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From Village to Victory: My Journey as a Filmmaker

In 2025, I’m living a life I once only dreamed of—making videos as my full-time job. From short films to branded content, YouTube sponsorships, freelance videography, talks, and workshops, I’ve carved out a career in filmmaking. I don’t have hundreds of thousands of followers, but I’ve worked with brands like Sony, Samsung, Rode, and Art List. This is the story of how I went from a small village in Slovenia to freelancing in London, the mistakes I made, the lessons I learned, and the people who helped me along the way. If you’re a creative trying to figure it out, I hope this offers inspiration, direction, or a reminder to chase what makes you happy.

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The Spark of Creativity

My journey began at 13, messing around with photography on my phone, trying to curate an aesthetic Instagram feed. I attended an after-school photography class twice a month, where I held a proper camera for the first time. My mom, my biggest supporter, gifted me a Canon 70D in 2015. My best friend Pika loved being in front of the lens, and I loved being behind it. We spent all our free time creating, and soon, I became known as the “photo and video person” in my village of 700. Small jobs trickled in—portraits, sports, fashion, concerts—but charging even €20-100 felt like a stretch for some clients. I often worked for free, which wasn’t sustainable.

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Taking the Leap to London

After high school at 18, I knew university wasn’t for me. My best friend moved to London, and I followed, armed with a camera, some savings, and a dream to make filmmaking my career. I naively thought opportunities would come quickly, but reality hit hard. Savings for at least six months were crucial because building a career takes time.

My first freelance gig came through Upwork—a proposal shoot for £40. My ego almost made me turn it down, but I’m glad I didn’t. During lockdown, with help from my friend Leia, I applied for jobs and landed a full-time video editor role at Cherry Smacks, earning €100 a day at 19. It was steady, but I knew freelancing was my true path.

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Building a Network

I realized my mindset needed to change. Your network is your net worth. At my job, I stayed longer on calls, made connections, and met Aaron, who became my mentor and helped me land gigs with Gymshark and Formula Electric. After five months, I quit to freelance full-time, now with better skills and connections.

In London, I didn’t know any creatives until I met my boyfriend Gareth on TikTok. He introduced me to UK Shooters, a community where creators connect and collaborate. Suddenly, I was surrounded by like-minded people, a stark contrast to my village. I started picking up small freelance jobs through these connections.

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A Big Break and a Bigger Loss

A pivotal moment came when I applied to be Ali Abdaal’s videographer. Out of 200 applicants, I made it to the final five and traveled to Manchester for a trial. I didn’t get the job, but it clarified that freelancing, not full-time work, was my calling.

Around this time, my personal life took a heavy hit. A year after moving to London, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. We spoke daily, and her positivity inspired me, but nine months later, she passed away. Losing her was devastating, but her support for my dreams gave me strength. On the day of her funeral, I gave a speech, promising myself to keep pursuing what makes me happy.

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Finding Inspiration and Opportunity

Ten days after my mom’s passing, I met Georgia, who invited me to a Friendsgiving in LA. That trip reignited my passion, connecting me with incredible creators. Back in London, a friend, Mike, recommended me for a Sony project—the biggest opportunity of my career. Sony loved the film, leading to more projects and pushing me to refine my storytelling.

I also started sharing filmmaking content online, focusing on work I was passionate about, not trends. A “cinematic breakdown” reel hit 100K views, catching Art List’s attention. They reposted it, and my followers grew from 4,000 to 10,000 in a week. I reached out, and soon we collaborated on a project. Art List’s support, along with their tools like music, sound effects, and AI generators, helped me grow as a filmmaker.

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Lessons Learned

By 2024, consistent brand work allowed me to travel for projects and enjoy time off. I hit a 10K month doing what I love—a milestone built on nine years of hard work. Opportunities to give talks and workshops followed, including speaking to 400 students in Slovenia on my 23rd birthday—a full-circle moment.

The biggest lesson? Trust is everything. Genuine connections and reliability opened doors, like becoming a Samsung ambassador. My short film Reflections with Sony, featuring my friend Leia, reminded me why I do this: to tell stories that matter.

Advice for Creatives

Your portfolio matters, but your character matters more. Be reliable, trustworthy, and easy to work with. Early on, you may need to do unpaid or underpaid work—those steps are part of the journey. Surround yourself with creatives, tag brands you love, and treat your social media like a portfolio. Opportunities may not come immediately, but persistence pays off.

I’m not chasing viral fame or millions of views. I’m chasing work that makes me proud. If I can do this—move from a tiny village to working with global brands—you can too. Keep creating, stay true to yourself, and the right people and opportunities will find you.

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