Washington Square Films has signed award-winning director Julio Palacio for commercial representation. His work has earned accolades at prestigious festivals such as Tribeca, Cleveland, Slamdance, and Atlanta. His client list includes Google, 3M, Daimler Mercedes, MasterCard, and Stanley Black & Decker, among others.
His latest short documentary, Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World, was recently acquired by Netflix for distribution on December 11, 2024, and shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards in the Documentary Short Film category. The film also earned Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival and other honors at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Slamdance, Cleveland, Cordillera, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta Film Festival; as well as nominations for the Critics Documentary Choice Awards, and Cinema Eye Honors.
Han West, EVP of Production at Washington Square Films, said of Palacio, “He has an outstanding ability to weave emotion, truth, and cinematic beauty into every frame of his work. It’s rare to find a storyteller with such a natural gift for creating powerful, raw connections with an audience.”
Palacio added, “I am honored to join the Washington Square Films family, where our visions for storytelling align on both film and commercial work. I create stories that evoke deep emotion and empathy, and I’m excited to bring that to our projects. Together, I believe we can craft cinematic work that resonates and leaves a lasting impact.”
In his work, Palacio strives to find authenticity in both visuals and performances, a principle he honed through his acting and documentary background. He believes that capturing what’s real at the moment is essential, even in fiction and commercials. Whether it’s the choice of actor, camera movement, or lighting, any element can contribute to a shoot feeling genuine. For Palacio, discovering those real, authentic moments is a hallmark of his directorial approach and makes the creative journey truly special.