Rachel Fleit

Rachel Fleit is an award-winning director and writer with a focus on telling intimate and authentic stories through the lens of cinéma verité. Known for her thorough and respectful examination of her subjects, Fleit has quickly risen as an auteur with nuance in telling stories of people from all backgrounds.

Fleit's highly anticipated documentary “Bama Rush,” showcasing the viral sorority recruitment week at the University of Alabama premiered on May 23, 2023 on MAX. “Bama Rush” follows four young women as they prepare to rush at the university in 2022. In the revealing documentary, Fleit explores the emotional complexities and stakes of belonging during this crucial window into womanhood. Fleit is also currently in development on her first narrative feature, which she wrote and will direct, titled “Up Island.”

Fleit recently directed the critically acclaimed “Introducing, Selma Blair,” which follows Selma Blair as she attempts to adapt to new ways of living after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The film premiered in the Documentary Feature Competition at SXSW, where it won The Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling and was acquired by Discovery+. Among other accolades, Fleit was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best First Documentary Feature as well as Best Documentary Feature.

Previous documentaries include her short “Ava & Bianca,” about two female transgender cinematographers. For her work on the film, Fleit was a recipient of the first ever, and now annual, Women’s Fund Grant from Made in NY/ Mayor’s Office for Film & Television, in addition to several other accolades. Additionally her short, “Gefilte,” about a Jewish family that finds beauty in a traditional holiday fish dish, has screened at more than 40 Jewish Film Festivals internationally since its premiere in 2018.

Fleit is a proud advocate of people living with Alopecia and has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vogue.com, The Wall Street Journal, W magazine, Today.com, Refinery 29, The Riveter, The Fold Magazine, Prose, Arc and Bird among many others. Prior to her directing career, Rachel was the chief creative officer for the NYC luxury womenswear brand, Honor, where she oversaw the storytelling surrounding every collection for 7 years.