Nicholas Connor is an English filmmaker. Best known for his work on the film Cotton Wool.[2] In 2017 he was awarded the 'Ones to Watch'[3] Award by Into Film at the Odeon Leicester Square. Presented by actor Charles Dance, sponsored by EON Productions. Connor presently lives in Oldham, England.[4]

Nicholas Connor
Born (1999-06-09) 9 June 1999 (age 25)[1]
Oldham, England
Occupation(s)Film director, writer
Years active2012–present
Notable work

Career

edit

Nicholas Connor started his career as a script supervisor[1] and then attended the BFI Film Academy at HOME in Manchester.[5]

In 2016 he directed Northern Lights,[6] which received a mixed critical response. Chris Olson from UK Film Review gave the film 4 stars calling it "a beautiful piece of filmmaking".[7] Jennie Kermode for 'Eye for Film' gave the film 3 stars,[8] stating "Northern Lights may sometimes by lacking in energy but it doesn't outstay its welcome and overall it's an impressive debut."

In 2017, aged 17, he directed Cotton Wool with a cast including Leanne Best[9] and Crissy Rock. The film was shot by BAFTA winning cinematographer Alan C. McLaughlin.[10][11] The film was supported in its research by the British Stroke Association and received a 12A by the British Board of Film Classification.[12] The film received a 5 star review from ScreenCritix,[13] which stated "he is really coming into his own and certainly cementing his status as one of the UK’s hottest prospects." The film's red carpet premiere took place in Oldham, England.[14]

In December 2017 he featured on BBC News to talk about his career.[15][16][17] He won the UK Inspirational Children and Young Peoples Award for Arts and Culture in 2018.

Filmography

edit
Year Film Role Director Notes
2018 The Narrator Director Nicholas Connor
2017 BBC News[15] Himself (Interviewee) Roger Johnson (TV presenter)
2017 Cotton Wool[18][19][2][20] Writer/Director Nicholas Connor Starring Leanne Best | Max Vento | Kate Rutter | Katie Quinn | Crissy Rock[21]
2016 Northern Lights[22][23] Writer/Director/Producer Nicholas Connor Starring Rhys Cadman | Katie Quinn | Megan Grady[24][25] |
2015 Think of Me Writer/Director Nicholas Connor
2015 Going out Writer/Director Nicholas Connor Starring Rebecca Eastham
2015 I am Belfast Shadow of Mr Doyle & Mr Cousins Mark Cousins Cinematography by Christopher Doyle

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Nominated Work Awards Category Result
2018 Himself UK Inspirational Children and Young Peoples Award Contribution to Arts and Culture Won
2018 Cotton Wool London Film Awards[26] Special Jury Award Won
2019 Cotton Wool Los Angeles Film Awards Best Picture Won
2019 Cotton Wool Los Angeles Film Awards Best Drama Won
2019 Cotton Wool Los Angeles Film Awards Best of the Festival 2019 Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool British Independent Film Festival Best Short Film Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool UK Film Review - Annual Awards[27] Best Short Film of the Year Won
2018 Cotton Wool UK Film Review - Annual Awards[27] Best Director Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool European Independent Film Awards Best Director Won
2018 Cotton Wool European Independent Film Awards Best Drama Won
2018 Cotton Wool Global Independent Film Awards Best Drama Won
2018 Cotton Wool Global Independent Film Awards Best Featurette Won
2020 Cotton Wool Indie Shorts Mag - Short of the Year Awards Best Short of the Year Won
2019 Cotton Wool Lift-Off Season Awards 2019 Best Director Nominated
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Picture Won
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Young Filmmaker Won
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Editing Won
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Director Won
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Jury President Award Won
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Narrative Feature Won
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best of the Festival 2019 Nominated
2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Editing of 2019 Won
2018 Cotton Wool Birmingham Film Festival Best Young Director Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival Special Mention Won
2018 Cotton Wool Southampton International Film Festival Best British Short Film Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Southampton International Film Festival Best Director Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool New Renaissance Film Festival Humanity Award Won
2018 Cotton Wool New Renaissance Film Festival Best Young Talent Short Narrative Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Best Film of the Year Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Best Featurette - Annual Award Won
2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Film of the Month Won
2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Best Featurette - Monthly Award Won
2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival[28] Best Short Film Won
2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival[28] Best Director Nominated
2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival[28] Best Screenplay Nominated
2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival[28] Best Editing Nominated
2019 Cotton Wool Madrid Independent Film Festival Best Featurette Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Best Drama Won
2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Judge's Choice Award Won
2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Best Screenplay Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Best Lifestyle Project, Sponsored by Hellblazerbiz Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool IndieFlicks Short Film Festival Director's Choice Award Won
2018 Cotton Wool Little Wing Film Festival Best UK Short Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Little Wing Film Festival Best Director Won
2018 Cotton Wool Little Wing Film Festival Best Screenplay Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Unrestricted View Film Festival Best Director Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Unrestricted View Film Festival Best Screenplay Nominated
2018 Cotton Wool Unrestricted View Film Festival Best Short Film Nominated
2018 The Narrator Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA Cyrmru Qualifying) Rising Star Award Won
2018 The Narrator St Albans Film Festival Best Short Film Nominated
2018 The Narrator Bolton Film Festival Best UK Student Film Won
2018 The Narrator Out of the Can Film Festival Ento Live Young Filmmaker Award 2018 Won
2017 Himself Into Film Awards Ones to Watch Award (Presented by Charles Dance and Barbara Broccoli)[29][30][31][32][33] Won
2017 Northern Lights UK Monthly Film Festival Film of the Year Won
2016 Northern Lights UK Monthly Film Festival[34] Best Feature Film Won
2016 Northern Lights TMC London Film Festival Best Young Filmmaker Won
2016 Northern Lights Ouchy Film Awards[35] Best Director Nominated
2016 Northern Lights The Monkey Bread Tree Awards[36] Best Feature Film Won
2016 Northern Lights The Monkey Bread Tree Awards[37] Best Director Nominated
2016 Think of Me Into Film Awards[38] Film of the Month Won
2016 Think of Me Leeds Young Film Festival[39][40] Independent Directions Award Nominated
2016 Think of Me Selby International Film Festival Best Short Film Nominated
2016 Think of Me HOME (Manchester) Filmed up Festival Audience Award (Best Short Film) Won

Festivals Accolations

edit
Film Festival Film Notes
St Albans Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Liverpool Short Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA Cyrmru Qualifying) The Narrator Official Selection
Bucharest ShortCut Cinefest The Narrator Official Selection
Earl's Court Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Out Of The Can Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Sheffield Showroom Shorts The Narrator Official Selection
Bolton International Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Portobello Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Harrogate Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
UK CineFest The Narrator Official Selection
BFI Future Film Presents Scene Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
Leigh Short Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
London International Motion Picture Awards (L.I.M.P.A) The Narrator Official Selection
Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection
London-Worldwide Comedy Short Film Festival The Narrator Honourable Mention
Cleveland International Film Festival Cotton Wool Hot List
British Independent Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
New Renaissance Film Festival (London) Cotton Wool Official Selection
Newark International Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
European Independent Film Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Los Angeles Film Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Derby Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Southampton International Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Unrestricted View Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
New York Film Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Indie Shorts Mag - Short of the Year Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Little Wing Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
London International Motion Picture Awards (L.I.M.P.A) Cotton Wool Official Selection
Birmingham Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Newcastle International Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Bristol Independent Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Global Independent Film Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Scottish Mental Health Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Madrid Independent Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Manchester Screenplays and Shorts Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
London Film Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Gold Movie Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
IndieFlicks International Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
MancMade 53Two Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
The Monthly Film Festival (Glasgow) Cotton Wool Official Selection
UK Film Review - Annual Awards Cotton Wool Official Selection
Out Of The Can Film Festival Cotton Wool Official Selection
Scottish Mental Health Film Festival Northern Lights Official Selection
UK Monthly Film Festival[34] Northern Lights Official Selection
TMC London Film Festival Northern Lights Official Selection
Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival Northern Lights Official Selection
The Monkey Bread Tree Awards Northern Lights Official Selection
Ouchy Film Awards Northern Lights Official Selection
UK Screen One International Film Festival Northern Lights Official Selection
Unrestricted View Film Festival Northern Lights Official Selection
London Film Awards Northern Lights Official Selection
Leeds Young Film Festival Think of Me Official Selection
Pennine Film Festival Think of Me Official Selection
Nightpiece Film Festival Think of Me Official Selection
HOME (Manchester) Filmed up Festival Think of Me Official Selection
Into Film of the Month Think of Me Official Selection
Selby International Film Festival Think of Me Official Selection

Personal life

edit

Connor grew up in his hometown of Oldham.[41] His sister is LPGA golf professional 'Rachel Connor'.[42]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Nicholas Connor". IMDb. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Cotton Wool". 10 October 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via www.imdb.com.
  3. ^ Film, Into. "Revealing our Ones to Watch for 2017". www.intofilm.org. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Rapturous response for Cotton Wool film premiere". The Oldham Times. 15 December 2017.
  5. ^ "BFI Film Academy 4: Nick's Blog - HOME". 2 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Northern Lights". ourscreen.
  7. ^ "Film Reviews and Movie Trailers - UK Film Review". Film Reviews and Movie Trailers - UK Film Review.
  8. ^ "Northern Lights (2016) Movie Review from Eye for Film". www.eyeforfilm.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Cold Feet's Leanne Best: 'Seeing James Nesbitt naked was hilarious!". 4 October 2017.
  10. ^ "STV programmes news and information". Live Local.
  11. ^ "BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards: Winners in 2013". www.bafta.org. 22 May 2014.
  12. ^ "COTTON WOOL - British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Cotton Wool (2017) short film review". screencritix.com.
  14. ^ "Cotton Wool - Oldham Odeon - in Oldham, OLDHAM - Oldham". www.visitoldham.com.
  15. ^ a b Productions, Cherwell (5 December 2017). "BBC News Cotton Wool". Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via Vimeo.
  16. ^ "BBC North West". www.facebook.com.
  17. ^ Connor, Nicholas (4 December 2017). "BBC North West Tonight" – via Vimeo.
  18. ^ Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Cotton Wool". film.britishcouncil.org.
  19. ^ "COTTON WOOL – British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review". Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Nick Connor Writer/Director – COTTON WOOL". www.nickconnor.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  22. ^ Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Northern Lights". film.britishcouncil.org.
  23. ^ "NORTHERN LIGHTS – British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Nick Connor Writer/Director – NORTHERN LIGHTS". www.nickconnor.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review". Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  26. ^ "Winners". londonfilmawards.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  27. ^ a b "UK Film Awards - UK Film Review". uk-film-review. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  28. ^ a b c d "Best of February 2019". The Monthly Film Festival. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Nick proves he's 'one to watch'". www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk.
  30. ^ Film, Into. "Into Film Awards 2018". www.intofilm.org. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  31. ^ Into Film Clubs (15 March 2017). "Stars come out for the into Film Awards 2017 – Highlights!". Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ Into Film Clubs (15 March 2017). "Charles Dance presents – Ones to Watch at the into Film Awards 2017". Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ HeyUGuys (15 March 2017). "The Ones to Watch @ Into Film Awards 2017". Retrieved 6 February 2018 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ a b "October Winners 2016 for UK Monthly Film Fest". www.ukmonthlyfilmfest.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  35. ^ "Official Selection – Autumn 2016 – Ouchy Film Awards". Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  36. ^ "Final season of 2016 – THE MONKEY BREAD TREE FILM AWARDS". themonkeybreadtree.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  37. ^ "FIRST LOOK: 'Northern Lights' – Katie Quinn, Rhys Cadman, Meghan Grady & Gemma North – New Wave District". newwavedistrict.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  38. ^ Film, Into. "Moving short film Think of Me wins Film of the Month". www.intofilm.org. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  39. ^ "Leeds Young Film Festival". leedsyoungfilm.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  40. ^ "Leeds Young Film Festival – 2017 LEEDS YOUNG FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED!". leedsyoungfilm.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  41. ^ "Teen director set to premiere his third film". The Oldham Times. 8 December 2017.
  42. ^ News, Manchester Evening (3 February 2011). "Golfer Rachel impresses in first event after car crash". {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)