Raina Liwen Yang is a Chinese writer-director based between New York and Guangzhou. A recent MFA graduate in Film Directing from Columbia University, her work explores identity and power through transcultural narratives, often developed in close collaboration with diverse communities. Her most recent short film, shot in Newfoundland, Canada, received both the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Production Grant and the PictureNL Film Fund.

Her short films have screened at festivals including the Hamptons International Film Festival, the Asian American International Film Festival, New Faces New Voices, and the New York Shorts International Film Festival, among others. She has received support from the Panavision New Filmmaker Program, the American Association of University Women, and the NYC Women’s Fund.

She has participated in development programs including the 2024 Athena Writers Lab and 2025 BendFilm Basecamp. Raina is currently developing her first feature film, Live Catch.

In addition to filmmaking, Raina is a nonfiction writer and journalist. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Cognitive Science and Film from UC Berkeley. Across her work, she is driven by a commitment to fostering empathy across political, cultural, and social divides.

Email: rainayang0818@gmail.com