Nicholas Connor Explained

Nicholas Connor
Birth Date:	1999 6, df=y^[1]
Birth Place:	Oldham, England
Years Active:	2012–present
Occupation:	Film director, writer

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.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Director	Notes
2018	The Narrator	Director
2017		Himself (Interviewee)
2017	Cotton Wool^[18] ^[19] ^[20]	Writer/Director					Katie Quinn	Crissy Rock^[21]
2016	Northern Lights^[22] ^[23]	Writer/Director/Producer			Katie Quinn	Megan Grady^[24] ^[25]
2015	Think of Me	Writer/Director
2015	Going out	Writer/Director		Starring Rebecca Eastham
2015		Shadow of Mr Doyle & Mr Cousins		Cinematography by Christopher Doyle

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^[26]	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^[27]	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	Southampton International Film Festival	Best British Short Film
2018	Cotton Wool	Southampton International Film Festival	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^[28]	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 Wool	Unrestricted 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)^[29] ^[30] ^[31] ^[32] ^[33]
2017	Northern Lights	UK Monthly Film Festival	Film of the Year
2016	Northern Lights	UK Monthly Film Festival^[34]	Best Feature Film
2016	Northern Lights	TMC London Film Festival	Best Young Filmmaker
2016	Northern Lights	Ouchy Film Awards^[35]	Best Director
2016	Northern Lights	The Monkey Bread Tree Awards^[36]	Best Feature Film
2016	Northern Lights	The Monkey Bread Tree Awards^[37]	Best Director
2016	Think of Me	Into Film Awards^[38]	Film of the Month
2016	Think of Me	Leeds Young Film Festival^[39] ^[40]	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
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	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

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

Notes and References

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