Film · Opera · Interactive
Director and Writer based between London and Zürich. I’m drawn to emotionally complex, often female-led and human stories, particularly within heightened or richly imagined worlds.
Current work:
“To Catch a Siren” · Director
selected for the BAFTA- & BIFA-qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival 2026
The short film written by Harvey John and directed by Raphaela Wagner follows a young orphan of Iranian heritage who desperately searches for the mermaid she believes is her mother before being adopted and sent far away. It is a modern-day fairytale that explores the very real topics of refugees, displacement and grief, featuring Layla Badat in the title role as Roya.
Further selections include :
“Un Ballo in Maschera” · Director
Raphaela’s Opera-Debut met with praise from audiences and critics.
Jan Krobot, writing in Online Merker, describes the combination of fidelity to Verdi and local reinterpretation as surprisingly successful, ultimately calling the production “rundum überzeugend” (thoroughly convincing). The Appenzeller Zeitung described the production as a “Farbenrausch” (a riot of colour) highlighting Wagner’s staging as reminiscent of a Brueghel painting. Together with a strong ensemble, chorus and orchestra, Wagner’s direction created an Un ballo in maschera that feels both rooted in the regional history and vividly alive in the present. The ecstatic response to the premiere culminated in sold out performances and standing ovations across its full run.
“Die Wolkenweberin” · Director, Writer
Treatment award and development funding for first feature.
Inspired by real events “Die Wolkenweberin” takes the history of the “year without summer” and weaves it into a multi-dimensional story spanning two time periods. Exploring themes of climate, technological advancement and how to retain hope in a world of chaos.
After winning the Treatment Award in 2024, the project received further development money from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture. Produced by Ventura film s.a. the project is currently at script stage.