Anja Reiß develops and produces documentary formats that combine journalism, cinema, and interactive storytelling. Trained in science journalism and film directing at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, she has many years of experience creating documentaries and reports for public broadcasters including arte, ZDF, SWR, SRF, and 3sat. They primarily explore themes in science, politics, and society, telling stories from diverse communities and cultures around the world.

Alongside her linear films, she develops transmedia projects that explore new narrative forms and participatory storytelling.

Together with her husband and co-director Jann Anderegg, she created the interactive documentary Traces of Responsibility, an audience-driven cinematic experience exploring the origins and aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The film premiered at DocVille in Leuven, screened at international festivals including Sheffield DocFest and DOK Leipzig, and received the DOK.digital Award 2025 at DOK.fest Munich.

In 2023, she also received the DOK.digital Award for the investigative serious game “Truth Detectives – true crime real content.” In this game, players can use their gaming skills to uncover the truth about human rights violations and war crimes.

Anja Reiß is a fellow of the Robert Bosch Foundation, a recipient of the Karl Steinbuch Fellowship and a member of AG DOK. She lives and works in Berlin, Freiburg, and Zurich.