In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Sandhya Hermon — an award-winning screenwriter and former research psychologist — to explore how a second career in storytelling can emerge from lived experience, global identity, and persistence.

Sandhya shares her journey from earning a doctorate in psychology to pursuing an MFA in screenwriting at UT Austin, and how her scripts have gone on to place at top competitions including Austin Film Festival, PAGE Awards, BlueCat, Nichols Fellowship, and more.

In this episode, we explore:

• 🧠 Transitioning from psychology to screenwriting later in life
• ✍️ How life experience strengthens character and theme
• 🏆 Navigating screenwriting fellowships, contests, and labs
• 📚 The difference between fellowships, competitions, and coverage
• 🌍 Writing culturally specific stories with universal appeal
• 🎬 Why global and diaspora stories are gaining traction
• 🐕 Turning personal memory into an animated short
• 🧩 Developing a sustainable writing process and slate
• 🎥 Breaking into the industry without traditional connections
• 💡 Why community and mentorship matter for emerging writers

Sandhya also discusses her feature scripts set in India, her latest project Once Upon a Time in Bombay, the realities of today’s screenwriting market, and why streaming platforms have opened new doors for diverse voices and international stories.