Leanna has long been in the movie industry: to date she has produced ten films and has been an actor since the age of fifteen. "I get a little embarrassed when I have to talk about my acting career, which was mostly in TV dramas and commercials. After acting (for about ten years), I went to film school, and then became a producer." But Leanna discovered that she really wanted to direct, so in 1999 she set up her own company to put herself in that direction. "Offside," her film in this year's festival, was produced by singer Michael Bolton. "I met Michael through a friend, when I was still a producer. It just so happened Michael was then thinking of producing films, so I showed him my script (for "Offside.") He really liked it and soon we were working on the film together." The story of "Offside" is a well-known story about an event that took place during World War I in England, that not many Americans know about. "My producer is from England, and I learned about this story from him. I thought it was such an amazing story - just the idea that it was Christmas and the soldiers put down their weapons for a game of soccer. I felt it would make a great film. We filmed it in June, and by chance, around Christmas, a book entitled 'Silent Night,' about the same story, had just been published." We asked Leanna, a native of the U.S., if she felt that there's a relationship between nationality and filmmaking. "I don't think you have to make films that are strictly from your own culture, or your own experiences. Take director Ang Lee, for example. He's Chinese-American, and he directed "Sense and Sensibility" (a film based on Jane Austen's novel), and he did a wonderful job, capturing the English culture and characters so well. So, I don't think you have to make films that are strictly focused on your own culture. At the same time, I can't overlook my own background, which is something I wouldn't do anyway." Leanna has been an actress, a producer, and a director. Of the three, which does she like the most? "I think I like being a director the most. I don't mind being in front of the camera, but it's not what I want to do most. Being a producer is like being a parent in many ways, you're always taking care of everything, and you do get a chance to really get involved in all aspects of film in that capacity. But I guess being a director is what I've liked doing the most so far. As a director, you get to discuss things with your actors, you decide how the film will look, create your own imagery. Outside of directing I like doing photography. But I guess that's part of being a director, too…"