Christopher Nolan

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July 30, 1970

Christopher Johnathan James Nolan

Emma Thomas (1997 - present) 3 children

Writer

2012 The Dark Knight Rises (screenplay / story)

2010 Inception: Motion Comics (TV series short) (written by)

2010 Inception (written by)

2008 The Dark Knight (screenplay / story)

2006 The Prestige (screenplay)

2005 Batman Begins (screenplay)

2000 Memento (screenplay)

1998 Following (written by)

1997 Doodlebug (short)

Director

2012 The Dark Knight Rises

2010 Inception

2008 The Dark Knight

2006 The Prestige

2005 Batman Begins

2003 Cinema16: British Short Films (video short)

2002 Insomnia

2000 Memento

1998 Following

1997 Doodlebug (short)

Producer

2012 Superman: Man of Steel (producer)

2012 The Dark Knight Rises (producer)

2010 Inception (producer)

2008 The Dark Knight (producer)

2006 The Prestige (producer)

1998 Following (producer)

Cinematographer

1998 Following (shot by)

1997 Doodlebug (short)

Editor

1998 Following

1997 Doodlebug (short)

Appearances

2011 These Amazing Shadows (documentary)

2011 The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV movie)

2010 Scream Awards 2010 (TV movie)

2010 Janela Indiscreta (TV series)

2010 The 7PM Project (TV series)

2010 Entertainment Tonight (TV series)

2008-2010 Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV series)

2005-2010 HBO First Look (TV series documentary)

2009 The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV movie)

2009 The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (TV movie)

2008 Matins a TV3, Els (TV series)

2008 Batman Tech (TV documentary)

2008 Batman Unmasked (TV documentary)

2007 The Director's Notebook (video documentary short)

2006 Film '72 (TV series)

2005 Batman Begins: Path to Discovery (video documentary short)

2005 Batman: The Tumbler (video documentary short)

2005 Gotham City Rises (video documentary short)

2005 Shaping Mind and Body (video documentary short)

2005 Batman: The Journey Begins (video documentary short)

2005 Cape and Cowl (video documentary short)

2005 Saving Gotham City (video documentary short)

2005 Genesis of the Bat (video documentary short)

2005 The Charlie Rose Show (TV series)

2003 Cinema16: British Short Films (video short)

2003 The 100 Greatest Movie Stars (TV documentary)

2002 180°: Christopher Nolan Interviews Al Pacino (video documentary short)

2002 2002 MTV Movie Awards (TV special)

2002 The 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (TV special documentary)

2002 Day for Night: The Making of 'Insomnia' (video documentary short)

2001 Anatomy of a Scene (TV series documentary)

AFI Awards, USA

2002 Won AFI Film Award AFI Screenwriter of the Year for: Memento (2000).

Academy Awards

2011 Nominated Oscar Best Motion Picture of the Year for: Inception (2010). Shared with: Emma Thomas

2011 Nominated Oscar Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for: Inception (2010).

2002 Nominated Oscar Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for: Memento (2000). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan (story)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

2009 Won Saturn Award Best Writing for: The Dark Knight (2008). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan

2009 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2006 Won Saturn Award Best Writing for: Batman Begins (2005). Shared with: David S. Goyer

2006 Nominated Saturn Award Best Director for: Batman Begins (2005).

American Screenwriters Association

2002 Nominated Discover Screenwriting Award for: Memento (2000).

American Society of Cinematographers

2009 Won Board of the Governors Award

Austin Film Critics Association

2008 Won Austin Film Critics Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2008 Won Austin Film Critics Award Best Screenplay, Adapted for: The Dark Knight (2008). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan

BAFTA Awards

2011 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Screenplay (Original) for: Inception (2010).

2011 David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction for: Inception (2010)

Bodil Awards

2009 Nominated Bodil Best American Film (Bedste amerikanske film) for: The Dark Knight (2008).

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

2001 Won BSFC Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

Bram Stoker Award

2002 Won Bram Stoker Award Screenplay for: Memento (2000). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2009 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2002 Won Critics Choice Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

Central Ohio Film Critics Association

2011 Won COFCA Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2011 Won COFCA Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Inception (2010).

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2010 Won CFCA Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Inception (2010).

2010 Nominated CFCA Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2008 Nominated CFCA Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2008 Nominated CFCA Award Best Screenplay, Adapted for: The Dark Knight (2008). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan

2002 Won CFCA Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

2002 Nominated CFCA Award Most Promising Director

Chlotrudis Awards

2002 Won Chlotrudis Award Best Director for: Memento (2000).

2002 Nominated Chlotrudis Award Best Screenplay - Adapted for: Memento (2000).

DVD Exclusive Awards

2003 Nominated DVD Premiere Award Best Audio Commentary, New Release for: Memento (2000). For the Limited Edition.

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

2002 Won Russell Smith Award for: Memento (2000).

Deauville Film Festival

2000 Won CinéLive Award for: Memento (2000).

2000 Won Critics Award for: Memento (2000).

2000 Won Jury Special Prize for: Memento (2000). Tied with Boiler Room (2000).

2000 Nominated Grand Special Prize for: Memento (2000).

Dinard British Film Festival

1999 Won Silver Hitchcock for: Following (1998).

1999 Nominated Golden Hitchcock for: Following (1998).

Directors Guild of America

2009 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2002 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for: Memento (2000).

Edgar Allan Poe Awards

2002 Won Edgar Best Motion Picture for: Memento (2000).

Empire Awards, UK

2009 Won Empire Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2007 Won Empire Award Best Director for: The Prestige (2006).

2006 Nominated Empire Award Best Director for: Batman Begins (2005).

2001 Nominated Empire Award Best Director for: Memento (2000).

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

2002 Won FFCC Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

Golden Globes

2011 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director - Motion Picture for: Inception (2010).

2011 Nominated Golden Globe Best Screenplay - Motion Picture for: Inception (2010).

2002 Nominated Golden Globe Best Screenplay - Motion Picture for: Memento (2000).

Goya Awards

2009 Nominated Goya Best European Film (Mejor Película Europea) for: The Dark Knight (2008).

Hollywood Film Festival

2010 Won Hollywood Movie of the Year for: Inception (2010).

2008 Won Hollywood Movie of the Year for: The Dark Knight (2008).

Independent Spirit Awards

2002 Won Independent Spirit Award Best Director for: Memento (2000).

2002 Won Independent Spirit Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards

2011 Won KCFCC Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2011 Won KCFCC Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Inception (2010).

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

2010 Nominated Sierra Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2010 Nominated Sierra Award Best Screenplay for: Inception (2010).

2002 Won Sierra Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

London Critics Circle Film Awards

2011 Nominated ALFS Award Director of the Year for: Inception (2010).

2009 Nominated ALFS Award British Director of the Year for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2007 Nominated ALFS Award British Director of the Year for: The Prestige (2006).

2006 Nominated ALFS Award British Director of the Year for: Batman Begins (2005).

2003 Won ALFS Award British Director of the Year for: Insomnia (2002).

2001 Won ALFS Award British Screenwriter of the Year for: Memento (2000).

2001 Nominated ALFS Award British Director of the Year for: Memento (2000).

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Won LAFCA Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

MTV Movie Awards

2002 Won MTV Movie Award Best New Filmmaker for: Memento (2000).

Newport International Film Festival

1999 Won Best Director Award for: Following (1998).

1999 Nominated Jury Award Best Film for: Following (1998).

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2011 Won OFCS Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Inception (2010).

2011 Nominated OFCS Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2009 Won OFCS Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2009 Nominated OFCS Award Best Screenplay, Adapted for: The Dark Knight (2008). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan

2007 Nominated OFCS Award Best Screenplay, Adapted for: The Prestige (2006). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan

2002 Won OFCS Award Best Breakthrough Filmmaker for: Memento (2000).

2002 Won OFCS Award Best Screenplay, Adapted for: Memento (2000).

2002 Nominated OFCS Award Best Director for: Memento (2000).

PGA Awards

2009 Nominated Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Theatrical Motion Pictures for: The Dark Knight (2008). Shared with: Charles Roven Emma Thomas

Palm Springs International Film Festival

2003 Won Sonny Bono Visionary Award

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

2010 Won PFCS Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2010 Won PFCS Award Best Screenplay - Original for: Inception (2010).

2002 Won PFCS Award Best Newcomer for: Memento (2000).

2002 Won PFCS Award Best Screenplay - Original for: Memento (2000).

2002 Nominated PFCS Award Best Director for: Memento (2000).

Robert Festival

2009 Nominated Robert Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film) for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2003 Nominated Robert Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film) for: Insomnia (2002).

Rotterdam International Film Festival

1999 Won Tiger Award for: Following (1998).

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards

2010 Nominated SDFCS Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2010 Nominated SDFCS Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Inception (2010).

Satellite Awards

2010 Nominated Satellite Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

2010 Nominated Satellite Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Inception (2010).

2008 Nominated Satellite Award Best Director for: The Dark Knight (2008).

2002 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Director for: Memento (2000).

2002 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Memento (2000).

ShoWest Convention, USA

2008 Won ShoWest Award Director of the Year

Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival

2000 Won Prize of the Catalan Screenwriter's Critic and Writer's Association for: Memento (2000).

Slamdance Film Festival

1999 Won Black & White Award for: Following (1998).

1999 Nominated Grand Jury Prize for: Following (1998).

Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Won SEFCA Award Best Screenplay, Original for: Memento (2000).

Sundance Film Festival

2001 Won Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for: Memento (2000). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan (story)

2001 Nominated Grand Jury Prize Dramatic for: Memento (2000).

Toronto Film Critics Association Awards

2001 Won TFCA Award Best Screenplay for: Memento (2000).

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards

2010 Won WAFCA Award Best Original Screenplay for: Inception (2010).

2010 Nominated WAFCA Award Best Director for: Inception (2010).

Writers Guild of America

2009 Nominated WGA Award (Screen) Best Adapted Screenplay for: The Dark Knight (2008). Shared with: Jonathan Nolan (screenplay) David S. Goyer (story)

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British director Christopher Nolan broke through as a director of note with his film Memento (2000). The star of this movie is really its story, told in a fractured and backward nonlinear way that emphasizes the fact that its antihero cannot form any new memories. All of this could have been desperately gimmicky, but Nolan put it to work in the service of a carefully orchestrated thrilller. The film's themes more than justified its tricksy telling, and from its opening frames - played in reverse, of course - Memento offered that rare thing: style and substance in consummate harmony. Some of Memento's narrative tricks were prefigured in nolan's earlier film Following (1998), which also wedded the viewer to one character's perspective.

In the wake of Memento's success, Nolan developed his core directorial interests, choosing to focus on the dark character-driven psychologies and damaged masculinities on show in remake Insomnia (2002), and franchiser Batman Begins (2005), which was notable for his attempts to shirk special effects and concentrate on character development.

If "The Dark Knight" himself represents the furthest Nolan has yet pushed his line in antiheroic, dangerous male characters while still achieving commercial success, then the dramatic thriller The Prestige (2006) set in Victorian England offers up another characteristic interest: the director as a kind of magician. Whereas Memento plays an audacious trick on its audiences because of its surprising ending, The Prestige directly takes trickery and magic as its storyline's starting points. Magic as a metaphor for film direction has fascinated others across the history of cinema but perhaps here those same connections are being reimagined for a new generation of film lovers.

"There's a very limited pool of finance in the UK...it's a very clubby kind of place."

Is red and green colorblind.

Has both US and UK citizenship.