Best in Fest

What happens when Hollywood stops simply portraying autism and starts listening to the people who actually live it? On this episode of Best in Fest, La Femme International Film Festival founder Leslie LaPage sits down with actress Lillian Carrier, star of the film Horse Girls, for a candid conversation about autism, acting, disability representation, authentic casting and the changing face of Hollywood. Lillian shares the remarkable story of how she went from studying to become a biologist to...

What does it take to spend years working beside some of Hollywood’s top directors—and finally decide it’s time to tell your own story? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with writer-director Brenda Wachtl and Romanian-born actress Maria Bata to discuss their new short film, In the Deep, as well as directing, acting, career reinvention, film festivals, and the persistence required to build a career in Hollywood. Before stepping into the director’s chair, Brenda built...

Welcome to Best in Fest, where host Leslie LaPage sits down with Abby Savell, owner of LA Percussion Rentals & Recording, one of Hollywood's most unique resources for film composers, music supervisors, and sound designers. From blockbuster films to independent productions, Abby's collection of rare percussion instruments helps create the unforgettable sounds audiences hear in their favorite movies. In this fascinating conversation, Abby shares how she and her late husband built LA P...

Can artificial intelligence give us the perfect relationship—or does perfection come at the cost of real human connection? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with writer, director, producer, and bestselling author Lisa Steadman to discuss modern relationships, romantic storytelling, artificial intelligence, and her new festival short film, Tainted Love. A graduate of the USC screenwriting program, Lisa has built a wide-ranging creative career spanning film, televisi...

What does it take to leave a successful career behind, move to Hollywood, and start building your dream all over again? In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Ukrainian actress, model, dancer, songwriter, and television host Liliia Halushko to discuss her journey from a small village in Ukraine to the international entertainment industry—and her latest suspense short film, The Impression. Liliya opens up about being bullied and deeply insecure as a child, fin...