What does it really take to build a career as a feature film director — starting at age 15 and continuing across continents, cultures, and film festivals?In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage, Director of the La Femme International Film Festival, sits down with Dominik Sedlar, an award-winning director whose career spans documentaries, narrative features, international co-productions, and major festival premieres.Born in Croatia, raised in New York, and educated through hands-on experience in theater and film, Dominik shares what he’s learned from directing his first documentary as a teenager, making ultra-low-budget features, working with veteran actors, and navigating the increasingly competitive festival and distribution landscape.This conversation is a must-listen for filmmakers, directors, producers, and actors who want an honest look at the craft, business, and psychology behind making films that actually get seen.🎥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How Dominik directed his first documentary at age 15The key differences between theater acting and film actingWhy “less direction” often leads to better performancesHow to make a feature film with limited money and free locationsWhat it’s really like working with seasoned actors vs. inexperienced onesHow to keep audiences engaged in a single-room, dialogue-driven filmLessons learned from shooting during COVID under tight timelinesThe realities of today’s festival circuit and film distributionAdvice for first-time directors and emerging filmmakersWhy resilience, adaptability, and collaboration matter more than everWhether you’re developing your first feature, transitioning from documentary to narrative, or trying to break through the noise of today’s content-saturated film world, this episode delivers practical insights and hard-earned wisdom from a director who’s lived it.🎧 Subscribe to Best in Fest for in-depth conversations with filmmakers, festival directors, and industry insiders shaping the future of independent film.