Jeff Nichols

Biography

Jeff Nichols, born on December 7, 1978, in Little Rock, Arkansas, is an American writer and director recognized for his contributions to independent cinema. He studied filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and made his directorial debut with the 2007 film Shotgun Stories, featuring actor Michael Shannon. Nichols gained wider acclaim with films such as Take Shelter (2011) and Mud (2012), the latter competing for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His 2016 works include the sci-fi drama Midnight Special, which contended for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and Loving, based on the landmark civil rights case Loving v. Virginia, which earned multiple award nominations. Nichols has consistently collaborated with Shannon in various capacities throughout his filmography. In 2018, he directed the short film Long Way Back Home, inspired by a song written by his brother.