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. In November 2022, the trailer for the documentary was launched to much hype and acclaim. In the first two months the trailer was viewed over half a million times across YouTube and other social channels. The documentary was released in UK & Irish cinemas in April 2024. Pickering has a host of narrative and documentary projects at various stages of Production including a Political Action Thriller with Jeremy Wall (DEAD FOR A DOLLAR) attached to produce and Aku Louhimies (UNKNOWN SOLDIER) set to direct, as well as 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.

Pickering has two feature documentaries at various stages of production and continues to work freelance in the documentary space. He has experience in all stages of production, including budgets, casting and working with children, sales and distribution.