BY SETH MENSING | University Communications Manager
e: smensing@western.edu p: 970.943.7027
A documentary filmmaker who opened the eyes of many Colorado residents to the unsavory realities hidden away in the state’s capitol city has added yet another accolade to a long and growing list. Julian Rubinstein, a Filmmaker and Journalist-in-Residence at Western Colorado University, won a coveted Emmy Award for his documentary, The Holly, which explores the intersection of gang violence, politics, and law enforcement in Denver.
The film, which took more than eight years to make, is based on Rubinstein’s acclaimed book, The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun, and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood, which follows the story of Terrance Roberts, a former gang member-turned-activist who is charged with murder after shooting an alleged gang member at his own peace rally. As the story unfolds, the audience is forced to ask: is he a murderer or a victim?
The film has been celebrated at screenings around the country, winning the Audience Choice Award at the 2022 Telluride Mountain Film Festival and the Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Santa Fe International Film Festival. The film also won the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award for Best Documentary and the University Film and Video Association Award for Outstanding Merit in Documentary. In August, The Holly was awarded a 2024 Emmy for Best Topical Documentary. The film is streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple Plus.
“I’m really grateful that this story that illuminates so much of what we don’t normally see is getting seen by more and more people,” Rubenstein said. “A lot of Coloradans risked their safety to get the story out and still face threats because of it. This is a story told up close and in real-time about how powerful interests have conspired with criminal interests in an alliance that is behind street crime and gentrification in Denver and cities like it around the country.”
Before coming to Western, Rubinstein, a Denver native, had a notable career as a journalist, author, and filmmaker. His first book, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was optioned for film by actor Johnny Depp. Rubinstein’s work has appeared in publications like The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and Rolling Stone, and has been honored in various anthologies such as Best American Essays and Best American Crime Writing.
In addition to his achievements in journalism and film, Rubinstein previously taught at the Columbia Journalism School, Colorado College, and the University of Denver. At Western, he continues to inspire the next generation of storytellers and journalists, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for the truth to the classroom.
Learn more about the Film Studies program at Western on our website.
Film Studies Program
