Biography

Leslie Harris, wrote, directed and produced The Sundance Film Festival  Special Jury Prize Winning Feature JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T.  As an Executive Producer/Producer and Owner of  Truth 24 FPS productions, Leslie sold her feature to Mini-Major Studio, Miramax Films. Released in over 200 theaters in the U.S. distributed in 20 countries worldwide. Official Selection in Tokyo, Toronto and Deauville International Film  Festivals, and  Independent Spirit Award Nomination Best Performance by a lead  actress. 

Leslie has won IFP Gotham  Award Open Palm, American Film Institute Filmmaker Award, National Endowment for the Arts Grant, multiple New York State Council on the Art Grants and ABC/DGA Directing Fellowship among other awards. 

Leslie began working in the advertising industry, including major advertising  agencies such as FCB and Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide (both members of the American Association of Advertising Agencies). Harris soon grew frustrated with the limits of the advertising industry and  established her own production company and moved into directing commercials.catering to the Black business community such as "Exceptional Women of Color Hair Salon". ' 'It was important to highlight Black Women Entrepreneurs.' Leslie went on to direct THE FIRST NOVEL, LORRAINE KLASSEN TRIBUTE SOUTH AFRICAN LEGEND MIRIAM MAKEBA LIVE AT SOB'S and NEVER FORGET.

Harris' company produced  SHOWTIME NETWORKS broadcast BESSIE COLEMAN A DREAM TO FLY.  During 1920's,Bessie Coleman, an African American aviator, received her pilot’s license   2 years before Amelia Earhart. Leslie wrote, directed and produced receiving Showtime Award of Excellence. 

Taught both full-time and adjunct at New York University Tisch School of the Arts lectured at The Canadian Film Centre, Columbia University, Tulane University, Wellesley College, Portland State and Barnard College among many other colleges and universities. worldwide.  

Leslie has been featured in such publication in The New York Times,  Washington Post, Variety, Essence, Rolling Stone, The Guardian and numerous other publications.

Harris established I LOVE CINEMA PRODUCTIONS to produce features, tv and streaming content. Expressing her love and dedication to cinema, Leslie's states "...there is still a lack of  Black women in features both in front of and behind the camera my goal is to continue the tradition of  JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T. set ,  creating compelling, complex and emotionally moving features  for the audience heart-stopping, thought-provoking and entertaining