Christopher Nolan was finally nominated for the his Best Director Oscar in 2017 for his spectacular WWII, Dunkirk. The winner, however, was Guillermo del Toro (also first-timer) for The Shape of Water.
Nolan began making movies at an early age with his fathers Super-8mm camera. While studying English Literature at University College London, Nolan shot 16mm films at UCLs film society, learning the guerrilla film techniques he would later use to make his first feature, Following. The no-budget noir thriller enjoyed great success at a number of international film festivals, including Toronto, Rotterdam, Slamdance, and Hong Kong, prior to being released theatrically in the U.S., U.K., France and various other territories.
Nolans second film was the low-budget independent feature Memento, starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Ann Moss and Joe Pantoliano, which Nolan directed from his own screenplay, based on a short story by his brother Jonathan. The film brought Nolan numerous honors, including Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay, two Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay, and a Directors Guild of America Award nomination. In addition, he won Best Screenplay Awards from several critics groups, including the Los Angeles, London, Chicago and Broadcast Film Critics Associations, as well as the American Film Institutes Screenwriter of the Year Award, and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.
Nolan followed Memento with the critically acclaimed psychological thriller Insomnia, starring Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank. For that film, Nolan won the London Critics Circle Award for Best Director of the Year.
In 2005, Nolan co-wrote and directed Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. The blockbuster reimagined the Batman film franchise, pleasing critics and fans alike and paving the way for The Dark Knight.
Nolan more recently directed, co-wrote and produced the mystery thriller The Prestige, starring Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine. Empire Magazine named Nolan the Best Director of the Year for the film, which also received Oscar nominations for its extraordinary art direction and cinematography.
Nolan currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, producer Emma Thomas, and their children.
