Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Relova. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julia, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I actually do have another job—I work as the Chapter Health Program Manager at Naturally Network, a national nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs in the natural products industry. It’s a role that asks a lot of me in terms of strategic thinking, community building, and emotional intelligence. And interestingly, it’s made me a stronger, more intentional artist.

There are definitely moments where I daydream about what it would be like to have just one job! One of those moments hit me pretty hard last fall—I was juggling a massive program launch at Naturally Network while also prepping A Little Prayer for its festival submissions. I was exhausted, stretched thin, and found myself thinking, Wouldn’t it be easier to just pick one lane?

But what I’ve come to realize is that my work in both spaces feeds each other. At Naturally Network, I’m constantly thinking about how to design experiences that support people’s growth, how to make someone feel seen, and how to tell stories that connect across identities and industries. All of that directly impacts how I approach filmmaking—how I build a set culture, how I write characters with nuance, and how I direct with care.

Rather than choosing between being an artist and having a “regular” job, I’ve found power in allowing the two to coexist. One sharpens my discipline; the other fuels my imagination. It’s not always easy, but the tension between them has given me a more grounded, human-centered creative practice.

Julia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Julia Relova—a queer Filipino-American filmmaker (multi-hyphenate: writer, director, producer) based in Chicago. I’m also the co-founder of Rm. 19 Productions, a small but mighty production collective focused on creating emotionally honest, women-led, and culturally grounded stories across film and media. I work at the intersection of narrative filmmaking, community organizing, and storytelling strategy, and I genuinely believe that stories can shape the way we relate to each other and the world.

I got into this industry for two reasons (1) my community and (2) out of deep curiosity about people.

Many of my closest friends have been professionally in film and theatre longer than I have, and one day, my friends Imani Davis and Jamie Kreppein came to me explaining producing and encouraging me to join them in their creative pursuits. After a few projects together, we formed our production company, Rm. 19 Productions. This is why community continues to be a value I keep consistently in the front of my mind – because community brought me here.

I earned my undergraduate degree in psychology and have spent much of my career working with nonprofits and community-focused organizations. I’ve always been fascinated by the inner workings of relationships—how we love, how we grieve, how we evolve. That curiosity led me to start creating and supporting short films that explore those themes through a queer and Filipina lens. Along the way, I’ve worked on projects like A Little Prayer and Love in Process, which reflect my tendency to gravitate toward stories that blend groundedness with softness, surrealism, and a lot of heart.

I produce and consult on crowdfunding campaigns, pitch decks, and distribution strategies for independent filmmakers. Along with my experience in film, I pull from my knowledge as a Program Manager at Naturally Network, where I support founders and nonprofit chapters across the country. This dual perspective allows me to help filmmakers think not just about their creative vision, but also about how they’re perceived, how to position their work strategically, and how to operationally move through the filmmaking process with intention and clarity.

What sets my work apart is the combination of emotional depth, cultural specificity, and a genuine love for building community. I’m not just making films—I’m creating space for people to see themselves, process what they’ve been through, and feel less alone, while also thinking about how they will practically accomplish what they’re setting out to do and working to build more collaborative spaces where people can meet, create, and grow together.

What I’m most proud of is the way I’ve been able to bridge creative work with community impact. I want potential clients, collaborators, and followers to know that when you work with me, you’re not just getting a director or producer—you’re getting someone who cares deeply about your story, your people, and the bigger purpose behind your project.

Whether we’re developing a film, organizing a professional development series like Film Girl Brunch, or mapping out your campaign strategy, my goal is always the same: to create something meaningful, beautiful, and rooted in care.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

To truly support artists and a thriving creative ecosystem, society needs to recognize that creative work is labor—and valuable labor at that. That means funding it, protecting it, and making space for it in both public policy and everyday life. Artists need more than applause—they need sustainable support structures: access to affordable housing, healthcare, mental health services, and funding that doesn’t come with impossible strings attached.

We also need to reframe how we talk about “success” in the arts. Not every artist is trying to go viral or make a blockbuster. Some of us are trying to tell honest stories, build community, or simply make something beautiful. That work is just as important and deserves to be supported.

Finally, I think we need more collaborative infrastructure—spaces where creatives can meet, experiment, and learn from one another without competition or gatekeeping. The more we treat art as something we all benefit from—not just something to consume but something to nurture—the stronger and more inclusive the ecosystem becomes.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I’m a big book girly so I’ve got a few:

One of the key books is Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown. Her exploration of vulnerability, trust, and leadership has shaped how I approach both my personal and professional roles. It’s taught me that vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a strength that fosters genuine connections.

Another powerful read for me is This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman by Ilhan Omar. Her story reminds me of the importance of resilience, empathy, and the strength that comes from embracing one’s identity and experiences. It influences how I think about the intersection of culture and leadership, especially when working in diverse, community-driven spaces.

I also recommend How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. The book highlights the importance of empathy, active listening, and seeing people for who they truly are—principles I carry into every aspect of my work, from collaborating with other filmmakers to managing relationships at Naturally Network.

Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood has been particularly relevant in understanding how to create more equitable systems within the film industry and beyond. It’s a call to action for those of us in creative fields to be aware of power dynamics and to push for systemic change.

Lastly, The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything is a guide to navigating a fast-evolving world, and it’s been instrumental in shaping my thinking about adaptability, innovation, and fostering collaborative leadership in today’s increasingly remote, decentralized work environment.

These resources collectively guide how I manage and collaborate with others, always with an eye toward empathy, empowerment, and challenging the status quo to create more inclusive, impactful work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rm19productions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliarelova
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliarelova/