Raphaela Wagner (she/her) is a Swiss director-writer based between London and Zürich. Ever curious and drawn to stories that sit somewhere between the familiar and the fantastical, she is interested in using heightened worlds to explore deeply human themes. Her work often places ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, using genre and imagination not simply for escapism, but as a way of looking at real questions from a different angle.

She holds an MA in Film from Raindance Film School / De Montfort University and has directed several award-winning and internationally screened shorts. Her film Saitenstich (2021) premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and was broadcast on Swiss National TV. Her sci-fi short The Draft (2023), shot entirely using virtual production, has screened at festivals internationally and is now streaming on DUST. Raphaela also live-action-directed the interactive film Cuttlefish for London-based studio Flavourworks, leading a hybrid film and game development team.

Her latest short, To Catch a Siren, has just begun its festival run and serves as a proof of concept for the planned feature How to Catch a Mermaid, which was selected for the TFL Next Development Program. Her work to date has also been recognised with the “Förderpreis der Kulturstiftung St.Gallen”, a cultural award spotlighting promising young talent.

Whether working in film, interactive storytelling or live performance, Raphaela is interested in creating worlds that feel distinctive while remaining emotionally truthful. In 2026, she expanded her work into opera with her directing debut, Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera at the Werdenberger Schloss-Festspiele, returning to the region where she grew up. Her production relocated Verdi’s drama to historic Werdenberg, weaving the local landscape and history into the staging. All performances sold out and the production received an enthusiastic response from audiences and press.

Alongside How to Catch a Mermaid, Raphaela is currently developing her Swiss feature Die Wolkenweberin, which won the St.Gallen Treatment Award in 2024 and received development support from the Federal Office of Culture. Raphaela is multilingual and holds the right to work in both Switzerland and the UK.

Beyond filmmaking
Raphaela has trained in ballet and figure skating, reads sheet music, and has practised historical fencing and horse riding - skills that sometimes find their way into her work. She also works as a substitute teacher and film coach, teaching 10–15-year-olds.