN OFF (2000) for Channel 4 Television's DOGMA TV drama series was: 'very cheap, very nasty and very good… as raw and unrelenting as only really inspired low budget work can be'. Again for Channel 4 TV, Raina devised and directed BLIND SENSATIONS (2001), 3 X 3 minute experimental films. .

In August 2005, Raina was a lead artist in a group conceptual arts exhibition, 'Acting Up', at London's avant garde Serpentine Gallery. This built on an ongoing practice of expereimental camera and performance work.

Raina has served on numerous committees and boards (including BBCtv, British Film Institute, Arts Council London, London Disability Arts Forum). She practices and teaches a pioneering approach to Audiodescription. As a disability equality trainer. she recently ran workshops for Arts Council London and SOAS. She is a SHAPE registered trainer.