Best in Fest

The conversations continue from the La Femme International Film Festival as Best in Fest sits down with another group of filmmakers to explore the passion, persistence, and creative decisions behind their work.
In Part 4, we go deeper into what it really takes to make independent films—from developing an original idea and assembling the right team to overcoming production challenges and getting a finished project in front of an audience.
These filmmakers share the personal stories behind their films, the lessons they learned along the way, and the moments that tested their determination. We also discuss the importance of film festivals like La Femme International Film Festival in creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect, gain exposure, and build momentum for their careers.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Where filmmakers find inspiration for their stories
The creative and logistical challenges of independent filmmaking
How directors and producers bring their vision to the screen
Lessons learned from setbacks during production
The importance of collaboration in filmmaking
How film festivals can help filmmakers gain visibility and build relationships
Advice for anyone working to turn a film idea into a finished project
Join us for another behind-the-scenes look at the people, stories, and determination that keep independent cinema moving forward.

The conversations continue from the La Femme International Film Festival as Best in Fest sits down with another group of filmmakers to explore the passion, persistence, and creative decisions behind their work.
In Part 3, we go deeper into what it really takes to make independent films—from developing an original idea and assembling the right team to overcoming production challenges and getting a finished project in front of an audience.
These filmmakers share the personal stories behind their films, the lessons they learned along the way, and the moments that tested their determination. We also discuss the importance of film festivals like La Femme International Film Festival in creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect, gain exposure, and build momentum for their careers.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Where filmmakers find inspiration for their stories
The creative and logistical challenges of independent filmmaking
How directors and producers bring their vision to the screen
Lessons learned from setbacks during production
The importance of collaboration in filmmaking
How film festivals can help filmmakers gain visibility and build relationships
Advice for anyone working to turn a film idea into a finished project
Join us for another behind-the-scenes look at the people, stories, and determination that keep independent cinema moving forward.

The conversations continue from the La Femme International Film Festival as Best in Fest sits down with another group of filmmakers to explore the passion, persistence, and creative decisions behind their work.
In Part 2, we go deeper into what it really takes to make independent films—from developing an original idea and assembling the right team to overcoming production challenges and getting a finished project in front of an audience.
These filmmakers share the personal stories behind their films, the lessons they learned along the way, and the moments that tested their determination. We also discuss the importance of film festivals like La Femme International Film Festival in creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect, gain exposure, and build momentum for their careers.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Where filmmakers find inspiration for their stories
The creative and logistical challenges of independent filmmaking
How directors and producers bring their vision to the screen
Lessons learned from setbacks during production
The importance of collaboration in filmmaking
How film festivals can help filmmakers gain visibility and build relationships
Advice for anyone working to turn a film idea into a finished project
Join us for another behind-the-scenes look at the people, stories, and determination that keep independent cinema moving forward.

What does it take to bring an independent film from an idea to the festival screen?
In this special episode of Best in Fest, we sit down with filmmakers featured at the La Femme International Film Festival to talk about the stories behind their films, the challenges of independent filmmaking, and what it takes to turn a creative vision into a finished project.
From writing and directing to producing, financing, casting, and navigating the film festival circuit, these filmmakers share candid insights into the realities of bringing a movie to life. We also explore the inspiration behind their work, the obstacles they faced along the way, and what being part of La Femme means to them as filmmakers.
Whether you're a filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, actor, or simply someone who loves discovering the stories behind independent cinema, this episode offers an inside look at the passion, persistence, and creativity that drive today’s filmmakers.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
The inspiration behind the filmmakers’ latest projects
The realities of producing independent films
Challenges filmmakers face from development through post-production
Lessons learned during the filmmaking process
The value of film festivals for emerging and established filmmakers
What it means to have a film featured at the La Femme International Film Festival
Advice for filmmakers trying to get their own projects made and seen
Best in Fest goes beyond the finished film to discover the filmmakers, decisions, struggles, and breakthroughs that made it possible.

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 landing a television role after a single audition — launching an acting career she never expected.
She also takes us behind the scenes of Horse Girls, where she plays Margarita, an autistic woman navigating adulthood, independence, family, friendship and the wonderfully unexpected world of hobby horsing.
But this conversation goes far beyond one movie.
Lillian opens up about growing up without seeing people like herself represented authentically on screen, why the disability community embraces the principle “Nothing About Us Without Us,” and what can happen when filmmakers include people with lived experience in the creative process.
In this episode:
How Lillian Carrier unexpectedly became a professional actress
The story behind Horse Girls and her character Margarita
Why authentic casting of autistic and disabled actors matters
How Hollywood’s portrayal of autism has changed
The difference between representation and genuine inclusion
Why autistic actors need opportunities to play neurotypical characters too
How Lillian advocated for herself while filming Horse Girls
The surprising story behind Margarita’s adult tricycle
Learning hobby horsing for the movie
Why accommodations can actually create better creative solutions
The relationship between autism, independence and adulthood
Lillian’s work advocating for autistic adults
Why disability representation still has significant room to grow
Her goal of helping create a film with a predominantly autistic cast and crew
What Lillian hopes Hollywood changes next
It’s a conversation about much more than acting. It’s about who gets to tell stories, who gets hired to tell them, and what becomes possible when Hollywood expands its definition of who belongs on screen and behind the camera.