2025 Annual Awards Interviews: Arielle Raycene, lead actress of “Growing Daisies”

Join host Olivia Lyle (@olivialyle1) for an exclusive interview with Arielle Raycene, named Best Actress of 2025 for Growing Daisies at the IndieX Film Fest Annual Awards. Recorded by Kyle Reed (@thekylereed) at Regal LA Live, Los Angeles, this segment captures Arielle’s reflections on embodying one of the year’s most fearless performances.

In Growing Daisies, Daisy is captivating—haunted, erotically tormented, and obsessed by forces beyond her control. The film draws viewers deep into her fractured psyche, exposing the raw inner life of a woman consumed by her compulsions. Through a sensual and disturbing lens, director Alessandra Gaia Williams explores the dark terrain of female desire and mental isolation. A plunge into the very nature of obsession, and for some, a reflection of lived reality.

Raycene’s bold performance anchors the film’s intensity, offering a portrayal that is at once magnetic and harrowing. Her work earned her not only the top acting honor of the year, but also a seat as a featured guest speaker on the 2025 Annual Awards Q&A panel. The film’s director, Alessandra Gaia Williams, was likewise recognized for her daring vision, winning Best Female Director of 2025.

Watch the interview and trailer below for a glimpse into Arielle Raycene’s gripping portrayal of Daisy and to hear her perspective on the role, the filmmaking process, and what it means to embody discomfort with truth and vulnerability.