EXCLUSIVE: United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed writer and director Leah Nelson for representation in all areas as her profile continues to rise thanks to her well received directorial debut Tangles.

The moving animated feature – about a young woman who puts her burgeoning graphic art career in San Francisco on hold to return home to Maine to care for her beloved, feisty mother after she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, world premiered to an emotional ovation and critical acclaim in Cannes in May.

The animation features an all-star voice cast led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Seth Rogen, Abbi Jacobson, Sarah Silverman, Bowen Yang, Pamela Adlon, Wanda Sykes, Samira Wiley and Beanie Feldstein.

Nelson co-adapted the screenplay for Tangles alongside Sarah Leavitt and Trev Renney, based on Leavitt’s graphic memoir Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me. Drawing from deeply personal experiences with Alzheimer’s disease, the film marks Nelson’s first feature and first screenplay, bringing an intimate, deeply human perspective to a story about memory, family and caregiving.

Prior to Tangles, Nelson built a successful career as a commercial director and animation filmmaker, known for her emotionally resonant storytelling and distinctive visual style.

After earning a film degree from Emily Carr University, she co-founded the multiple Emmy Award-winning Vancouver animation studio Giant Ant, helping establish it as an internationally recognized creative force across film, television, advertising and branded entertainment.

In 2018, she expanded her creative pursuits by co-founding Kiddo Films, a roster-based commercial production company specializing in live-action comedy and documentary content. As she transitions into long-form filmmaking, Nelson is focused on telling stories that elevate female voices while exploring human behavior and the complexities of family dynamics.

Since Cannes, Tangles has continued its festival run in France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June and will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Centrepiece sidebar.

Nelson continues to be represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners.