Film, Television, and Multimedia Producer and ExecutiveSelena Leoni is an award-winning transnational producer and executive from Italy and China. She is a member of BAFTA Connect, Berlinale Talents, Gold House Futures, and Film Independent's Project Involve. Selena's journey into the world of storytelling began with a BAS in New Media from City University of Hong Kong and was further honed at UCLA's MFA Producers Program. Selena has been creating content on social advocacy and humanistic storytelling since her early career in multimedia, and later transitioned into film and television.As a producer and executive with over a decade of interdisciplinary experience, Selena developed and produced many acclaimed projects across genres that have reached various platforms, including STARZ, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Tubi, and Apple TV. As the program director of Flip The Script Short Film Program, she curated and oversaw the development and production of impactful short films that amplify underrepresented voices and perspectives. Her leadership and mentorship empowered emerging filmmakers to craft compelling narratives that earned accolades from prestigious festivals, with "Bienvenidos A Los Angeles" making the Shortlist for the 2024 Academy Awards and "Eid Mubarak" receiving an Honorable Mention on the 2024 Gold List. Her feature film "Young King", the debut feature of Emmy-nominated director Bryant Griffin, premiered at the renowned American Black Film Festival in June 2024.With her passion for globalized character-driven stories and her experience in production, Selena continues to champion social inclusion and give a platform to those who have been historically marginalized in the film and television industry.
The Creator+ Flip The Script Short Film Program is a program dedicated to providing a platform for diverse creators to share their stories by showcasing films that celebrate underrepresented voices and perspectives.As the Program Director and Executive Producer of Flip The Script Short Film Program, I had the privilege of curating and overseeing the development and production of impactful short films that amplify underrepresented voices and perspectives. I worked closely with these filmmakers to develop their ideas and bring their vision to life.I am proud to announce that the short films produced through Flip The Script Short Film Program received great recognition in major film festivals. Notably, "Bienvenidos A Los Angeles" making the Shortlist for the 2024 Academy Awards and "Eid Mubarak" receiving an Honorable Mention on the 2024 Gold List.
PRESS:
Deadline | Oscar Shortlists In 10 Categories Announced: ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Maestro’ & More - December 21, 2023
Variety | Pakistan-Set Oscar Contender ‘Eid Mubarak’ Sets Distribution Deals (EXCLUSIVE) - November 15, 2023
Deadline | Creator + Unveils Inaugural Class Of Emerging BIPOC Filmmakers For Its Diversity Focused Short Film Fund ‘Flip The Script’ - April 28, 2022
Made in usa
15 mins
Festival, 2024
Little Paws Pictures
After getting abruptly fired from her job of over 20 years, a dutiful Chinese-American casino host turns her home into a birth hotel to regain control of her life.
Writer/Director: Desdemona Chiang
Producer: Selena Leoni, Tara Austin
Director of Photography: Rayana Rasamee
Cast:
Yin Yin Liow, Maria Zhang, Ron Yuan
NOTABLE SCREENINGS:
● LGBTQ+ Short Film Showcase (presented by NewFest) at the NYC Department of Education's 2023 GSA Summit
● NewFest 2022 Short Film Program In partnership with the NYC Department of Education
All i ever wanted
16 mins
Released, 2022
Film Independent, Project Involve
Rom-com obsessed teen Christine has always longed for the picture-perfect romance - but she's soon confronted with the fact that her ideal prince charming might actually be a princess charming instead.
Director: Erin Lau
Writer: Van B. Nguyen
Producer: Selena Leoni, Fiona Hardingham
Executive Producer: Calvin Lam
Director of Photography: Jon Pham
Cast:
Cathy Bui, Maria Zhang, Elyse Dinh, Long Nguyen, Connor McRaith
AWARDS:
● BEST COMEDY - HollyShorts 2022
● BEST PRODUCER - Oniros Film Awards New York 2022
HARD
12 mins
Released, 2022
Film Independent, Project Involve
A teenage boy experiences awkwardness and struggles to navigate the uncertainties of his sexuality after his first time with a girl doesn't go as expected, forcing him to confront his feelings of desire for his best friend.
Director: Robin Takao D'Oench
Writer: Corey Dashaun
Producer: Selena Leoni, Mireia Vilanova
Executive Producer: Calvin Lam
Director of Photography: José Andrés Solórzano Becerra
Cast:
Xavier Clyde, Chris Pearson, Nia Sondaya
AWARDS:
● AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS - New York City Short Film Festival 2022
● ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) SHORT - Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival 2022
THE BOND
16 mins
Released, 2022
DevelUp Media
When an incarcerated pregnant woman goes into labor, she must fight to stay connectedto her baby in a system built to keep them apart.
Writer/Director: Jahmil Eady
Producer: Selena Leoni, Reina Higashitani
Director of Photography: Gionatan (Jonni) TecleCast: Ashley Wilkerson, Yolonda Ross, Kathryn Erbe, Jonathan Medina, Keith Sutliff, AmberLi, Jennifer Lee Laks, Hunter Sloan Bodine
AWARDS:
● AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS - Atlanta Film Festival 2022
● SPECIAL JURY MENTION - Atlanta Film Festival 2022
● HONORABLE MENTION JURY AWARD - Bentonville Film Festival 2022
● GRANT PRIZE - Marsh on Washinton Film Festival 2022
HEARTLAND
11 mins
Released, 2021
DevelUp Media
A woman attempts to immortalize her dying grandfather using VR technology, but her obsession with documenting begins to push them apart.
Writer/Director: Jahmil Eady
Producer: Selena Leoni
Director of Photography: Jacqueline ChanCast: Maxine Goynes, Haskell V. Anderson III, Mia-Carina Mollicone
AWARDS:
● AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS - Heartland Indy Shorts International Film Festival 2021
● WINNER - AUDPOP’S 2021 Women's Film Challenge
● BEST LIVE ACTION SCI-FI SHORT - Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival 2021
THE FOLLOWER
5 mins
Released, 2021
Little Paws Pictures
A social media influencer discovers that she has a secret follower threatening her privacy and safety.
Director: Jahmil Eady
Producer/Writer: Selena Leoni
Director of Photography: Jacqueline ChanCast:Kimberly Long
AWARDS:
BEST SUPER SHORT - 1st Monthly Film Festival 2021
THE LUCKY ONE
神過的日子
11 mins
Released, 2021
A man makes a wish to become a God but accidentally switches with one of the four goddesses who has been playing Mahjong in heaven since the beginning of time.
Writer/Director: Yichi Zhang
Producer: Selena Leoni
Director of Photography: Parida TantiCast: Kuozheng Hao, Shenli Zhao, Huabiao He, Zihan Zhao, Gloria Ho, Xinyu Zhang
AWARDS:
● BEST FANTASY - Rome International Movie Awards 2022
● BEST DRAMA FILM - Europe Film Festival UK 2022
● BEST COMEDY SHORT - Tagore Internation Film Festival 2022
Step 9
10 mins
Released, 2023
When a college student is kicked out of her dorm, she must reconnect with her alcoholic father.
Writer/Director: Leah Hulgin
Producer: Selena Leoni
Cinematographer: Heath SaundersCast: Keana Cowden, Frank Collison, Oscar Best
Dream Lollipops
好夢棒棒糖
16 mins
Post, 2023
In 1941 Shanghai, Tan and her disabled daughter Su paint and sell lollipops to make a living, but when a stranger appears wanting to do business, the dream Tan has built starts to collapse.
Writer/Director: Yichi Zhang
Producer: Selena Leoni, Changhui Shi
Director of Photography: Hansuk SohnCast: Crystal J. Huang, Ruike Kuang
The Night
16 mins
Released, 2021
UCLA
Three students recount drastically different versions of a traumatic incident. What is the truth? And what does the pursuit of truth mean in an indifferent justice system?
Director: Lia Lenart
Writer: Reina Higashitani
Producer: Selena Leoni
Director of Photography: Xiang HeCast: Kathryn Schott, Robert Arriaga, Isaac Ramsey, Su Castillo, Rogelio Douglas III
Eve
13 mins
Released, 2021
Spoil Productions
A young bride's queer sexuality awakening is triggered at the wedding reception with her new husband.
Director: Joe Solomon
Writer: Laurence Tratalos
Co-Producer: Selena Leoni
Cinematographer: Jonathan MooreCast: Sophie Delora, Richard Southgate, Miranda Foster, Kevin Fuller
AWARDS:
● BEST COMEDY INTERNATIONAL - AltFF Alternative Film Festival 2021
● BEST LGBTQ SHORT - Florence Film Awards 2021
● BEST LGBTQ SHORT - Hollywood Gold Awards 2021
● BEST LGBTQ SHORT - Milan Gold Awards 2021
● BEST LGBTQ SHORT - Virgin Spring Cinefest 2021
SORRY GRANDPA HSIAO
13 mins
Festival, 2023
Hillman Grad and 271 Films, with Indeed
Desperate for a promotion, a Chinese American woman enlists her “perfect” brother to help exploit her grandpa’s death anniversary for her company’s AAPI heritage month social takeover.
Writer/Director: Candace Ho
Producer: Selena Leoni, Mireia VilanovaCast: Valerie Yu, Mark Daugherty
DARE GREATLY
4 mins
Festival, 2023
Little Paws Pictures & Row Z Studios
A woman's journey for love and connection in the grocery store parking lot.
Writer/Director: Kerri Lendo
Producer: Selena Leoni, Zegan DoyleCast: Kerri Lendo, Aristotle Dreher, MK Paulsen, Christine Medrano
Streaming now on:
AWARDS:
● HONORABLE MENTION - The Gold List 2024 by Gold House
● JURY AWARD - New York International Children's Film Festival 2023
● AUDIENCE AWARD - Children Film Festival Seattle 2023
● FANTASTIC FOXES YOUTH JURY AWARD - Children Film Festival Seattle 2023
● JURY AWARD - Children Film Festival Seattle 2023
EID MUBARAK
16 mins
Released, 2023
Creator+
A privileged six-year-old Pakistani girl embarks on a mission to save her beloved pet goat from being eaten on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Azha, only to learn the meaning of sacrifice.
Writer/Director: Mahnoor Euceph
Producer: Selena Leoni, Benjamin O'Keefe, Kamil ChimaCast: Rubab Rasheed, Momina Salman, Zoha Rahman, Emmad Butt
PRESS:
Deadline | Gold House & CAPE Launch 2024 Gold List To Celebrate Top Asian Pacific Film Achievements - Jan 10, 2024
Variety | Oscar Shortlist Voting Closes: Will ‘Barbie,’ ‘Society of the Snow’ and ‘Godzilla: Minus One’ Move One Step Closer to Nominations? - Dec18, 2023
Variety | Red Sea Film Festival Selects Short Films That Test the Boundaries: ‘A Lot of Them Are About the Gray Area’ - Nov 27, 2023
Variety | Pakistan-Set Oscar Contender ‘Eid Mubarak’ Sets Distribution Deals (EXCLUSIVE) - Nov 15, 2023
OSCAR® QUALIFIED SHORT FILM
ESSENTIALLY AMY
15 mins
Festival, 2022
Creator+
A young Chinese American girl working at her local grocery store during the height of the pandemic must confront growing racism towards Asian Americans while mitigating her mother’s expectations and personal bias towards Black Americans at home.
Writer/Director: Ari Groobman
Executive Producer: Selena Leoni
Producer: Benjamin O'Keefe, Mitchell Schwartz, Ryan RamseyCast: Stacy Chu, Ping Liu, Brenda Valencia, Seyi Ayorinde, Hidekun Hah, Heather Turman, Jim Todd
AWARDS:
● BEST SHORT - Poppy Jasper International Film Festival 2023
● BEST SHORT - Los Angeles International Film Festival 2022
● OUTSTANDING SHORT - Sherman Oaks Film Festival 2022
JEROME
15 mins
Festival, 2023
Creator+
JEROME (mid-teens) struggles with feelings of inadequacy when the annual Fathers and Sons event forces him to confront the absence of his own father; and he deals with it the only way he knows how—basketball.
Writer/Director: Gianfranco Fernandez-Ruiz
Executive Producer: Selena Leoni
Producer: Benjamin O'Keefe, Santi NaidooCast: Elias Ferguson, Aries Sanders
AWARDS:
● FINALIST - HBO Short Film Award - American Black Film Festival 2023
Bienvenidos a Los Angeles
15 mins
Released, 2023
Creator+
Inspired by true events, “Bienvenidos a Los Angeles” tells the timely story of Imani, a Nigerian single-mother living in Los Angeles, who offers to help a perfect stranger reunite with her son. In doing so, Imani learns this simple act of kindness threatens to jeopardize her own path to citizenship.
Writer/Director: Lisa Cole
Executive Producer: Selena Leoni
Producer: Vivian Johnson, Lisa Cole, Cindy Lu, Jolene Mendes, Benjamin O’Keefe, Lolia EtomiCast:
Yvonne Huff-Lee, Rashmi Rustagi, Destiny Faith Nelson, Stacey Patino, Jason Delane, Philip Wilburn, Ethan Mendez, Phoenix Stafford
AWARDS:
● SHORTLIST - 2024 Academy Awards (2024 Oscars®)
● WINNER - Diversity in Cannes 2023
The Difference Between Us
Festival, 2023
Creator+
An undocumented immigrant in Philadelphia starts to fall for a roommate she’s never met — forming a connection that will test the limits of her romantic imagination.
Writer/Director: Imran Siddiquee
Executive Producer: Selena Leoni
Producer: Tshay WilliamsCast:
Samiha Mehnazz Ahmed, Iman Carter, Sita Sarkar
PRESS:
Variety | American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup - Apr 24, 2024
Variety | ‘Peripheral,’ ‘The Waterboyz’ Win at American Black Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE) - Jun 15, 2024
YOUNG KING
2024 - Little Paws Pictures & 1B Productions
As Diondre Howell re-adjusts to civilian life and struggles to cope with the scars of the Iraq war, he increasingly becomes a threat to those he cares about the most – his family.
Writer/Director: Bryant T. Griffin
Producer: Selena Leoni, p.g.a.
Director of Photography: Vittoria Campaner
Cast: Vince Washington, Tarra Riggs, Kirby Griffin, Vaughn Wilkinson, James Arthur Sims
AWARDS:
ARRI Franz Wiesner Grant 2021 - WINNER
BEST ACTOR (Vince Washington) - American Black Film Festival 2024
SMILE OR HUG
2022 - Wayfarer Studio
After being dumped on her 30th birthday, Trish Santos - an online art teacher - works through her loneliness with the help of her students, two best friends, and a box of homemade self-help tapes given to her by the mysterious “mind painter” Doctor Garcia.
Director/Director of Photography: Paul Spranger
Producer: Selena Leoni, Carlo Cosio
Writer: Chelsea Javier, Paul Spranger
Cast: Chelsea Javier, Danny Trejo, Andrea Navedo, Chris Aquilino, Christian Henley
AWARDS:
Mixed Asian Film Festival 2022 - BEST FEATURE FILM
PRESS:
Hollywood Reporter | Danny Trejo, Elsie Fisher Among Cast for Wayfarer's Six Feet Apart Experiment Features - March 31, 2021
Deadline | Justin Baldoni And Wayfarer Studios Unveil Winners For ‘Six Feet Apart Experiment’ Filmmaking Competition - August 17, 2020
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
2022 - Creator+ Studio
New college grad Ariana Alvarez (Samantha Boscarino) is given a chance to turn her life around when she joins a stuffy country club.
Director: Jeannette Godoy
Director of Photography: Diana Matos
Producer: Jeannette Godoy, Griffin Johnson, Mckenna Marshall, Nick Phillips, Adam Wescott
Executive In Charge Of Production: Selena LeoniCast: Samantha Boscarino, Caitlin Carver, Natasha Behnam
PRESS:
Variety | Samantha Boscarino, Griffin Johnson to Star in ‘Diamond in the Rough’ Movie From Creator Plus - Nov 18, 2021
JANE
2022 - Creator+ Studio
Olivia is a young woman who gets deferred from her dream college and experiences frightening panic attacks. In an attempt to regain some sense of control, she embarks on a social media-fueled rampage against those that stand in her way.
Director: Sabrina Jaglom
Director of Photography: Diana Matos
Producer: Deborah Liebling, Madelaine Petsch, Nick Phillips, Adam Wescott
Executive In Charge Of Production: Selena LeoniCast: Chloe Bailey, Madelaine Petsch, Melissa Leo
PRESS:
Variety | ‘Jane,’ YA Thriller Starring Madelaine Petsch, Chlöe Bailey, and Melissa Leo, Sells to Blue Fox Entertainment - May 9, 2022
ELLE | Watch Chlöe Bailey and Madelaine Petsch in the First Jane Trailer - August 4, 2022
SELECTED PRESS:
Variety | American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup
Variety | Oscars Predictions 2024
BAFTA | Meet Selena Leoni
LAWeekly | Top 10 Entertainment Figures to Look out for in 2023
Mixed Asian Media | Producer Selena Leoni Speaks From Experience
Deadline | Film Independent Unveils Filmmakers For Project Involve 2021
The Consulting Detective | Interview with Selena Leoni
Girl Trip | An Interview with Selena Leoni
Voyage LA | Rising Stars: Meet Selena Leoni
The Almost Done | Persevering in the Pursuit of Film Creation with Producer Selena Leoni
1st Monthly Film Festival | An interview with Selena Leoni
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