Demystifying Film Festival Programming

Beg, borrow, steal - festival alums Kelsea Bauman-Murphy and Audrey Arnold chat filming with sunburns in the heat of Florida, their shared history of shoplifting (which spawned their upcoming short “TAMPA”), and their paths to fundraising, including utilizing LESFF as a fiscal sponsor.

Caroline Lindy, Writer/Director of LESFF 2024 Best of Fest Winner YOUR MONSTER, and cast members Tommy Dewey, Kayla Foster, and Edmund Donovan chat about making the genre-bending horror musical romantic comedy that was inspired by true events.

A live taping of “Below the Line,” at LESFF 2024. ‘Sexperts’ from all corners of the industry have brought some of their favorite funny, sexy, and steamy scenes to watch and discuss! Panelists include DeWanda Wise, (She's Gotta Have It), Edy Modica, (Jury Duty), Roger Kumble (Dir. Cruel Intentions), and Amy Northup (Intimacy Coordinator, Stress Positions, Fire Island). Moderated by NY Times writer Gina Cherelus, our panel chats about the role that sex plays in storytelling and dives into how today’s creators are pushing the boundaries and overturning cinematic sex-pectations.

Writer, director and star of the LESFF 2024 Closing Night Film PUDDYSTICKS, Megan Seeley and her co-star Dan Bakkedahl (Veep) talk with hosts Roxy Hunt, Shannon Walker and Josh Greenwood about their dark comedy that explores anxiety through a secret society in suburban Florida.

Filmmakers Sebastian Dinatale and Laura Oberbeck (two of LESFF's Stay Indie Project participants) discuss how their short film Mr. Oberbeck served as a launch pad for their first feature.

Filmmaker Michael Lukk Litwak chats with us about making his indie sci-fi romantic comedy “MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE,” starring Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari - which had its New York Premiere at LESFF 2023

An eight-year cinematic journey, "Great Photo, Lovely Life" chronicles a granddaughter’s attempt to disrupt a cycle of intergenerational trauma through the voices of the survivors and her grandfather himself. Filmmakers, Amanda Mustard and Rachel Beth Anderson sit down with Festival Directors, Roxy Hunt and Shannon Walker

Join The Writers Guild of America East and The Lower East Side Film Festival (LESFF) directors in a live panel conversation with the Writers Guild of America's 2023 Audio Documentary Award nominees. Writers from Slate, Gimlet Media, and Vox will discuss their favorite podcasts and audio docs, their research and writing process, and what they think the future of audio docs might look like. Hosted by LESFF Festival Directors Roxy Hunt and Shannon Walker.

Below The Line, the LESFF Podcast hosts a special LIVE virtual happy hour discussion with programmers from Provincetown Film Festival, Mountainfilm, and our very own Lower East Side Film Festival! Featuring programmers Josh Greenwood, Suzan Beraza, and Andrew Peterson! Hosted by Festival Directors Roxy Hunt and Shannon Walker.

Actor/Director, and LESFF Jury member Jennifer Morrison chats directing Euphoria, what she learned acting on Primetime TV for the past decade, and carving her own path to making her first feature. Hosted by Festival Director, Roxy Hunt.