Anya Raza is a Pakistani and Dutch film producer, script writer and activist living in New York City. She likes to deliver her messages to the public via films and documentaries that she has a close affinity towards. She has extensive experience in the non profit sector as a Kiva Fellow, and with the help of these experiences she motivates and encourages people through the magic of her documentaries. She believes that movies are the best medium for conveying important and socially significant messages to mass audiences. In her films you can find a healthy mix of aspiration, motivation, and comedy.
How She Moves
Her first production documentary was on dance, entitled “How She Moves”. This documentary is specifically for women who want to move forward and want to fulfil their dreams in life. In this documentary she introduces a 90-year-old woman who teaches dance to the girls in Pakistan. In Pakistani culture men can have a narrow and very traditional
perspective towards women and disapprove of such activities. They believe that women have no rights to fulfil their dreams in an individualistic sense, with the autonomy to act alone in their pursuits. But Anya’s documentary conveys a message to the women of Pakistan, that they can fulfil their desire and search for their own opportunities to realize their dreams. This is important for their own progression as individuals.
Role in Social Issues of Pakistan
Besides film and documentary production, she also participates in the social issues of Pakistan. Recently she has produced a documentary on young girls and boys who need further access to sports, but where their environment and family issues do not allow them to participate. According to a survey, 93% of the youth in Pakistan don’t have access to sports. Anya Raza has taken a look at it and created a short film in which she motivates the youth of Pakistan to participate. Sports are essential for the physical and mental health of the body, an important reason why it should be compulsory for children. Anya Raza’s purpose behind this documentary is to create awareness for the government of Pakistan to think about this social issue. PM Imran khan has started a campaign, that this documentary helps to support.
Social Life
Anya Raza has many profiles on different social media platforms i.e. linkedin, medium.com, aboutme.com, etc. She is a professional writer and director, but she also loves to dance. She always produces socially conscious movies and documentaries. And likes to introduce interesting and different motives in her movies. Nowadays she is active for the United Nations, as she wants to promote the issues of Pakistan, especially the rights of women, community, and youth. Anya Raza has specializations in projects related to women’s empowerment, economic empowerment, human rights and emergency responses in her country. She is also writing on the current issues, especially the problems happening with women. Many of her articles are published in magazines and news columns.