Women on Screen, Men in Charge: The Industry’s Open Secret
by Neeraja Raj
Neeraja Raj is an Indian-origin London-based film Writer-Director who crafts emotionally resonant films exploring identity, community, and social impact. Recognized as one of Variety's Top 10 Animators to Watch (2022) and a Forbes '30 Under 30' honouree (2023), her films have featured in Oscar®-Qualifying festivals like SXSW, Tribeca, Sitges and more. Notably, her musical stop-motion animation film 'Meow or Never' achieved much acclaim — shortlisted for the BAFTA Student Awards, won the Young Director Award, and the 'Women in Animation' Best Film Award. Neeraja has also developed IP at Aardman Animations (as a writer on Season 07 of Shaun the Sheep) and Disney Animations (on an unannounced series 'Khatarnaak'). Her film, 'She Creates Change,' a non-profit documentary-animation film about colourism, premiered on Warner Discovery on Women's Day 2024. She is represented by talent agencies VERVE and Gotham Group. Her latest film is called 'MidRiff', in which a young couple's steamy evening is rudely interrupted when the woman unveils an unusual secret...