Julia Elihu
Directing
Biography
Julia is an Iranian-American Writer/Director whose work spans across the narrative, documentary, and commercial landscape. Through film, she aims to shed light on underrepresented stories that capture life’s candid beauty. In 2018, her short film YASAMIN, based on her mother’s story of immigration, was a Grand Jury Prize Nominee at the 2018 AFI Film Festival. In 2022, she associate produced the short documentary LONG LINE OF LADIES which world premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and won the grand jury prize at SXSW. In 2021, she produced the short documentary titled TEAM MERYLAND which was acquired by The New Yorker and PBS' POV Shorts Program. Julia's short narrative film, WINTER OF '79, had its World Premiere at the Oscar-Qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival and is available to watch on Vimeo or Omeleto. Her latest short, IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS world premiered at the Aspen Shortsfest, winning the "Youth Jury Award". When it comes to commercial work, Julia has worked with a range of clients like Amazon, Nike x Togethxr, and Sqaure. Julia was selected as a finalist for the 2023 Commercial Directors Diversity Program, endorsed by the AICP and the Directors Guild of America (DGA). In the future, Julia hopes to tell more stories that remind us to savor the small beauties of life.
Known For
A girl and her community prepare for her Ihuk, the once-dormant coming of age ceremony of the Karuk tribe of Northern California.
Long Line of Ladies
Amidst the 1988 war, Caroline takes a car ride with her father to the Iranian countryside of Birjand.
In the Garden of Tulips
At the onset of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, a Persian-Jewish mother is forced to question her faith in her country.
Winter of '79
Amid the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Yasamin moves to the USA and navigates the trials and tribulations of assimilation through the waxing of a unibrow.
Yasamin
Born and raised in the Watts projects of Los Angeles, twelve-year-old female boxer Meryland Gonzalez fights in-and-out of the ring for the dream to be crowned the 2019 Junior Olympics champion. This film screens as part of the shorts program, "Unstoppable," which begins at the dates and times listed here.