Best in Fest

In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage welcomes Rabbi Noam Raucher — educator, divorce coach, and Executive Director of FJMC International (Friendship, Judaism, Mentorship & Community) — to explore an unexpected but urgent topic: how media, masculinity, and meaning intersect in today’s culture . Noam shares his personal journey through divorce, career loss, and men’s support grou...

In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with Lauren Reins — director, producer, choreographer, and Enneagram coach — to explore how self-awareness fuels creativity and why understanding your inner motivations may be the key to creating meaningful, sustainable work. Lauren shares her journey from professional dancer to educator and filmmaker, and how a life-altering accident...

In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with Alan Green , Head of Sales & Acquisitions at 123 Media , to break down how film distribution actually works — and why most indie filmmakers misunderstand it. With decades of experience spanning 20th Century Fox, Pathé, international sales, and producing , Alan offers a brutally honest look at what sells, what doesn’t, and how...

In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with Jessica Rizk (director, writer, producer, animator) and Soren Anderson (composer and sound designer) to unpack the creation of Cracked — a haunting, hand-drawn 2D animated short exploring mental health, self-neglect, and emotional collapse. Over the course of a two-year DIY production , Cracked was animated frame-by-frame, scored...

What does it really take to build a career as a feature film director — starting at age 15 and continuing across continents, cultures, and film festivals? In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage , Director of the La Femme International Film Festival, sits down with Dominik Sedlar , an award-winning director whose career spans documentaries, narrative features, international co-product...

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with Danielle Hobbs —a true multi-hyphenate creative force whose career spans dance, choreography, acting, education, authorship, and filmmaking .   Danielle Hobbs Full Episode Danielle shares her remarkable journey from concert dance and global tours to choreographing for Beyoncé , performing on Michael Jackson’s Immortal Wo...

In this powerful episode of Best in Fest , Leslie LaPage sits down with Marcia S. Ross —Emmy-nominated documentary producer and former SVP of Casting at Walt Disney Pictures—to reveal the real Hollywood career path that led her from discovering breakout stars to producing globally recognized documentaries like Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life , Nazarene , and The Savoy King . Marcia opens up ab...

In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage sits down with award-winning writer, director, and musician Paula Tiberius — one of the very first La Femme Film Festival winners — to explore her incredible evolution from indie rocker and filmmaker to in-demand screenwriter for Hallmark , Lifetime , and Netflix . Paula opens up about her early days making the cult rock-and-roll movie Gol...

In this powerful Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage sits down with award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Jacqueline Fleming — known for Love Jones , Losing Isaiah , and collaborations with stars like Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, and Mark Wahlberg. Jacqueline shares her remarkable journey from Denmark to Hollywood, revealing how she turned frustration into fuel — building a multi-...

In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage spotlights the award-winning filmmakers of the 2025 LaFemme International Film Festival . From a Ukrainian refugee’s moving documentary Mama’s Voice , to the hilarious and heartfelt short The Whole Truth about motherhood and hemorrhoids, to the genre-bending Nepo Baby exploring identity and fame, to the chilling psychological thriller Don’...

In this inspiring Best in Fest episode, host Leslie LaPage spotlights the award-winning filmmakers of the 2025 LaFemme International Film Festival . From a Ukrainian refugee’s moving documentary Mama’s Voice , to the hilarious and heartfelt short The Whole Truth about motherhood and hemorrhoids, to the genre-bending Nepo Baby exploring identity and fame, to the chilling psychological thriller Don’...

In this episode of Best in Fest , filmmaker, educator, and Army veteran Shannan Wynn shares her extraordinary journey from serving in the armed forces and counseling at-risk youth to building her own production company, Winquest Entertainment . Shannan reveals how her life experiences inspired her debut thriller A Life of Sunshine —a female-driven, murder mystery now streaming on Amazon Prime and...

In this episode of Best in Fest , branding strategist, publisher, and fashion-to-film trailblazer Lela Christine Thompson shares how she built a dynamic career at the intersection of fashion, entertainment, and digital media . From designing for Queen Pen and collaborating with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on campaigns for Moulin Rouge , Soul Food , and The Hunger Games , to launching her o...

In this powerhouse episode of Best in Fest , award-winning producer and industry trailblazer Kimberly Ogletree shares her incredible journey through music videos, television, and independent filmmaking. From working with icons like Russell Simmons, Stevie Wonder, and Julie Dash to producing groundbreaking content for BET , Viacom , and MTV , Kimberly reveals how she transitioned from million-dolla...

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest , entertainment attorney turned filmmaker Sauda Johnson-McNeal shares her journey from studying acting at USC to founding her own production company, Ron Ash LLC , and creating the award-winning independent film Love the Skin You’re In . What began as a personal story of healing and self-discovery evolved into a powerful film about self-acceptance, resilie...

In this episode of Best in Fest , Emmy-nominated supervising sound editor Bobbi Banks shares her inspiring journey from starting as an assistant with no film background to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected post-production voices. With over 120 film and TV credits—including Desperately Seeking Susan , Poetic Justice , Self Made , Snowfall , and When They See Us —Bobbi reflects on her early...

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest , producer and filmmaker Christine La Monte takes us on a globe-spanning journey through her extraordinary career—from pioneering studio marketing campaigns in the 1980s to producing award-winning documentaries like Viva Verdi and Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly . Christine shares how she broke into the male-dominated entertainment industry, the spiritual force beh...

Actress-turned-documentarian Marta György-Kessler joins Best in Fest to share her fascinating transformation from the stages of Budapest to uncovering untold spiritual journeys through film. In this episode, Marta dives into the backstory of her award-winning documentary Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey , her deep connection to Buddhist icon Hannah Nydahl, and her current film chronicling th...

In this powerful episode of Best in Fest , Leslie LaPage sits down with legendary actor, director, teacher, and empowerment leader Richard Lawson . With a career spanning over 55 years—from Poltergeist to Tyler Perry productions—Lawson shares his journey of resilience, integrity, and artistry. He discusses his groundbreaking philosophy from The Artist’s Roadmap , why “no” is never the end but a re...

In this insightful episode of Best in Fest , Leslie LaPage sits down with Sam Goff—creative talent manager at Fourth Wall Management and self-proclaimed “animation activist.” From her early days at DreamWorks and Netflix to teaching animated perspectives at Loyola Marymount and Cal State Long Beach, Sam shares how authentic voices are reshaping the future of animation. She dives into the importanc...

What does it take to transform a lifetime of dance into powerful storytelling for film, opera, and television? In this episode of Best in Fest , host Les LaPage sits down with Jermaine McGhee —scholar, choreographer, educator, and former principal dancer for the LA and San Francisco Opera, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Omar . Jermaine shares his journey from performing in blockbuster films...

In this episode of Best in Fest , Leslie LaPage chats with television producer Audrey Smith about the art and strategy behind reality TV’s evolving sub-genres. Audrey breaks down the difference between docu-follow and soft-scripted formats, revealing how casting, storytelling, and audience expectations shape each style. From Girlfriend Confidential to today’s surge in true documentary content, Aud...

In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest , Les Lippa sits down with filmmakers David Morrison, Penny Edmondson, and Judy Marlin to talk about their dynamic documentary It’s Our Ball —the untold story of senior women dominating the basketball court and redefining age, athleticism, and respect. From heartfelt personal journeys to the challenges of authentic storytelling, the trio shares how they br...

What does it take to go from indie filmmaker to Emmy-winning director? In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with Bridget Stokes—trailblazing director of A Black Lady Sketch Show , Hello, Jack! , and Boy Genius —to unpack her inspiring rise through the film and television world. From waiting tables in New York to winning an Emmy as the first woman in her category, Bridget...

What do PlayStation, storefront media, and cutting-edge documentaries have in common? Nathan Elliott. In this episode of Best in Fest , host Leslie LaPage sits down with the Canadian entrepreneur, technologist, and filmmaker to discuss how he's revolutionizing advertising and storytelling. Nathan reveals how his company, FrontRunner Technologies, transforms vacant storefronts into immersive m...