Artclass Welcomes Award-Winning Filmmaker Rachel Fleit

Aug. 12, 2024

ArtClass adds director Rachel Fleit to its incredible roster of talent. Known for her intimate cinematic sensibilities and deeply nuanced work as a documentarian, Rachel is an intuitive director adept at crafting beautiful, character-driven stories that emotionally captivate audiences.

Rachel’s hit documentary “Bama Rush,” a Max Original, produced by Vice Studios, told the story of the emotional complexities and stakes in belonging for women attending the University of Alabama in 2022. This cultural phenomenon entranced TikTok users the year prior. To date, “Bama Rush” is Max’s largest documentary debut. Her feature documentary debut, “Introducing, Selma Blair,” premiered at the SXSW film festival, where it won the Special Jury Recognition for “Extraordinary Intimacy in Storytelling,” and additionally was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best First Documentary Feature as well as Best Documentary Feature. The film is currently streaming on Max. Rachel received the first, now annual, Women’s Fund Grant from Made in NY/Mayor’s Office for Film & Television for her short documentary “Ava & Bianca,” which told the story of transgender cinematographers and close friends Ava Benjamin Schorr and Bianca Cline.

Additionally, Rachel directed many commercial campaigns for brands like Cadillac, Bumble, UBS, Veuve Clicquot, and luxury womenswear brand Honor during her time at the company as their Chief Creative Officer. Rachel also directed a spot for Kode with Klossy from the Ad Council and a film for StyleLikeU and Eileen Fisher. Her short film “Gefilte” is about a Jewish family that finds beauty in a traditional holiday fish dish and has screened at more than 40 Jewish Film Festivals worldwide since its premiere in 2018. Rachel is an outspoken advocate for people living with alopecia, appearing in many publications like The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vogue.com, The Wall Street Journal, and W Magazine for her activism.

Rachel Fleit remarked:

“I was immediately attracted to ArtClass for its endless creativity, belief in new possibilities, and overall go-getter good vibes. They’re a company with a vision I believe in and whose outlook on the industry closely aligns with mine. I’m thrilled to be a part of the ArtClass family and can’t wait to get started.”

 

Kirsten Arongino, managing director of ArtClass, added:

“Rachel’s compulsive curiosity obviously shows in her work as a documentarian, but as a creative, she’s always digging in and unearthing new truths at the center of a story. Her ability to form real connections with her subjects and translate those stories on screen is truly special, and one of many reasons she’s such a standout in the commercial space. We’re delighted to have her on board.”