RAJ JAIN
ABOUT ME
I am a filmmaker and docu-video producer who tells empowering stories on pressing community issues. I work extensively on translating social issues into simple visual narratives. I draw inspiration for my fictional and non-scripted work in the social issues pertaining to the lives of LGBTQ+, racialised people and new immigrants. I have created short films 14.02', 'The Musk Deer' and ‘Ammi’ as the writer-director, which have received recognition at several film festivals.
In 2022, I created and presented at Spadina Museum Toronto my feature documentary film ‘Beyond the Grand White Walls’ exploring the lives of working-class immigrants in early twentieth-century Toronto.
FILMOGRAPHY
FEATURE FILM
BEYOND THE GRAND WHITE WALLS
Writer-Director-Editor
Six people share the struggles of new immigrant workers and their families in the early twentieth century Toronto. This film, for a change, explores the unheard stories of the people in the history who worked for the wealthy families, while fighting racial discrimination.
SHORT FILM
14.02
Writer-Director-Editor
A popular gay comedian who lacks social touch hires a professional cuddler as his valentine date. Can this stay just professional?
SHORT FILM
THE MUSK DEER
Writer-Director-Editor
When a Toronto man Samar finds his conservative father’s secret, he must bring an ironic reality to his mother to reconcile. Only then, he can fulfill his boyfriend Kevin’s dream of making a family.
SHORT FILM
AMMI
Writer-Director-Editor
Middle-aged mother Sanaa has been living a life of lies. Her son prevented her to do something about it. But today he has become her reason to break away.
SHORT FEATURE
SURPRISE IN THE NIGHT
2nd Assistant Director
High-powered Business Executive, Jacqueline Simpson confronts the male gaze, questions female stereotypes, and patiently leads a crew of hung-over employees to success without breaking a sweat.
FEATURE FILM
BABY FEVER
1st Assistant Director
Lila is a pregnant woman attempting to fit the mold of 'perfect' mother set by her new, family-focused community. When she experiences an ectopic pregnancy, however, she becomes the victim of abuse and a furious psychological breakdown.
Toronto South Asian Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film '14.02'
FirstCut Film Festival
BEST SCRIPT
Film '14.02'
Toronto South Asian Film Festival
FirstCut Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST SCRIPT
Film '14.02'
Film '14.02'
Toronto South Asian Film Festival
Film '14.02'
FirstCut Film Festival
Film '14.02'
Toronto Queer Film Festival
BEST FILM
Film '14.02'
Toronto Queer Film Festival
BEST FILM
Film '14.02'
Toronto Queer Film Festival
Film '14.02'
Toronto South Asian Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film '14.02'
FirstCut Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film '14.02'
Toronto Queer Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film '14.02'
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
LIFFT
India Filmotsav.
Canadian
Cinema
Editors
Peter Dickinson Award
2019
OFFICIAL SELECTION
SEMI-FINALIST
FINALIST
STUDENT MERIT
Film '14.02'
Film 'Ammi'
“An outlier student; challenging convention & thinking” at Centennial College
Film '14.02'
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film 'Ammi'
Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film 'The Musk Deer'
DNA Group 'Think Negative'
BEST INNOVATIVE IDEA
National Award for AIDS campaign for artwork 'Matchmaking'
Donny
Awards Centennial College
FINALIST
Film 'The Musk Deer'
Canadian
Cinema
Editors
BEST LGBTQ+ SHORT
Film 'The Musk Deer'
Broadway International Film Festival Los Angeles
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Film 'The Musk Deer'