Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 7 PM
James Bridges Theater, Melnitz Hall, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Discover these extraordinary filmmakers shaping the future of cinema.
Join us on Thursday, June 11th for the Directors Spotlight, a signature evening that celebrates the powerful, personal, and wildly creative voices of our filmmakers from the UCLA TFT MFA programs.
This showcase features some of the most outstanding short films by directors from across Animation, Documentary, and Narrative—each one a bold statement of artistic vision and craft.
The films selected have undergone a rigorous review process: judged by fellow students, alumni and ultimately by the prestigious Blue Ribbon Panel, comprised of industry professionals, who also choose one filmmaker to receive the highest honor: Grand Jury Prize Award.
Come celebrate the talent and tenacity of tomorrow’s great directors— tonight.
Hosts: Nezi Matutu & Ender Waters
Keynote Speaker: Lesli Linka Glatter
Lesli Linka Glatter is a director of film, network, premium cable, and streaming television drama, with both pilots and episodes to her credit. Lesli’s TV work includes HOMELAND, ZERO DAY, LOVE & DEATH, THE MORNING SHOW, THE NEWSROOM, THE WALKING DEAD, JUSTIFIED, RAY DONOVAN, MASTERS OF SEX, TRUE BLOOD, MAD MEN, THE LEFTOVERS, THE GOOD WIFE, THE WEST WING, NYPD BLUE, ER, FREAKS AND GEEKS, and TWIN PEAKS. Lesli has also directed numerous pilots, including GILMORE GIRLS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, and SIX. Her films include NOW AND THEN, THE PROPOSITION, and for HBO, STATE OF EMERGENCY.
Lesli has been a Producing Director for the last 25 years. Recently, she Executive Produced and Directed Apple TV’s limited series, IMPERFECT WOMEN, starring Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss, and Kate Mara, which premiered in March 2026. She was Executive Producer/Director of Netflix’s limited series ZERO DAY, starring Robert De Niro, Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Connie Britton, Matthew Modine, and Joan Allen, which premiered in February 2025 and quickly rose to the top of Nielsen’s most-watched streaming list. For her direction on the series, Lesli earned a Directors Guild of America (“DGA”) Award nomination, as well as an Emmy® nomination. Lesli was also the Executive Producer/Director of HBO’s LOVE & DEATH, the David E. Kelley limited series starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons, and Showtime’s award-winning series HOMELAND for six seasons.
Lesli began her directing career through the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women, where her film TALES OF MEETING AND PARTING was nominated for an Oscar. She has been nominated for nine Directors Guild of America (“DGA”) Awards, winning her third DGA Award for directing the HOMELAND series finale, having previously won for MAD MEN and HOMELAND. Lesli also has a total of nine Emmy® nominations, and received a Humanitas Award nomination for HBO’s STATE OF EMERGENCY. She is also the co-founder of Backyard Pictures, a premium television development and production company, alongside Emmy® Award- winning executive Cheryl Bloch.
From 2021 to 2025, Lesli served as the President of the Directors Guild of America. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the Directors Branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Lesli has been an advisor at the Sundance Institute’s Director’s Lab and has been committed to mentoring for many years, helping develop the successful NBC program, Female Forward.
Lesli has received the Dorothy Arzner Directing Award from Women in Film, the Caucus Foundation Award, and the Franklin Schaffner Award from the American Film Institute, as well as an Honorary Degree from the American Film Institute.
Prior to her work as a director, Lesli was a modern dance choreographer who worked throughout Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
The Films
My Friend the Dandelion – dir. Athena Greenleaf
When a young girl wishes on a dandelion for a friend, a magical lion appears. Together they navigate new friendships and learning how to say goodbye.
Sweet Somethings – dir. Zoe Mathewson
After 12-year-old Rena sees her dead dad in the grocery store, she goes around town hanging fliers in an attempt to find him again.
Still Here, Still There – dir. Wendy Tong
Still Here, Still There follows a 50-year-old Chinese woman chasing a long-delayed American Dream in the U.S., as her pursuit fractures family ties and exposes the tension between freedom, duty, and identity—mirroring the filmmaker’s own search for belonging.
Tunnel Vision – dir. Yiru Deng
Using tunnel vision, a symptom that narrows one’s field of sight as the main metaphor, the film reveals the female experience of intense pressure and lack of autonomy within East Asian families. The film questions traditional values that can result in generational trauma.
Martian Memories – dir. Jakob Roston
A journey in smell, taste, and memory as I investigate my enigmatic neuroscientist grandfather through his research on sensory perception.
Open House – dir. Aram Winter
A father and daughter return to their old family home during an open house, searching for a hidden treasure that could change their lives forever.
Rain Check – dir. Sophia Kawaguchi
A young person’s various attempts to end their life get derailed by scheduling conflicts.
Small Claims – dir. Shizue Roche Adachi
When her neighbor’s dogs kill 25 of her sheep, a Japanese American city girl turned shepherd takes her fight for justice to court—only to find her own claims to belonging put on trial.
Own Your Own Dirt! – dir. Joshua David
A how-to video in the San Gabriel Valley teaches viewers how to own their own dirt in a few simple steps, where even a patch of earth can carry the weight of a life.