Bio
Leila Gbelia is a cinematographer and director focused on visual storytelling, composition, and lighting design. Her work centers on creating emotionally grounded narratives through intentional framing and a strong sense of visual atmosphere.
She has developed her craft through hands-on experience across multiple productions, collaborating with filmmakers and creative teams in both narrative and experimental work. Known for her attention to detail and ability to shape tone through lighting and camera movement, her work reflects a balance of technical precision and artistic intuition.
Leila earned her degree in Film and Television Production from Howard University, where she built a strong foundation in cinematography and collaborative filmmaking. She will continue her training in the UCLA MFA Cinematography program, further refining her voice as a visual storyteller.
With experience spanning production and post-production, she brings a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking process, contributing meaningfully from concept through final image.
Let light be light, paint
the screen with poetry
Credits
Director of Photography
Get Down Wendy Brown (2026)
Producer, Director of Photography, Gaffer, Editor, Colorist
End of the Road {Feature film in progress)
Contractual Director of Photography, Gaffer, Editor
The Medium (2025)
Director of Photography & Editor
Pipto (2025)
Director of Photography, Co-Director, Colorist, Dialogue Editor
How It Really Happened (2025)
Director of Photography
Echoes of Her (2025)
Director of Photography & Editor
Disenchantment (2024)
Director of Photography, Gaffer, Editor, Colorist
Camera & Lighting (Grip & Electric)
Black in White (2026)
Co-Chief Lighting Technician & Key Grip
Summer 16 (2026)
Chief Lighting Technician
Phyxiation (2025)
Chief Lighting Technician
Got You (2026)
Key Grip
Wait to The Waitlist Documentary (2026)
Chief Lighting and Color Technician
All Black Girls Go to Heaven (2025)
Best Boy Grip & Production Assistant
The Real OG (2023)
Key Grip
The Bag (2023)
2nd Assistant Camera & Music Supervisor
Camera Support
Howard University Skate Documentary (2024–2026)
2nd AC, Production Assistant, Camera Car Driver, Assistant Editor
The Cut (2026)
2nd AC, Grip
Estranged (2025)
Production Assistant & Grip
Beyond the Blue Line (2024)
Grip & Production Assistant
Skills
Camera & Lighting
ARRI Alexa, Panasonic AF-CX350,
Lumix G7, Fx3, Fx6, Canon 300 Mark I, II
Grip & Electric (G&E), 1st & 2nd AC experience
Lighting design and on-set execution
Post-Production
Adobe Premiere Pro
Davinci Resolve Studio
Media management, syncing, and editing workflows
Audio recording & sound support
Canva, MS Office, Google