Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1979. She graduated in graphic design from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and in screenwriting from the Darcy Ribeiro Cinema School. Julia has worked as an assistant director in the features Brave New Land (2000) and Maré, Nossa História de Amor (2007), both directed by her mother, the filmmaker Lúcia Murat. She directed the feature films Dia dos Pais (2008), Jotuomba (2011, 35th Mostra), Pendular (2017), winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the Panorama section at Berlin Film Festival, and Law and Order Assurance Operations (2017, 41st Mostra).