Leslie Iwerks

Leslie Iwerks is an Oscar® and Emmy® nominated documentary director and producer, as well as the granddaughter of famed Disney animation legend and designer of Mickey Mouse, Ub Iwerks. Iwerks is a graduate of the USC School of Cinema-Television and serves on the USC School of Cinematic Arts Alumni Council. Iwerks' short film, Recycled Life, was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2006. It chronicles the thousands of people living and working in the largest and most toxic landfill in Central America over the last sixty years - the Guatemala City garbage dump. Narrated by Edward James Olmos, the film had its television premiere on HBO in 2007. Ensuingly, the film has raised millions of dollars for Safe Passage, a non-profit that helps the children and families living in the garbage dumps. Iwerks' 2008 theatrical documentary, The Pixar Story chronicles the history, business, and artistic triumphs of Pixar Animation Studios. The film is narrated by Stacy Keach and features Steve Jobs, John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, George Lucas, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Billy Crystal, among others. The Pixar Story premiered on STARZ cable network in 2008 and garnered record high ratings for the network. The film was nominated for the 2008 Editors Guild ACE Award for best documentary editing (for Leslie Iwerks and Stephen Meyers) and the 2008 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Special (against Michael Moore's Sicko) In 2010, Iwerks' one-hour television special entitled Industrial Light & Magic - Creating the Impossible premiered on STARZ cable network and was narrated by Tom Cruise, and chronicles the amazing rise and pioneering developments of George Lucas' visual effects house that revolutionized Hollywood. The film features the who's who of visual effects pioneers, directors and actors, including George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Dennis Muren, JJ Abrams, Ron Howard, Jon Favreau, Robin Williams, Jerry Bruckheimer, among many others. Iwerks' 2011 documentary, Pipe Dreams, about the controversial Keystone XL pipeline proposed to run from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast, was one of eight documentaries shortlisted for the Academy Award® nomination for documentary short subject for 2012. Narrated by Daryl Hannah, the film follows what many call "the greatest environmental battle in the U.S. today," and has been screened on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., as well as in Nebraska for ranchers and affected landowners. It has become an important tool for the thousands of people across the country fighting the pipeline, and continues to play in venues across the U.S., Canada and the world to help raise awareness on the issue. In 2012, Iwerks produced and directed a feature length documentary in association with Hearst Corporation entitled Citizen Hearst, narrated by William H. Macy. The film chronicles 125 years of Hearst media and journalism, tracking back to its roots with William Randolph Hearst. The film includes interviews with Hearst CEO Frank Bennack, Jr., and Hearst magazine and newspaper editors past and present, as well as those associated with the company in other ancillary ways such as Oprah Winfrey, Heidi Klum, Dr. Oz, among others. It had a limited U.S. theatrical release in March 2013, aired on BIO Channel in April 2013, and is available on DVD and iTunes. Additionally, Leslie directed, produced and edited a 90 second commercial for General Electric (GE) in September 2013, which premiered on CNBC on September 18th. Since 2012 and on through 2016, Iwerks is producing and directing a feature length documentary about the past, present and future of Walt Disney's Imagineering division. She has been a juror, panelist and guest speaker for film festivals and a VIP guest presenter on Princess and Disney Cruises around the world. She resides on the board of several international non-profit organizations. Her ongoing work continues to be featured in numerous internet, radio, and television spots globally. Leslie Iwerks Productions offices are based in Santa Monica, CA, and the team is in development on numerous narrative film, television and documentary projects.