In 2009, Schlesinger read a New York Times op-ed about a young Dutch woman named Laura Dekker with intentions to sail around the world alone at the age of 14.
The story captured her attention and she made an effort to get in touch with Dekker, who was notably media-shy at the time.
Dekker responded positively to the idea of a collaboration with the first-time director and the two set off on the adventure of making a documentary together.
Working with an all-women crew, Schlesinger met Dekker 10 times over the course of the 17-month voyage around the world, including a three-week passage across the Pacific Ocean on another sailboat.
Maidentrip had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival in March 2013 where it won the Visions Audience Award.