Julian Rubinstein
Filmmaker and Journalist-in-Residence, Western Colorado University
Center for Community News
BIO
2025 CCN Champion
Julian Rubinstein is an award-winning journalist, author and documentary filmmaker. His recent documentary feature, THE HOLLY, goes deep inside a gentrifying community in northeast Denver, where a shooting case involving an activist becomes a window into urban development and the city鈥檚 gang activity. It was executive produced by Academy Award-winner Adam McKay and distributed by Gravitas Ventures. It premiered theatrically in March 2023 and is currently streaming on Prime, Hulu, Starz and iTunes. It is the winner of six awards, including the , the 2023 IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) Award for Best Documentary, and the 2024 UFVA (University Film and Video Association) Award for Best Feature Documentary.
He began filming while reporting his nonfiction book, The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood (FSG). The book was a New York Times 鈥淓ditors鈥 Choice鈥 and the winner of the 2022 Colorado Book Award for General Nonfiction and the 2022 High Plains Book Award for Creative Nonfiction. His previous book, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, was also a New York Times 鈥淓ditors鈥 Choice鈥 and a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book.
Bio
2025 CCN Champion
Julian Rubinstein is an award-winning journalist, author and documentary filmmaker. His recent documentary feature, THE HOLLY, goes deep inside a gentrifying community in northeast Denver, where a shooting case involving an activist becomes a window into urban development and the city鈥檚 gang activity. It was executive produced by Academy Award-winner Adam McKay and distributed by Gravitas Ventures. It premiered theatrically in March 2023 and is currently streaming on Prime, Hulu, Starz and iTunes. It is the winner of six awards, including the , the 2023 IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) Award for Best Documentary, and the 2024 UFVA (University Film and Video Association) Award for Best Feature Documentary.
He began filming while reporting his nonfiction book, The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood (FSG). The book was a New York Times 鈥淓ditors鈥 Choice鈥 and the winner of the 2022 Colorado Book Award for General Nonfiction and the 2022 High Plains Book Award for Creative Nonfiction. His previous book, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, was also a New York Times 鈥淓ditors鈥 Choice鈥 and a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book.