Nicholas Connor

Nicholas Connor
Born	(1999-06-09) 9 June 1999 (age 25) [1] Oldham, England
Occupation(s)	Film director, writer
Years active	2012–present
Notable work	Cotton Wool Northern Lights Think of Me

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]

Career

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.

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. ^[18]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Director	Notes
2024	Eventual	Director	Nicholas Connor
2018	The Narrator	Director	Nicholas Connor
2017	Cotton Wool [19] [20] [2] [21]	Writer/Director	Nicholas Connor	Starring Leanne Best | Max Vento | Kate Rutter | Katie Quinn | Crissy Rock [22]
2016	Northern Lights [23] [24]	Writer/Director/Producer	Nicholas Connor	Starring Rhys Cadman | Katie Quinn | Megan Grady [25] [26] |
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	Won
2018	Cotton Wool	London Film Awards [27]	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 [28]	Best Short Film of the Year	Won
2018	Cotton Wool	UK Film Review - Annual Awards [28]	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 [29]	Best Short Film	Won
2019	Cotton Wool	The Monthly Film Festival [29]	Best Director	Nominated
2019	Cotton Wool	The Monthly Film Festival [29]	Best Screenplay	Nominated
2019	Cotton Wool	The Monthly Film Festival [29]	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) [30] [31] [32] [33] [34]	Won
2017	Northern Lights	UK Monthly Film Festival	Film of the Year	Won
2016	Northern Lights	UK Monthly Film Festival [35]	Best Feature Film	Won
2016	Northern Lights	TMC London Film Festival	Best Young Filmmaker	Won
2016	Northern Lights	Ouchy Film Awards [36]	Best Director	Nominated
2016	Northern Lights	The Monkey Bread Tree Awards [37]	Best Feature Film	Won
2016	Northern Lights	The Monkey Bread Tree Awards [38]	Best Director	Nominated
2016	Think of Me	Into Film Awards [39]	Film of the Month	Won
2016	Think of Me	Leeds Young Film Festival [ usurped ] [40] [41]	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

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
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 [35]	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 [ usurped ]	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. ^[42] His sister is LPGA golf professional 'Rachel Connor'.

References

1. "Nicholas Connor". IMDb. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
2. "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. 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. "Breaking Baz: 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' Movie Sequel Readying to Shoot with Original Stars; 'Maurice's Jubilee' Update; Love's Labour Not Lost on 'Bridgerton's Luke Thompson". 19 April 2024.
19. Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Cotton Wool". film.britishcouncil.org.
20. "COTTON WOOL – British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
21. "Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review". Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
22. "Nick Connor Writer/Director – COTTON WOOL". www.nickconnor.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
23. Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Northern Lights". film.britishcouncil.org.
24. "NORTHERN LIGHTS – British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
25. "Nick Connor Writer/Director – NORTHERN LIGHTS". www.nickconnor.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
26. "Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review". Film Reviews and Movie Trailers – UK Film Review. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
27. "Winners". londonfilmawards.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
28. "UK Film Awards - UK Film Review". uk-film-review. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
29. "Best of February 2019". The Monthly Film Festival. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
30. "Nick proves he's 'one to watch'". www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk.
31. Film, Into. "Into Film Awards 2018". www.intofilm.org. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
32. Into Film Clubs (15 March 2017). "Stars come out for the into Film Awards 2017 – Highlights!" . Retrieved 6 February 2018– via YouTube.
33. Into Film Clubs (15 March 2017). "Charles Dance presents – Ones to Watch at the into Film Awards 2017" . Retrieved 6 February 2018– via YouTube.
34. HeyUGuys (15 March 2017). "The Ones to Watch @ Into Film Awards 2017" . Retrieved 6 February 2018– via YouTube.
35. "October Winners 2016 for UK Monthly Film Fest". www.ukmonthlyfilmfest.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
36. "Official Selection – Autumn 2016 – Ouchy Film Awards" . Retrieved 6 February 2018.
37. "Final season of 2016 – THE MONKEY BREAD TREE FILM AWARDS". themonkeybreadtree.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
38. "FIRST LOOK: 'Northern Lights' – Katie Quinn, Rhys Cadman, Meghan Grady & Gemma North – New Wave District". newwavedistrict.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
39. Film, Into. "Moving short film Think of Me wins Film of the Month". www.intofilm.org. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
40. "Leeds Young Film Festival". leedsyoungfilm.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
41. "Leeds Young Film Festival – 2017 LEEDS YOUNG FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED!". leedsyoungfilm.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
42. "Teen director set to premiere his third film". The Oldham Times. 8 December 2017.