Leah Warshawski specializes in producing/directing documentary-style features, television shows, commercials, and branded content in remote parts of the world. She has a BA in Japanese language from the University of Hawaii. Her first feature film, Finding Hillywood (2013) won six awards including the Critc’s Award (Sebastopol Documentary Festival) and the Audience Award (Napa Film Festival) and screened at more than 65 film festivals.
Before developing Finding Hillywood, Leah worked in Hawaii in the marine department for major features and shows on the water including Lost and Hawaii. She is currently co-ep for a feature documentary about the “personhood” movement in America called Personhood (2016) and consults with filmmakers about outreach, marketing and hybrid distribution plans.
In addition, Leah co-founded (and currently manages) “rwandafilm.org”, a “LinkedIn” for Rwandan filmmakers and a tool to help grow the film economy in East Africa. This site is supported by a number of international partners including Bpeace (Business Council for Peace) and The Academy of Motion Pictures. In 2014, Leah served on a number of festival panels and juries including the Heartland Film Festival and received a “VERA” award for “Connector of the Year” from Bpeace. She was also named one of the “5 Women to Watch” by the JT News in Seattle.