THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN is a feature-length film documentary that will take an intimate look at the women paving the way for females in the male-dominated world of whiskey and bourbon. These trailblazing women are changing the landscape while taking on the social issues of sexism and gender equality.
A narrator will guide us and help shape the story as we interview our cast, dig into the history of distilling, move through our locations, and transition to each topic we will cover. We will conduct individual sit-down interviews with our leading ladies, include some day-in-the-life activities that show our audience exactly what their job entails, as well as archival footage.
Press from our leading ladies
Cannes Film Festival 2022
Leigha Kingsley at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival where THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN, was shortlisted for the coveted "Top 20 Projects in development" (we have not filmed yet) from 55+ countries through a female directing program.
This is the second year in a row Leigha has made this list for two separate projects.
What We're About
"As a female filmmaker and someone who grew up in Lexington, Kentucky- I was shocked to learn how little I knew about the vital roles women have played (and are playing) in the world of whiskey and bourbon. I grew up around bourbon, in a state that makes 95% of the world's bourbon- and yet everything around me from marketing, documentaries, people, film and TV shows still told me bourbon and whiskey was for men. When I found out the invaluable roles that women have played in even the creation of alcohol since the beginning of time that have been very much buried throughout history- I knew this entire story needed to be brought to light. And that's exactly what we are doing. This film is long overdue and our mission is to give these women in the world of whiskey and bourbon the spotlight they rightfully deserve." ~ Leigha Kingsley
LEIGHA KINGSLEY, Co-Director & Producer
LEIGHA KINGSLEY is an actress, writer, producer, and director in Los Angeles. She is originally from Kentucky which is where her fascination with women in the distilling industry began. As an actress, she has worked on films with Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Riley Keough, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, and Jason Sudeikis, and guest starred on shows like CRIMINAL MINDS. In an open casting call, Leigha beat out hundreds of actresses for a lead role in Paul Schrader’s THE CANYONS (TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL, AMERICAN GIGOLO). She was also cast in the CATCH 44 trailer, produced by Annapurna Pictures (HER, ZERO DARK THIRTY, HOUSE OF GUCCI, HUSTLERS, BOMBSHELL). Most recently, she co-starred in the film OYAKODON, directed by Emmy-nominated, and this year’s Critics Choice Award-nominated director, Roxy Shih.
Leigha began writing to help create stronger female roles and female-driven stories. Leigha’s feature film and television scripts have been finalists for SUNDANCE, HBO Project Greenlight, and the New York Television Festival. In 2021, Leigha was shortlisted with Cannes Film Festival partner Breaking Through The Lens for her feature film THE ABANDONED, a female-driven thriller/horror film. In 2022, Breaking Through the Lens also shortlisted Leigha's documentary THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN, putting the submission among the Top 20 in-development projects from around the world (55+ countries).
Most recently, she was the executive producer for the television series WHISK(E)Y, directed by Oliver Ridge (Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize Winning Producer 2022). She was also the co-executive producer for the feature film THE NEIGHBOR, starring William Fichtner, which has been purchased by Starz.
SARAH MOSHMAN, Co-Director
SARAH MOSHMAN is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and TEDx speaker whose work has been featured on Upworthy, Marie Claire, CNN, and Good Morning America. After directing two short documentaries about female empowerment in young women, (Girls Rock! Chicago (2010) and Growing up Strong: Girls on the Run (2012)) she set out to direct her first feature doc The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things (2014). The documentary has been screened over 700 times in the US and around the world helping start conversations about gender equality in schools, groups, organizations, and corporations. With Indieflix as the distributor, the film has been sponsored by major brands like Nordstrom, American Girl, and Microsoft to spread this message far and wide. Sarah's second feature doc, Losing Sight of Shore, follows the incredible journey of four women who rowed across the Pacific Ocean. The film was released globally in 190 countries on Netflix in May 2017. NEVERTHELESS is Sarah’s third feature documentary which takes a look behind the headlines of #MeToo and Time’s Up to shine a light on the sexual harassment crisis and use the power of cinema for change.
Most recently, Sarah brought her talents to the narrative realm and directed a short fiction film entitled UNBOUND about the first mother to go to space starring Lauren Lapkus (Orange is the New Black). Sarah is dedicated to telling stories that uplift, inform, and inspire as well as showcase strong female role models on screen.
Prior to focusing on documentaries, Sarah worked as a field producer on the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars for 10 seasons as well as shows on NBC, MTV, Lifetime, Bravo, and the Food Network. She often jumps into story production for premium doc series on A&E, HBO, and Showtime. She also directs branded content for EllenTube, Tastemade, Mattel, AT&T, Samsung, Stayfree, SPANX, and more. Sarah is an inspiring public speaker, author, and adjunct professor in documentary film, and passionate about empowering the next generation of storytellers.
Sarah is LA-based and Mom to two kiddos, a 4-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.
