Leia has always been a memorable girl with big hair, a bigger heart, and the biggest personality. She was born & raised watching all types of films with her cinephile parents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She continues to appreciate and be inspired by her roots in the iconic horror city.

“My purpose in life is to direct feature horror films and have a silly goofy time doing it.”

- Leia, since probably 2010.

She has directed 8 narrative shorts, most notably Camp Moose Tracks and The Margins (winner of best director & student short at Big Bear Film Summit & best student short at Dreamachine IFF). Currently she is the development process for her unnerving feature debut.

After studying at Point Park University and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production and Directing, Leia has been working professionally since 2018. She has successfully produced over 20 independent projects including narrative films & commercial content. Leia also has production coordinated for clients such as General Mills, Dicks Sporting Goods, and Peloton.

In 2023, Leia entered the costumes world as she joined the Vallozzi Styling family as a content director and stylist assistant working with high profile private clients. She also finds herself as an on set costumer for film/television, & commercial projects that come through the region working with IATSE 489.

Leia is a founding member & key creative to Slow Drift Collective, a female owned and operated film company founded in Pittsburgh. Over the years she has had the opportunity to be the first assistant director to over 30 independent films.

She also is the associate director of Steel City Props, a Pittsburgh based prop & wardrobe rental business supporting local artists in cultivating their dreams on screen.

In 2026 Leia joined the Women in Film & Media in Pittsburgh committee as the co-chair of education, teaching workshops and creating more accessibility to film industry knowledge to emerging artists.