Pages Navigation Menu

Juliet Romeo: Filmmaker, Journalist, Activist

Juliet Romeo:  Filmmaker, Journalist, Activist

 

 

Introduction to Juliet Romeo.   1:40 min.  Interview:  Raymond Elman. Post-Production:  Lee Skye.   Recoded via Zoom. 3/7/2025. Miami.

JULIET ROMEO is an award-winning writer and director known for her dedication to bold, authentic storytelling. A Brooklyn-born Trinidadian filmmaker based in South Florida, she brings her lived experiences as a disabled Caribbean woman into her work, creating narratives that explore identity, resilience, and social justice. As the founder of the Unstoppable program at the Academy Awards-qualifying Slamdance Film Festival, she has built what filmmakers describe as a utopian vision of how the film industry should be—a space where accessibility and inclusion are the standard, not the exception. Society may not have fully caught up yet, but Unstoppable has become an undeniable force, reshaping the festival landscape and empowering disabled filmmakers worldwide. Her unwavering support of filmmakers has earned her the affectionate title “The Fairy Godmother of Filmmakers.”

Juliet’s directorial work includes “Uncomplicated,” a narrative short that resonated deeply with the sickle cell community and secured distribution on Delta Airlines Inflight Entertainment, as well as two PBS-aired documentaries, “J.U.L.E.S” and “Art of Warriors,” which highlight the realities of living with sickle cell disease. Her keen eye for compelling storytelling has made her a sought-after programmer and mentor for festivals such as Doc NYC, ReelAbilities, PBS Film-Maker, The Loren Arbus Grant, and the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. She is widely recognized for her ability to spot great films and connect with filmmakers, especially those with disabilities, providing them with opportunities and support. Beyond film, Juliet serves as the board chairperson for Advancing Sickle Cell Advocacy Project Inc., South Florida’s largest nonprofit advocating for education, policy change, and support for individuals affected by sickle cell disease. Through her filmmaking, advocacy, and industry leadership, she continues to push for a more inclusive film industry, ensuring diverse stories are not only told but celebrated.

 

The videos below are recorded via Zoom, organized by Success Factor, and run between 80 seconds and 14 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

 

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:   1:40 min.

Where did you grow up, and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

 

SERENDIPITY:   1:21 min.

What was your first experience in a movie theater?

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:    1:52 min.

When did you first realize that you are a storyteller?

 

PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS:    2:07  min.

Have you always been impaired because of Sickle Cell disease? Do you remember your first awareness that Sickle Cell was a differentiator for you?

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:    2:31 min.

You have a gift for writing. Writing is very hard for most people. Did writing flow out of you?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:   1:56 min.

My longtime friend, New Yorker magazine writer Alec Wilkinson, wrote a book titled “A Divine Language” (2022), about his struggles with math.

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:    7:25 min.

Where did you go to school, and when did you start thinking about turning your storytelling skills into a career? Also, I am guessing that people told you that you won’t be able to make films because of your disease.

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:    13:58 min.

Tell us about your evolution from college to making films.

 

STRONG DRIVE FOR ACHIEVEMENT:    3:05 min.

What are some of the things on your drawing board, that you know you can do if you get funded?

 

PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS:    11:27 min.

Tell us about Unstoppable.

 

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:    2:27 min.

Tell us about the works of fiction you are considering.

 

UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART:    1:23 min.

It’s amazing that the State of Florida eliminated incentives for the Film Industry.

 

CRITICAL THINKING:    7:08 min.

Which part of filmmaking do you enjoy most — directing, editing, or writing?

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:    5:54 min.

What’s your favorite movie?