International Director Dominik Sedlar on Feature Films, Festivals, and the Art of Working with Actors

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 15
• The key differences between theater acting and film acting
• Why “less direction” often leads to better performances
• How to make a feature film with limited money and free locations
• What it’s really like working with seasoned actors vs. inexperienced ones
• How to keep audiences engaged in a single-room, dialogue-driven film
• Lessons learned from shooting during COVID under tight timelines
• The realities of today’s festival circuit and film distribution
• Advice for first-time directors and emerging filmmakers
• Why resilience, adaptability, and collaboration matter more than ever

Whether 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.