Julia Verdin, p.g.a.

Julia Verdin is an award-winning producer, director, and screenwriter whose films have screened at premier festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Venice, AFI, Raindance, Vancouver International, and London. With more than 30 years in the film industry, she has built a distinguished career producing and directing independent films that combine strong storytelling with meaningful social impact. She is the founder of Rough Diamond Productions, established in 1995.

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As a producer, Julia has overseen more than 36 feature films from development through worldwide distribution. She has collaborated with acclaimed actors including Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Danny Huston, Sienna Miller, Jacqueline Bisset, Thomas Jane, and Lou Gossett Jr. Her notable producing credits include The Merchant of Venice (Sony Pictures Classics), Stander, 2 Jacks, Riding the Bullet, and the faith-based drama The Least Among You, which received two NAACP nominations. She also executive produced the Lionsgate release Born of War.

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Julia is known for her comprehensive expertise in development, casting, packaging, financing, production, festival strategy, and international sales. Her producing background, combined with her early training as an actress, informs her directing style, allowing her to draw powerful performances from actors while maintaining strong creative and financial discipline.

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Her directorial debut, Lost Girls, addressing the issue of sex trafficking, won multiple festival awards including Best Social Impact Film at the Culver City Film Festival and has been used in educational and community outreach programs. She followed with Lost Girls: Angie’s Story, which she wrote, directed, and produced, continuing her commitment to socially relevant storytelling. She also directed No Address, a narrative feature highlighting the crisis of homelessness, including directing and producing the award-winning documentary Americans With No Address.

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Beyond filmmaking, Julia is a respected educator and author of the book Success in Films, a guide to developing, financing, producing, and marketing independent films that is widely used in film programs worldwide. She lectures for organizations including BAFTA, Women in Film, WGA, AFM, and Story Expo, and served for ten years on the BAFTA LA Board, where she chaired the film committee and helped launch the BAFTA Newcomers Program. She received the La Femme Executive Achievement Award for her contributions to film and mentorship.

 

Julia is also the founder of Artists For Change, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of critical social issues through film and media. She remains passionate about creating stories that entertain, educate, and inspire meaningful change.

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