Jeff Nichols

Jeff Nichols (born December 7, 1978) is an American film director and screenwriter from Little Rock, Arkansas. He studied filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Nichols is most known for his films Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012), and Loving (2016), which have been critically acclaimed.

For the writer and comedian, see Jeff Nichols (writer).

Jeff Nichols
Nichols at the 2008 San Francisco Indyfest
Born (1978-12-07) December 7, 1978
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter
Years active2006–present

Career

Nichols studied filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He wrote his first screenplay, Shotgun Stories, with actor Michael Shannon in mind to play the lead, and contacted the actor through a former teacher.[1] The film was shot on a budget of only $250,000, and released in 2007.

Later, Nichols moved into larger independent productions with 2011's Take Shelter, also starring Shannon, and 2012's Mud, starring Matthew McConaughey, which competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. In 2012, Nichols acted as President of the Jury of the 7th Rome Film Festival.

His 2016 sci-fi drama film Midnight Special competed for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.[2][3] The same year, he directed the drama Loving, a film about the landmark U.S. civil rights court case Loving v. Virginia, which was nominated for numerous awards, including a Golden Globe nomination for lead actor Joel Edgerton and Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for lead actress Ruth Negga.

So far, all films directed by Nichols have featured Michael Shannon either in a leading (Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Midnight Special) or supporting capacity (Mud, Loving).

In 2018 he directed the short film, “Long Way Back Home", inspired by a song of the same name that was written by his brother Ben and released by the country punk band, Lucero. It stars Michael Shannon, who searches the streets and backroads of Memphis for his two younger brothers, played by Garrett Hedlund and Scoot McNairy.[4]

Nicols is currently writing and directing Yankee Comandante, adapted from David Grann's New Yorker article about Che Guevara and William Alexander Morgan. Adam Driver will star in the film. Production is scheduled to start in 2021.[5]

Personal life

Nichols was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and attended Little Rock Central High School. He is the brother of Lucero guitarist and singer Ben Nichols.[6] He is influenced by Mark Twain.[7]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Credited as
Director Writer Producer
2007 Shotgun Stories Yes Yes Yes
2011 Take Shelter Yes Yes No
2012 Mud Yes Yes No
2014 Hellion No No Executive
2016 Midnight Special Yes Yes No
Loving Yes Yes No
In the Radiant City No No Yes
TBA Yankee Comandante Yes Yes TBA

Music videos
Year Title Artist
2018 "Long Way Back Home" Lucero

Podcast
Year Title Credited as
Director Writer Producer
2020 Hank the Cowdog Yes Yes Executive

References
  1. Wired
  2. "2012 Official Selection". Cannes. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  3. "Cannes Film Festival 2012 line-up announced". Time Out. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  4. http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2018/08/short-film-by-jeff-nichols-based-on-luceros-long-way-back-home-tune-premieres.html
  5. "Adam Driver, Jeff Nichols reunite for new film". Arkansas Online. April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  6. Coyle, Jake (April 17, 2013). "With Twain in mind, director Jeff Nichols plumbs the depths of love in 'Mud'". The Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  7. Leffler, Rebecca (May 26, 2012). "Cannes 2012: Jeff Nichols' 'Mud' Slides into Competition with Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon". The Hollywood Reporter.
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