Ep 22: CHRISTINA RAIA - Critically acclaimed by Indiewire.com
CHRISTINA RAIA
In Her Own Words:
Filmmaking & Community Leadership
I am now a New York City based Writer/Director and the Founder and Team Leader of CongestedCat Productions, LLC. I shot my first feature film, SUMMIT, a Horror-Drama, in 2013. It premiered at the 2015 Manhattan Film Festival and was awarded Best Horror Film. I won Best Director for the film at the 2015 Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival (Vortex Genre Fest); and the film also screened at the 2015 Scare-A-Con Film Festival, 2015 Unreal Film Festival, and 2016 Macabre Faire Film Festival. It is available on Amazon Prime, Vimeo on Demand, and VHX. Shortly after wrapping production on SUMMIT, I directed and produced the comedic web series 'Kelsey,' which premiered on blip.tv in September 2013 to rave reviews and consistent press coverage, including as a Critic’s Pick and named one of the 19 Best Comedy Web Series of 2013 by Indiewire.com. It has over a quarter million hits online and has screened across the country as part of an LGBT Web Series Panel tour, most notably at Outfest. It is now available on Vimeo and Youtube.
I turned my desire to foster collaboration and engagement in the local film community into IndieWorks, a monthly film screening series showcasing and supporting the work of other independent filmmakers in New York. Each month screens 4 or 5 shorts and consistently has over 50 people in attendance. It is currently starting its 6th year and has gained name recognition of its own.
My work often has a focus on character exploration. I have an affinity for ensemble pieces and quick-witted dialogue. I love exploring social issues through humor and horror. My other credits as Writer, Director include a dozen independently produced (read no-budget and community supported) narrative shorts that have made official selection at film festivals across the country. I am currently on the festival circuit with with my second feature, a comedy titled About A Donkey, written by and co-produced with 'Kelsey' collaborator Kelsey Rauber. It has screened at the 2018 Austin Revolution Film Festival, where it was nominated for 7 awards and won Best Produced Screenplay, as well as the 2018 North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, 2018 Georgia Film Festival, 2018 Adirondack Film Festival, 2018 Buffalo International Film Festival, 2018 YoFiFest; 2019, Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, and 2019 Cambria Film Festival; with upcoming screenings at the 2019 Queens World Film Festival and 2019 Capital City Film Festival. I’m in early festival submissions for a new horror short titled “The Gaze,” as well as in early development for Silent Night, my feature horror-comedy that I intend to be my third feature; the screenplay for which made the Quarter Finals of the 2016 Slamdance Screenplay Competition. I was selected as one of the 10 to Watch Filmmakers in 2018 by Independent Magazine, as well as selected for the prestigious 2018 NYFF Artist Academy. At the 2019 Queens World Film Festival, I was honored to receive the Lois Weber Pioneer Award for leadership in filmmaking. Releasing About a Donkey on (S)VOD and exploring funding options for Silent Night make up my mission for 2019!
twitter: https://twitter.com/Craia9
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craia9/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/christinaraia