Best in Fest
Episodes
284 episodes
From Ukraine to Hollywood: Liliia Halushko on Acting, Resilience & The Impression
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, son...
Cruelty for Clicks: Fake Animal Rescues and Online Abuse with Nina Jackel and Kirk Murray
What happens when animal cruelty becomes profitable content?In this powerful episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage speaks with journalist and animal advocate Nina Jackel and documentary filmmaker Kirk Murray...
How to Make Movies That Matter: Producer Ameet Shukla on Nonnas, Winner & Social Impact Storytelling
How do you create movies that entertain audiences, attract major talent, and still make a meaningful impact on the world?In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with producer and One Community Head of Content...
Oscar-Nominated Director Jonathan Heap on Hollywood & Directing Acto
What does it really take to build a lasting career in Hollywood?In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage, founder of the La Femme International Film Festival, sits down with Academy Award-nominated writ...
How Women Are Changing the Film Industry. Directors, Producers & Cinematographers Speak Out
Welcome to Best in Fest, where host Lili Masztar-Hazi moderates a powerful panel discussion recorded at the inaugural La Femme International Film Festival Europe in Budapest.Award-winning filmmakers, producers, directors, c...
Different Paths to Success in the Film Industry : Award-Winning Filmmakers Share Their Career Journeys
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Lili Masztar-Hazi brings together an inspiring panel of award-winning filmmakers, directors, producers, writers, sustainability leaders, and production designers to discuss the unexpected journeys th...
How do you actually break into the film industry?
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage brings together an extraordinary panel of award-winning directors, producers, cinematographers, and film professionals from around the world to reveal how they built successful careers in film...
Creating Without Borders: Hollywood Called... Hungary Answered!
Why are Hollywood blockbusters, Netflix productions, and international filmmakers flocking to Hungary?In this episode of Best in Fest, we sit down with producers, studio executives, film festival leaders, and industry veterans to ...
Arta Dobroshi on Acting, Resilience, Motherhood & Building a Global Film Career | Best in Fest
In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, acclaimed Kosovo-Albanian actress and producer Arta Dobroshi shares her extraordinary journey from performing as a young artist in Kosovo to building an international career in film.
From AI Romance to Untold History: Powerful Stories from Budapest Film Festival
In this special episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with an inspiring group of filmmakers from around the world whose stories explore identity, technology, human connection, and the power of cinema to preserve history.F...
LaFemme Film Festival Budapest Interviews
From AI-generated filmmaking and documentary storytelling to action shorts, horror competitions, relationship dramas, and artistic documentaries, these creators share how they brought their unique visions to life and what it takes to succeed in...
Award-Winning Filmmakers on Documentary, Animation & Social Impact Cinema
In this special episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with an inspiring group of filmmakers featured at the Budapest Film Festival to discuss the stories, challenges, and creative journeys behind their latest projects.Fro...
AI in Animation & Film: What Editors and Directors Need to Know in 2026 with Joi-Noelle Worley
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Joi Noelle Worley, editor, director, and content creator with experience across DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, Hulu, and independent film, to explore the evol...
How to Finance an Indie Film: Elissa Shay on Producing, Casting & Distribution Strategy
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Elissa Shay. actress, writer, and producer, to break down her journey from struggling to find the right roles in Hollywood to producing and starring in her ow...
Acting After 40: Shalini Dutta on Career Comebacks, Bollywood & Hollywood Storytelling
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Shalini Dutta, an accomplished actress with over three decades of experience across Bollywood, theater, television, and independent film to discuss her journe...
AI, Film Financing & the Future of Hollywood: Aarti Misra on Tech, IP & Global Production Strategy
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Aarti Misra — producer, business strategist, and global dealmaker working at the intersection of film, technology, and finance.With over 20 years of ...
How Actors Build Global Careers: From UK Training to Hollywood & Broadway Potential with Sohm Kapila
n this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Sohm Kapila — a globally trained actress whose credits span Grey’s Anatomy, The Morning Show, Never Have I Ever, Aquaman and the Lost...
Women in Business & Film: Overcoming Adversity, Funding Projects & Staying Fearless with Jennifer Valdez
In this powerful episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Jennifer Elizabeth Valdez — entrepreneur, domestic abuse survivor, and founder of From Gen to Generations — to share a deeply personal story of r...
Gen Z Actress Charlotte Delaney Riggs on Auditions, Acting Careers & the Future of Streaming
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Charlotte Delaney Riggs, an award-winning actress and rising talent known for projects like Austin High, Thunder Road, and Through a Glass, D...
How to Build a Career in Hollywood Today: Acting, Podcasting & the Creator Economy with Kash Hovey
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Kash Hovey — actor, producer, and host of On Air with Kash — to explore how the entertainment industry has evolved from traditional Hollywood systems to t...
How to Build a Niche Audience: Lessons from Psychic Medium & Podcast Creator Patti Negri
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Patti Negri, psychic medium, author, and host of The Witching Hour podcast, to explore how niche creators can build powerful personal brands and loyal aud...
Indie Filmmaking Strategy: Producing Animated Films with Global Impact - Julia Koriwaza
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with actress, filmmaker, and producer Julia Morizawa to break down her evolution from working actor to multi-hyphenate storyteller creating impactful, culturally rooted...
How to Finance & Package Films Without Studios: Kevin Nicklaus on IP, Indie Production & Hollywood’s Shift
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage speaks with Kevin Nicklaus, Head of Production and Partner at Sandstone Artists, a company focused on talent management, literary development, and film/TV production.With ...
How to Distribute an Independent Documentary with Theresa Demarest: Festivals, Amazon Prime & Audience Building
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Theresa Demarest, an independent documentary filmmaker whose unconventional path to filmmaking includes life as a musician, critical care nurse, and activist story...
How Actors Land Managers, Self-Tape Auditions & Survive Hollywood’s Industry Slowdown with Amanda Hendon
In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage speaks with Amanda Hendon, owner and president of Entertainment 333, a full-service talent management company representing actors in film and television.With decades of ex...