Mark Leschinsky

Mark Leschinsky is an incoming student at Stanford University who has already made significant achievements in the field of film and social impact.

Before starting his academic journey at Stanford, Mark founded the Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that revolutionized the student-run film festival scene by providing a global platform for over 12,000 artists.

Mark's proactive approach allowed him to secure impressive grants totaling $246,000 from tech giant Google, leading to the distribution of his filmmaking curriculum to over half a million students across six continents.

As a trailblazer, Mark forged a partnership with Amazon Prime Video, making SWIFF the first youth distribution partner on the platform and reaching an audience of 100 million.

Mark's exceptional work has garnered recognition from esteemed institutions like the United Nations, the British Royal Family, and the office of NJ Governor Murphy.

Apart from Stanford University, Mark has also pursued studies at prestigious institutions like Bergen County Academies, The Knowledge Society (TKS), and the Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth (CTY).

His professional journey includes roles as an advisor at the United Nations and Nickelodeon, founder and executive director of SWIFF, recipient of funding from major companies like Google and Microsoft, and a host of filmmaking classes.

Mark has also shared his expertise as a guest speaker at various universities including UC Berkeley, Boston University, and Columbia University, and served as an advisor at PBS and a Civic Innovation Fellow at Civics Unplugged.

His collaboration with Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios as a distribution partner further underscores his impactful presence in the film industry.