Meet Julia Maixer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Maixer.

Hi Julia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I have been wanting to work in the film industry ever since I can remember, I have never wanted to do anything else. I remember I was very young when suddenly, it struck me: “There must be people working on these films I enjoyed watching so much. I want to do that”. 

Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, and knowing from a very young age I wanted to pursue a career in film, also came with the realization of how limited the education in film is in Spain. Certain that this was the professional path I wanted to pursue when I was 16, I embarked on my first journey abroad to England. Where I studied in Hurtwood House School for two years, taking classes such as Media Studies and Photography. 

Taking photography classes at Hurtwood became the turning point of my academic trajectory. I was surprised by how much my creativity grew by looking through a lens and how much I was able to express through this art form, in addition to the satisfaction and growing love for the medium. This discovery, along with my already passionate love for film, could only lead to an answer, and it was then I came to know about the role of the cinematographer, quickly realizing that this was what I wanted to pursue. 

Following my fruitful experience in the UK, I went back home to study my BA in Film Studies in ESCAC (Escola Superior d’Audiovisuals de Catalunya), where I was able to undertake a highly practical film production undergraduate degree with specific specialization in cinematography. This resulted in numerous academic films, including a thesis film at the end of my undergraduate degree that I took part in as the cinematographer. 

After my undergraduate degree, restless and passionate as I had always been, led me to take a step further and pursue one of my biggest dreams which was studying and pursuing the film industry in the United States. Concretely; in Los Angeles. After a brief one-year pause, where I was majorly working on my own photography projects and working as a camera trainee, it was then I applied to my dream school, the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, and soon came the exciting news that I was admitted to the cinematography program 2023-2025. 

Therefore, currently, I find myself in this tremendous and fruitful adventure that is my first year at the American Film Institute, working hard to achieve my educational goals as a cinematographer and ready to embark on my second year and jump into the professional film industry feeling more confident and excited than ever before. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing up in a traditional town in the outskirts of Barcelona, you would rarely find a child all of a sudden wanting to pursue a career in film instead of any other “traditional” career paths led by their parents. I found myself having to seek for my professional and educational goals from a young age, leaving the nest very soon. Having a very tight relationship with my family, this was not easy. 

I am still young, and I truly believe the rollercoaster is only just starting for me. But it is definitely not easy to pursue a career in film, and that applies to all artistic pursuits. I am at a place where I feel very lucky and proud of my achievements, and this is not something that was given to me freely; I put in tremendous amounts of work to be where I am now personally and professionally, but I believe the true hard work is just starting for me, but that fills me with excitement. 

Film is a very passionate industry, much so that sometimes it becomes part of yourself. Each project I embark on there is a piece of me in it, and it is deeply painful when it fails, but it fills me with joy when it succeeds. The creative process is always a though one, and this struggle does not get any easier despite the growth of experience and expertise. As a perfectionist, I always push myself to reach the maximum of my capabilities, and that level of self-demand has definitely been detrimental in many ways throughout my journey. As my experience grows, I learn to truly enjoy the moment, making sure every time I look through a lens there is always something new to learn from, to be proud of, to find why this matters to me and to the people part of the collaborative process. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a cinematographer, currently an MFA Cinematography student at the American Film Institute. Most of my up-to-date work can be found in my website: juliamaixer.com. But I am also active on Instagram: @juliamaixer. 

The American Film Institute has definitely become the most incredible and life-changing experience I have been lucky to be part of. I believe this place is truly special, and this is only shared amongst those who have been enrolled in this program. The learning growth and opportunities at AFI as a cinematographer are endless. 

I find myself at the very start of my professional career, with exciting projects set for next year, which will eventually be the first public showcase of my work as a cinematographer. I am ready to embark on my next journey as a professional cinematographer after all these years crafting my skills, putting my utmost enthusiasm and hard work to everything I do. 

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My family has been the biggest support for me and continue to be so. I am very thankful to have parents as supportive as mine, they’ve always encouraged me to follow my dreams, conquer all my fears and step into a career path that was very unknown to them, but they knew I loved. I know some parents struggle with that, so I am very lucky to have such a great relationship and support from home. I owe everything to them. 

I know my realization of wanting to become a cinematographer would have not come without my two years at Hurtwood House School. Their photography and media department is amazing, and I had fantastic professors there. In ESCAC, I had an amazing professor called Geoffrey Cowper, a very talented working director whom I am deeply grateful for everything he taught me and his help throughout the application process for the American Film Institute. 

The American Film Institute and everything the program is currently teaching me is beyond what I had imagined, and it’s a dream come true to be part of such a great program. I am positive I will always refer back to AFI and the faculty throughout all my career. 

Contact Info:

• Website: juliamaixer.com
• Instagram: juliamaixer