Born in Yorkshire, James Pickering was raised on a diet of genre cinema. In 2020 his debut feature film ALL JOKING ASIDE made its World Premiere at the Cinequest International Film Festival, where it won the coveted New Visions Award. The film went on to be nominated for a host of Canadian Film Awards and subsequently sell in the UK and North America.

In 2021 Pickering began work on his first feature film as Producer – a documentary titled I COULD NEVER GO VEGAN – in which he was also the film’s screenwriter. The film was released theatrically nationwide in the UK in Spring 2024, with Peter Bradshaw calling it “An ebullient, confident documentary” in his four-star Guardian review. Executive produced by Alicia Silverstone, the film was released in North America in December 2024 and in European cinemas in Spring 2025. In 2025 James’ horror feature DEAD HOWLING was picked up by producer Tom Reeve (DOG SOLDIERS, MIDAS MAN) and is currently in pre-production with Ryan Kwanten (TRUE BLOOD) and Temuera Morisson (THE MANDALORIAN) set to star. Pickering has a host of narrative projects at various stages of development and Production including a Political Action Thriller with Jeremy Wall (DEAD FOR A DOLLAR) attached to produce, and THE MAN WHO DRANK CANADA DRY which follows the life of larger-than-life snooker player ‘Big’ Bill Werbeniuk.

Pickering was selected as part of the Film producer Scheme for 2023, hosted by Bungalow Pictures and in association with DocFest and BBC Studios. James runs the production company Memphis James Pictures, named after his young son. When he isn’t writing he works closely with MET Film School, helping post-graduate students get their first opportunities in the wider industry.