Nicholas Connor is an English filmmaker. Best known for his work on the film Cotton Wool. In 2017 he was awarded the 'Ones to Watch' Award by Into Film at the Odeon Leicester Square. Presented by actor Charles Dance, sponsored by EON Productions. Connor presently lives in Oldham, England.
Career
Nicholas Connor started his career as a script supervisor and then attended the BFI Film Academy at HOME in Manchester.
In 2016 he directed Northern Lights, which received a mixed critical response. Chris Olson from UK Film Review gave the film 4 stars calling it "a beautiful piece of filmmaking". Jennie Kermode for 'Eye for Film' gave the film 3 stars, 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 and Crissy Rock. The film was shot by BAFTA winning cinematographer Alan C. McLaughlin. The film was supported in its research by the British Stroke Association and received a 12A by the British Board of Film Classification. The film received a 5 star review from ScreenCritix, 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.
In December 2017 he featured on BBC News to talk about his career. He won the UK Inspirational Children and Young Peoples Award for Arts and Culture in 2018.
In 2024, it was announced that he would be directing an adaption of the play "Maurice's Jubilee", starring Julian Glover, Susan Hampshire and Nichola McAuliffe.
Filmography
Year Film Role Director Notes2024 Eventual Director Nicholas Connor 2018 The Narrator Director Nicholas Connor 2017 Cotton Wool Writer/Director Nicholas Connor Max Vento | Kate Rutter | Katie Quinn | Crissy Rock 2016 Northern Lights Writer/Director/Producer Nicholas Connor Katie Quinn | Megan Grady |2015 Think of Me Writer/Director Nicholas Connor 2015 Going out Writer/Director Nicholas Connor
Awards and nominations Year Nominated Work Awards Category Result 2018 Himself UK Inspirational Children and Young Peoples Award Contribution to Arts and Culture 2018 Cotton Wool London Film Awards Special Jury Award 2019 Cotton Wool Los Angeles Film Awards Best Picture 2019 Cotton Wool Los Angeles Film Awards Best Drama 2019 Cotton Wool Los Angeles Film Awards Best of the Festival 2019 2018 Cotton Wool British Independent Film Festival Best Short Film 2018 Cotton Wool UK Film Review - Annual Awards Best Short Film of the Year 2018 Cotton Wool UK Film Review - Annual Awards Best Director 2018 Cotton Wool European Independent Film Awards Best Director 2018 Cotton Wool European Independent Film Awards Best Drama 2018 Cotton Wool Global Independent Film Awards Best Drama 2018 Cotton Wool Global Independent Film Awards Best Featurette 2020 Cotton Wool Indie Shorts Mag - Short of the Year Awards Best Short of the Year 2019 Cotton Wool Lift-Off Season Awards 2019 Best Director 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Picture 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Young Filmmaker 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Editing 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Director 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Jury President Award 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Narrative Feature 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best of the Festival 2019 2019 Cotton Wool New York Film Awards Best Editing of 2019 2018 Cotton Wool Birmingham Film Festival Best Young Director 2018 Cotton Wool Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival Special Mention 2018 Cotton Wool Best British Short Film 2018 Cotton Wool Best Director 2018 Cotton Wool New Renaissance Film Festival Humanity Award 2018 Cotton Wool New Renaissance Film Festival Best Young Talent Short Narrative 2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Best Film of the Year 2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Best Featurette - Annual Award 2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Film of the Month 2018 Cotton Wool Gold Movie Awards Best Featurette - Monthly Award 2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival Best Short Film 2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival Best Director 2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival Best Screenplay 2019 Cotton Wool The Monthly Film Festival Best Editing 2019 Cotton Wool Madrid Independent Film Festival Best Featurette 2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Best Drama 2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Judge's Choice Award 2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Best Screenplay 2018 Cotton Wool Out of the Can Film Festival Best Lifestyle Project, Sponsored by Hellblazerbiz 2018 Cotton Wool IndieFlicks Short Film Festival Director's Choice Award 2018 Cotton Wool Little Wing Film Festival Best UK Short 2018 Cotton Wool Little Wing Film Festival Best Director 2018 Cotton Wool Little Wing Film Festival Best Screenplay 2018 Cotton Wool Unrestricted View Film Festival Best Director 2018 Cotton Wool Unrestricted View Film Festival Best Screenplay 2018 Cotton WoolUnrestricted View Film Festival Best Short Film 2018 The Narrator Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA Cyrmru Qualifying) Rising Star Award 2018 The Narrator St Albans Film Festival Best Short Film 2018 The Narrator Bolton Film Festival Best UK Student Film 2018 The Narrator Out of the Can Film Festival Ento Live Young Filmmaker Award 2018 2017 Himself Into Film Awards Ones to Watch Award (Presented by Charles Dance and Barbara Broccoli) 2017 Northern Lights UK Monthly Film Festival Film of the Year 2016 Northern Lights UK Monthly Film Festival Best Feature Film 2016 Northern Lights TMC London Film Festival Best Young Filmmaker 2016 Northern Lights Ouchy Film Awards Best Director 2016 Northern Lights The Monkey Bread Tree Awards Best Feature Film 2016 Northern Lights The Monkey Bread Tree Awards Best Director 2016 Think of Me Into Film Awards Film of the Month 2016 Think of Me Independent Directions Award 2016 Think of Me Selby International Film Festival Best Short Film 2016 Think of Me HOME (Manchester) Filmed up Festival Audience Award (Best Short Film)
Festivals Accolations Film Festival Film Notes Manchester Film Festival Eventual Official Selection Carmarthen Bay Film Festival Eventual Official Selection St Albans Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection Liverpool Short Film Festival The Narrator Official Selection Carmarthen Bay Film Festival 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 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 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 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 Connor grew up in his hometown of Oldham. His sister is LPGA golf professional 'Rachel Connor'.
References