Julietta writes: I recently found myself at a trampoline park, the only adult jumping amongst a storm of kids. And to be honest with you, I wasn’t surprised (nor would my close friends be). I have a keen appreciation for the ‘funner’ things in life: The sillier rides at Luna Park? Count me in. A convoy of giant pool floaties in Palm Springs? I’m there. Random karaoke on a Tuesday night? Do you even need to ask?!
My penchant for silliness might be because I didn’t get to do many fun things as a kid. Instead, as a kid, I learnt to live without a lot of things: sometimes without a fridge, sometimes without hot water, for a while without working plumbing and more times than I can remember, my family lived without a home.
But here’s the thing: for years I didn’t speak, let alone write, about my background, because along with the unfun life that is poverty, came its hired goon: Shame. And I felt it deeply.
But the wonderful thing is, as an adult, I am now very thankful for many things. A comfortable bed, a warm coat in winter, knowing where my next meal is coming from. And now I’ve demoted Shame to an occasional annoyance, I’m also profoundly thankful that, difficult though it is, I can write stories based on my experiences, stories that create empathy for people who grew up like me and convey emotionally that no-one should have to live through the invisibility that is poverty.
And because of all I’ve gone through, my thankfulness is accompanied by exceptional joyfulness when my voice as a Writer/Director is acknowledged, particularly when it’s for a story that’s emotionally close to my own.
My project The Sound of Light, which is inspired by my experiences growing up, has advanced to the second round of selections for the 2024 Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab.
This is the second year in a row the project has gotten this far and the fourth time my projects have been shortlisted for a Sundance lab. In its very early stages, it was one of nine international projects selected for Venice’s Biennale College -Cinema. I don’t know what will happen next but I do know it’s a script that is very openly and intimately me and which I’m very proud of. Karaoke anyone?!
Nominated by her peers!
Julietta has been nominated for an Australian Directors Guild Award for her work on The PM’s Daughter!
Sundance shortlisting!
Julietta’s screenplay The Sound of Light has been shortlisted for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab! The film explores a teenager’s intimate and awkward relationship with shame and how it affects her voice. Previously, the project was one of nine international projects selected for the Venice Biennale College Cinema.
Heading to the US!
Julietta is one of eight Australian writer/directors who have been awarded a grant from Australia’s premier funding body, Screen Australia, to travel to NY in September to attend the Australian International Screen Forum! The forum will feature industry roundtables, introductions to and advice from a selection of influential New York based screen professionals. She will then travel on to LA.
Acclaim for the PM's Daughter continues!
Another wonderful review for the PM’s Daughter, which Julietta was Set-up Director on! This time being rated one of the top 10 Australian movies and TV shows by NME who call it a ‘first-rate political satire with a lot more to say than most adult sitcoms! See the whole review here: https://www.nme.com/en_au/features/film-features/best-australian-films-and-tv-shows-2022-so-far-3246996?fbclid=IwAR3HprczRxeGo03QYHxalUCH-oN54sgCXV3JzBi6jJjy9qTpcKxfvjd414o
The polls are in - the PM's Daughter has high approval ratings!
The PM’s Daughter, which Julietta was Set-up Director on, has been rated one of the best 15 shows of the year (so far!) by the Sydney Morning Herald! https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/the-15-best-tv-shows-of-the-year-so-far-20220531-p5aq2s.html?fbclid=IwAR2B0NJmK-biHqsUHbLeo9cAnn1l1LUxnvt-Ko3Abpi_De5T-Wba9RNucCo
Directing some powerful folks!
Julietta is the set-up director on The PM’s Daughter for Freemantle and the ABC!
Home to Venice! Venice International Film Festival - Biennale College selection!
Julietta’s feature project THE SOUND OF LIGHT is one of nine international projects selected for the Venice International Film Festival’s Biennale College Cinema! She will travel to Venice in October for the first workshop!
Doctor Doctor, gimme the news!
Julietta will direct an episode of the primetime hit television drama Doctor Doctor for Easy Tiger Productions and Channel 9!
Fellowship to LA!
Julietta is one of three recipients of the Metro Screen ADG Open Fellowship and will travel to LA to take part in the Hollywood Field Trip!
Sundance shortlisting for The Bigger Woman!
Julietta’s television project The Bigger Woman, which she co-created with Sundance award-winner Goran Stolevski, has been shortlisted for the Sundance | YouTube New Voices Lab!
Another win for This Baby!
Julietta’s film Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go has won the ATOM Award for Best Short Fiction Film! Thanks again to the cast and crew and to Screen Australia for supporting the film.
Mentor LA!
Very exciting news: Julietta has been selected to be mentored by acclaimed US director Jamie Babbit (Girls/Silicon Valley) as part of the Australians in Film/Screen Australia’s Mentor LA program! Julietta will be mentored by Jamie over a 12 month period via Skype and then in person in LA. Big congrats also to her fellow mentees Que Minh Luu, Candy Bowers and Kodie Bedford.
In wonderful company!
Julietta has been nominated for the 1.4 Awards in London, amongst very illustrious nominees, including the incredible Wim Wenders! It is indeed an honour to be nominated!
Honoured to take part!
Julietta is one of three directors (along with Jonathan Ogilvie and Brian Trenchardsmith) to be given the honour of judging this year’s Sci-fi Film Festival Official Competition!
Festival Director Simon Foster stated: “They represent the kind of instinctive visionaries that the SciFi Film Festival celebrates in its programming. We wanted to celebrate it in choosing our judges, as well.”
She looks forward to taking part!
Nomination for Gold!
Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go continues its stellar run by being one of only five films nominated for Best Australian Short at Heart of Gold International Film Festival!
Congrats to the team and all of the nominees! Such a beautiful festival to be part of!
Double the love for our film!
Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go continues its phenomenal run: being selected to screen at the incredible Heart of Gold Film Festival and as a finalist for an ATOM Award!
The ATOM awards is the second-longest-running film and media awards in Australia (only behind the AACTAS) and celebrates Australian and New Zealand films from screen industry professionals and the education sector. LSHFTBWG is one of only four films nominated for Best Short Fiction Film (under 50 minutes) at the awards.
The Heart of Gold International Film Festival screens films ‘that are heart-warming, thought-provoking and entertaining’. As the fest says: ‘At Heart of Gold, we believe to break through to the audience on an emotional level takes a special kind of storytelling magic’. Awww, happy to be sharing the magic with you, Heart of Gold!
Award nom for The Baby's amazing sound team!
The amazing sound team on Let's See How Fast This Baby Will Go - our Oscar winning Re-Recording Mixer Andy Wright, Sound Designer Liesl Pieterse, Sound Recordist Ian Rumbell and ADR Recordists Diego Ruiz and Brian C Roth) have been nominated for an Australian Screen Sound Guild Award! Our film wouldn't have been the film it is without their amazing work and we’re so glad it's been recognised!
Special mention of course to our incredible composer Basil Hogios whose astounding work (and hilarious muzak) drove the film. Big thanks also to Soundfirm for supporting the film. Congrats again guys and best of luck!
Taking this Baby to LA!
Julietta was honoured to have Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go selected as one of a handful of films to screen in a special Australians in Film event in LA. Afterwards Julietta took part in a Q&A hosted by the amazing Charmaine Bingwa and spoke openly about growing up in poverty and how this has affected her work and her perspective on the world.
Full house at Palm Springs!
Julietta was in Palm Springs for the North American premiere of Let’s See How Fast This Baby Will Go! It was pretty special as it was the first time that Julietta, Gloria Harrison (whose true short story the film is based on) and Liv Hewson (who starred in the film and gave a powerful performance) had watched the film together. It was also wonderful seeing it in a packed cinema with a very responsive audience! Afterwards, Julietta, Gloria and Liv took part in a Q&A with the other filmmakers in attendance.
