Best in Fest

Leslie LaPage
  • 4.8 (18)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Host Leslie LaPage, Director of LaFemme International Film Festival uncovers the Secrets of Filmmaking with her lineup of industry professional guests. In every episode you will learn things like how to make the most out of the film festival circuit, how to find a great distribution partner, how to attract A list talent, finding the perfect representation, the dirty little secrets of Hollywood and much more.

  1. 6D AGO

    Branding, Influence & Reinvention: A Masterclass for Creators and Filmmakers with Linda Arroz

    In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Linda Arroz — lifestyle writer, speaker, advisor, former plus-size spokesmodel, and media strategist — for a wide-ranging conversation on reinvention, branding, and storytelling in today’s entertainment landscape. Linda shares her unconventional journey from working at General Motors to becoming a nationally recognized fashion and media authority, styling hundreds of TV shows and commercials, appearing on major networks, publishing books, and now developing podcasts and documentaries at the intersection of media, technology, and culture. In this episode, we explore: 🎥 How to break into media and entertainment without a traditional path🧠 Why storytelling and communication skills matter more than credentials👗 Branding yourself like an influencer — lessons filmmakers can apply📣 Why filmmakers must market themselves, not just their films📚 Turning expertise into books, speaking, and multi-platform projects🎙️ Developing podcasts as IP for future documentaries and films🤖 Technology, blockchain, and AI as tools for modern creators🎬 Building visibility through Q&As, public appearances, and media🌱 The power of mentorship, adaptability, and lifelong reinventionLinda also discusses her current work developing narrative-driven podcasts, including true crime and documentary projects, and why creators must evolve their skill sets to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry. This episode is essential listening for filmmakers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and women in media looking to build sustainable careers by combining storytelling, branding, and strategic visibility.

    36 min

  2. JAN 27

    Why Most Indie Films Fail at Distribution — And How to Avoid It with Deborah Gilels

    In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Debra Gilels — a veteran film PR strategist, producer’s rep, and distribution consultant who has helped launch award-winning documentaries and indie features into global release. With over 20 years of experience guiding films from festivals to streaming platforms, Debra breaks down how distribution really works today, why most filmmakers misunderstand the process, and what creators must do before seeking a distribution deal. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🎯 How to use the film festival circuit to build an audience before distribution📣 Why PR and marketing must start long before your release date🧩 How documentaries secure advocacy groups and partner communities💼 What distributors actually look for when acquiring indie films💰 Minimum guarantees, contract terms, and revenue splits explained📊 Why social media presence affects your distribution leverage🚀 How to drive visibility on VOD and streaming platforms🏆 Real-world case studies of documentaries and indie features that succeeded🔍 The difference between self-distribution and professional sales agentsDebra explains why simply uploading a film to Amazon Prime is not a distribution strategy — and how smart filmmakers combine festival exposure, PR outreach, audience-building, and sales representation to maximize both impact and revenue. If you're a filmmaker, producer, documentary creator, or festival director trying to understand how films get picked up, marketed, and monetized in today’s crowded content landscape — this episode is essential listening.

    33 min

  3. JAN 20

    Emilio Hughes Martinez on Writing, Directing & the Future of Film

    In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Emilio Hughes Martinez — award-winning filmmaker, writer, and former Vice President of Development at Eclectic Pictures (Olympus Has Fallen, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Lovelace). Emilio shares his journey from studio development executive to independent filmmaker, revealing what production companies really look for in scripts, how to finance films without studio backing, and why the next wave of cinema belongs to bold indie creators. In this episode, we explore: 🎥 What studio development executives actually look for in scripts📝 Common mistakes new screenwriters make when pitching producers🏆 How his award-winning shorts (The Method and The Fourth Branch) were created on micro-budgets💰 Financing indie films through friends, family, and creative resourcefulness🎬 Guerrilla filmmaking tactics to bypass costly permits🌎 Why more productions are leaving California — and what comes next🤖 AI’s impact on screenwriting and why human storytelling still matters🔥 The shift from $200M studio films to smaller, high-impact indie projects🚀 His upcoming feature about fame, exploitation, and AI-generated performanceEmilio also breaks down his writing process, working with Oscar-winning co-writer Nick Vallelonga (Green Book), and why instinct-driven storytelling often beats rigid outlining.

    29 min

  4. JAN 13

    Judaism, Masculinity & Media: How Rabbi Noam Raucher Is Changing the Conversation for Men

    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 groups — experiences that inspired him to launch Mama’s Boy, a bold new podcast co-hosted with comedy writer Rob Kutner. Together, they’re creating content that challenges toxic masculinity, offers healthier models of brotherhood, and brings Jewish wisdom into modern conversations about manhood. In this episode, we explore: 🎧 Why a rabbi entered entertainment and podcasting🧠 The rise of toxic masculinity in digital media🤝 Men’s support groups and the power of authentic brotherhood📺 Podcasting as the new modern pulpit🎭 How humor and storytelling open men to vulnerability🕍 Jewish tradition as a framework for healthy masculinity🎥 Why film and entertainment shape cultural identity🔥 Countering the manosphere with meaningful media🚀 Building a global movement for men’s emotional growthNoam explains how today’s media landscape floods young men with damaging messages about dominance, success, and power — and why it’s critical to offer alternative narratives rooted in compassion, accountability, and connection.

    29 min

  5. JAN 6

    From Dance to Docuseries: Using the Enneagram to Unlock Creative Potential with Lauren Reins

    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 led her to psychology, coaching, and ultimately the Enneagram, a nine-type personality framework now central to her new dance-driven docuseries. In this episode, we discuss: 🧠 What the Enneagram is and how the nine personality types work🎭 How creatives can use the Enneagram to build better characters💃 Why dance is the perfect medium to express personality and psychology🎬 Turning personal growth into a docuseries concept🧩 Using self-knowledge to overcome creative blocks🏢 How companies like Nike, Amazon, and State Farm use the Enneagram🎥 Why self-awareness matters more than talent alone🌱 Balancing creativity, leadership, and life as a working artist🏆 Premiering an Enneagram-based series at Dances With Films New YorkLauren explains how creatives often struggle not because of the industry — but because they haven’t fully understood their own fears, motivations, and strengths. By using the Enneagram as a framework, artists can move forward with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

    22 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    How Films Really Get Distributed: SVOD, AVOD, Presales & Genre Truths Explained with Alan Green

    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 filmmakers can avoid costly mistakes when trying to monetize their films. In this episode, we cover: 🎥 Which film genres are most distributable (and why drama is the hardest sell)📊 SVOD vs AVOD vs TVOD — how platforms really pay filmmakers💰 Why Netflix deals are flat fees (and not per-view payouts)🧠 The myth of self-distribution on Amazon Prime🎯 Why distributors sell film packages, not individual titles🧾 Presales, minimum guarantees (MGs), and why names still matter🎬 How production quality impacts distribution decisions📱 Vertical content, short-form storytelling, and the future of film🎞️ Turning genre films into viable distribution assets🏆 Festival strategy as a business tool — not just prestigeAlan also discusses producing the WWII revenge thriller Vindictive, opening at Dances With Films New York, and explains how hybrid genre films can bridge the gap between festivals and commercial success. If you’re an independent filmmaker, producer, or content creator trying to understand how films make money after they’re finished — this episode is essential listening.

    46 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    The Making of ‘Cracked’ and the Power of DIY Filmmaking with Jessica Rizk and Soren Anderson

    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 from scratch, and built without shortcuts — revealing the true scope of independent animation today. In this episode, we explore: 🎨 What it really takes to make a hand-drawn animated short (24 frames per second, no safety net)🧠 How mental health and self-neglect shaped the story, visuals, and pacing💡 Why flickering light, grime, and stillness were used as psychological storytelling tools🎼 DIY sound design & Foley work — from cracked eggs to handmade thunder🤖 Animation vs. AI — where technology helps and where human creativity must remain🎥 Turning a short film into a feature-length proof of concept💍 Collaborating creatively as a married filmmaking team🎞️ Premiering on the festival circuit, including Dances With Films New YorkCracked is a powerful example of how independent filmmakers can create deeply resonant, festival-ready work with limited resources — if they’re willing to commit fully to the craft. 🎟️ Cracked premieres at Dances With Films New York — Midnight Block, January 16.

    27 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    International Director Dominik Sedlar on Feature Films, Festivals, and the Art of Working with Actors

    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-productions, and major festival premieres. Born in Croatia, raised in New York, and educated through hands-on experience in theater and film, Dominik shares what he’s learned from directing his first documentary as a teenager, making ultra-low-budget features, working with veteran actors, and navigating the increasingly competitive festival and distribution landscape. This conversation is a must-listen for filmmakers, directors, producers, and actors who want an honest look at the craft, business, and psychology behind making films that actually get seen. 🎥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How Dominik directed his first documentary at age 15The key differences between theater acting and film actingWhy “less direction” often leads to better performancesHow to make a feature film with limited money and free locationsWhat it’s really like working with seasoned actors vs. inexperienced onesHow to keep audiences engaged in a single-room, dialogue-driven filmLessons learned from shooting during COVID under tight timelinesThe realities of today’s festival circuit and film distributionAdvice for first-time directors and emerging filmmakersWhy resilience, adaptability, and collaboration matter more than everWhether you’re developing your first feature, transitioning from documentary to narrative, or trying to break through the noise of today’s content-saturated film world, this episode delivers practical insights and hard-earned wisdom from a director who’s lived it. 🎧 Subscribe to Best in Fest for in-depth conversations with filmmakers, festival directors, and industry insiders shaping the future of independent film.

    36 min
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4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Host Leslie LaPage, Director of LaFemme International Film Festival uncovers the Secrets of Filmmaking with her lineup of industry professional guests. In every episode you will learn things like how to make the most out of the film festival circuit, how to find a great distribution partner, how to attract A list talent, finding the perfect representation, the dirty little secrets of Hollywood and much more.

Information

  • Creator
    Leslie LaPage
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    254
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Best in Fest
  • Show Website
    Best in Fest

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