Financing and sales executive, 2AM
- Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and Chinese language
- From 2013-17, worked under the leadership of Noah Cowan, former executive director at San Francisco Film Festival
After four years at San Francisco Film Festival and six years at the Sundance Institute, four of those running the film track for the Catalyst programme, Nelson joined production and management company 2AM in December 2023. She has applied her investor and filmmaker experience to help CEO and founding partner Christine D’Souza Gelb expand the film financing, US and worldwide sales operation, and champion auteur filmmakers and independent producers.
“Our approach is very boutique,” says Nelson. “If we’re engaging with a film, it’s because we believe in it and the team can see a path.” At Sundance, Nelson engaged with buyers about Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson’s Serious People and Flora Lau’s Luz starring Isabelle Huppert.
Knowing your audience and tailoring budgets to what the market can bear are key in today’s turbulent landscape. “We are very collaborative,” says Nelson. “The days of worldwide sales, especially for independent films, are pretty much over. As a US- or worldwide-focused sales group, we are open to working with international sales agents and have projects with Bankside, Memento and Upgrade.”
Citing D’Souza Gelb, former Sundance Institute CEO Keri Putnam and Cowan (who died in 2023) as mentors, Nelson values the many facets of 2AM’s business, including as a producer on Babygirl and Past Lives. “Becoming producorial is important to me, but I’m excited to work alongside Christine to help raise financing for and find distribution homes for the various 2AM projects,” she says.
Contact: Julia Nelson
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