in 1987, slesin won an academy award for best feature documentary for her film the ten year lunch: the wit and legend of the algonquin round table. then, 1990 marked a shift to dramatic films when slesin directed and executive produced stood up! an abc afterschool special. then slesin produced and directed voices in celebration, a documentary for the national gallery’s fiftieth anniversary. and in 1993 and 1994, she produced and directed the documentary, for tbs.