Julia Short is a respected film distribution, marketing and training specialist with more than 25 years’ experience across the international screen industry. She currently designs and delivers professional development programmes for various international film funds, organisations and institutions and leads the Director’s Lab Short course at the National Film School of Denmark. She also works with Film FastTrack, Screen Scotland’s two-year producer development programme, supporting emerging producers to build stronger market and distribution strategies. Julia began her career in advertising and consumer PR before joining Rank Film Distributors and later PolyGram, where she ran UK theatrical marketing and publicity on landmark releases including Trainspotting, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Fargo, Twelve Monkeys and The Usual Suspects. She subsequently held senior roles at what is now Lionsgate UK, and Film Four Distribution. In 2003 she co-founded Verve Pictures, acquiring and releasing acclaimed work including Bullet Boy, Andrea Arnold’s Red Road and the Oscar-nominated Dogtooth. Her consultancy and training work has included Inside Pictures, Media Business School, Screen Skills Ireland, the Film Distributors’ Association, Creative England, Zurich Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights, Dogwoof, Pulse Films, MBC Studios and the BFI, advising producers on audience, sales and distribution strategy internationally.
