Reaa Puri is a filmmaker drawn to stories that explore the textures of being human — the truths that live between gestures, silences, and glances. Her work spans documentary and narrative forms, often rooted in collaboration and a deep curiosity about what shapes people, places, and the emotional landscapes between them. She is the founder of Reascend Creative, a global creative studio focused on storytelling, strategy, and cinematic experimentation. A TEDx speaker and recipient of two Cannes Lions Gold Awards, the Roselyn Schneider Eisner Prize, and the SFFILM Holbrooke Female Fund, Reaa’s work has been supported by Netflix, ITVS, SFFILM, BAVC, CAAM, UnionDocs, and Youth Speaks. Her films have screened at Sundance, SXSW, DOC NYC, MoMA, Mill Valley Film Festival, London Asian Film Festival, SF IndieFest, BAMPFA, and more. Previously, she served as assistant director on Mary Kom (Netflix), showrunner of the Vh1 India series Born Stylish, and DP/editor on a Nike campaign celebrating Black History Month. She has led video teams at Wear Your Voice Magazine, Carbonated.TV, and Hearst Digital Media, and her photography has appeared in Vogue. In 2018, she co-founded Breaktide Productions, a women-of-color–owned film and media company, which she helped grow until 2024. Her creative lens is shaped by an upbringing between Berkeley, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kuwait. Reaa holds a B.A. in Film & Media Studies from UC Berkeley.