Christopher Nolan is an award-winning filmmaker who has been recognized for his work as a director, writer, and producer. Born in London, Nolan began making movies at an early age with his father’s Super-8mm camera. While studying English Literature at University College London, he shot 16mm films at UCL’s film society, where he learned the guerrilla film techniques he would later use to make his first feature, Following. The noir thriller was recognized at a number of international film festivals prior to its theatrical release.
Nolan’s second film was the independent feature Memento, which he directed from his own screenplay, based on a short story by his brother Jonathan. Starring Guy Pearce, the film brought Nolan numerous honors, including Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay; Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay; and a DGA Award nomination. Nolan went on to direct the critically acclaimed psychological thriller, Insomnia, starring Oscar winners Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank.
In 2005, Nolan co-wrote and directed Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. Lauded by critics and audiences alike, Nolan’s film re-imagined the classic Batman movie franchise and made the iconic hero relevant to our time. In 2008, Nolan directed, co-wrote, and produced The Dark Knight, which went on to gross more than a billion dollars at the global box office and received worldwide critical acclaim. Nolan was nominated for a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award, Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award and Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award. The film also received eight Academy Award nominations.
Additionally, in 2006, Nolan directed, co-wrote and produced the mystery thriller The Prestige, starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as magicians whose obsessive rivalry leads to tragedy and murder. The film received Academy Award nominations for its outstanding period art direction and cinematography.
In 2010, Nolan captivated audiences with the acclaimed sci-fi thriller Inception, which he directed and produced from his own original screenplay. The thought-provoking drama was a worldwide blockbuster, earning more than $800 million dollars and becoming one of the most discussed and debated films of the year. Among its many honors, Inception received four Academy Awards and eight nominations, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Nolan was recognized by his peers with DGA and PGA Award nominations, as well as a WGA Award win for his work on the film.
Last year, Nolan concluded his trilogy of Batman films with The Dark Knight Rises. Like its predecessor, it performed extremely well at the box-office, earning over a billion dollars worldwide. The only other director to achieve this milestone with two separate films has been James Cameron. It also marked the final collaboration between Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister, who recently started his own directing career.
Currently, Nolan is also producing the much anticipated Superman movie Man of Steel, which is being directed by Zack Snyder and is slated for release on June 14, 2013. He is also co-writing, directing and producing his 9th feature film, Interstellar. It will star Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine. Filming is planned to start this August, and the film is set for release on November 7, 2014.
Nolan resides in Los Angeles with his wife, producer Emma Thomas, and their children. Nolan and Thomas also helm their own production company, Syncopy.
